Truck and Barter

Many residents of Malé say the idea of Hulhumalé is a good one given the atrocious conditions in the capital.

It has more than 100,000 people in a space that can be crossed on foot in 25 minutes. Rents for two-bedroom apartments top $9,000 a year, despite annual per capita incomes of $4,000. Imported sports cars jam the narrow streets, even though it's rarely possible to drive faster than 20 miles per hour. Global warming, meanwhile, has many people fearful that the low-lying city will be swamped by rising tides in a matter of years.

-Male has more than 100,000 people in a space that can be crossed on foot in 25 minutes, roughly 54,000 people per square kilometer, compared to less than 3,500 in New York.