Tamil in Maldives


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

You may have heard of the Maldives Islands. But do you know where this island nation is located? Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small island state in South Asia, situated in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 700 kilometers from the Asian continent's mainland. The country consists of 1192 islands. Of these 185 are inhabited. The last Buddhist king of the Maldives converted to Islam in 1153. Later the Maldives were colonies of Portugal, the Netherlands and Great Britain. The Maldives became an independent from the UK in 1953. The Maldives is the lowest nation in the world with an average height of only 2.4 meters. Rising sea levels pose a threat to the existence of the islands. It is estimated that the inhabited islands may have to be evacuated by 2100 if present trends continue. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devasted the low-lying islands drowning many and doing millions of dollars of damage. Nearly 1000 people of Tamil origin make their home in the Maldives. The homeland of the Tamils is the southwest Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Tamil people now live in over 30 nations of the world including the Maldives.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Fishing is the main industry of the islands. A number of Tamil people are involved in the catching, selling and exporting of fish. Unfortunately, the number of fish in Maldivian waters is declining due to the industrial fishing methods of European, Chinese, Japanese and Korean fishermen. Tourism is the second leading industry in the Maldives. The islands boast of 134 resorts and hotels. Swimming, scuba diving, sports fishing and bar hopping are popular among the tourists who visit the Maldives. Wealthy, educated Tamils often own and operate the resorts and restaurants. Less wealthy Tamils work and serve in the tourist industry. The father is the head of the Tamil family. He shares leadership with his wife over the children. A woman has a higher place in the Tamil home than in many Asian cultures. Parents encourage their sons and daughters to excel in education and obtain college degrees. Tamils in the Maldives try to maintain their ethnic identity. In traditional Tamil culture, the parents chose the spouse of their children. This practice has changed where young people frequently choose their life partner with their parents' guidance.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The large majority of Tamils in the Maldives practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Tamils visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians do with their heavenly Father. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Hindu Tamil people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tamils living in the Maldives need to hear a clear presentation of the gospel. They need to come to understand that Jesus Christ is not just another Hindu god or guru. He is the Son of the one, true God and the only One who can forgive their sins.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord raises up a Disciple Making Movement among the Tamils in the Maldives in this decade. Pray the Lord moves believers and churches to reach out and share the good news with the Tamils. Pray that more Christian literature and videos become easily available in the Tamil language. Ask God to bring Tamil leaders and heads of families into His kingdom.


Scripture Prayers for the Tamil in Maldives.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indians_in_the_Maldives


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tamil (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Tamil
Pronunciation TAH-mill
Alternate Names तमिल (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 800
Population all Countries 2,883,000
Total Countries 20
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18211
ROP3 Code 113732
Country Maldives
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 18  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Maldives
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 18  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Website South Asia Peoples

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Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Maldives census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil (800 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tamil (800 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamil Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Tamil Bible (தமிழ் பைபிள்) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Tamil Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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