Mava

Republic of Mava Mava Repalik (Mavean) República de Mava (Almagrian)
Flag Seal
Motto: Aat maujut autait kaini haat guan nisanutinni (Mavean) "The ten righteous men are found here"
Anthem: Mava Tuvit "Our Mava"
Official languages	Mavean Almagrian
Ethnic groups (2022)	52.1% mixed 38.5% indigenous 9.4% other
Religion (2022)	87.3% Christianity 5.1% no religion 3.2% folk religion 4.4% other
Demonym(s)	Mavean
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
• President	Juu Kajusit
• Deputy President	Maak Juaija
• Speaker of Parliament	Taama Iativut
Legislature	Parliament
Independence from Atitlan
• Independence declared	1 March 1970
• Current constitution	18 August 1997
Population
• 2024 estimate	72,339

Mava (/mɑːvə/), officially the Republic of Mava (Mavean: Mava Repalik; Almagrian: República de Mava) is an island country and archipelagic state in the Sarosan Ocean. It consists of a group of islands, the largest and most populus of which is Mava, from which the country derives its name. With an estimated population of around 72,000 people (as of 2024) and a total land area of XXXX, Mava is one of the smallest and least-populous countries in the world.

Mava was sparsely inhabited prior to colonial contact in the 16th century. In the late 18th century, Atitlan formally colonised the islands, annexing them into Atitlan proper in 1871. The islands gained independence in 1970, initially in personal union with Atitlan and then, after 1976, as an independent republic. Since independence, the islands have transitioned from an agricultural society to a more diversified service-based economy, characterised by the public sector and tourism. Since 1989, nominal GDP has grown consistently, with downturns only in 1998-2000 and 2010-13. In recent years, foreign direct investment has grown as successive governments have pursued liberal economic policies.

Since independence, Mava has enjoyed a stable democratic system, although Atitlan continues to have a significant impact on Mavean politics through the close relations between the two governments and Atitlan's economic investment in the islands. According to a 2020 International Democracy Index report, Mava is a "party-free" nation, with fundamental freedoms respected but a political process inaccessible for large parts of the population.

The majority of people of Mava trace their ancestry to the indigenous Trianian, belonging to the Paatuvit tribe that inhabited western Triania who eventually expanded to and then concentrated around the islands of the Sarosan Ocean. Most, however, are of mixed heritage, also possessing Atitlanese ancestry. Atitlanese influences also extend to religion, with most practising Catholicism, and is furthe evident in Mava's culture, customs, music, and politics, which combine native and Atitlanese influences. The country is a member of the United Nations and the Small Island Countries Development Community.