Ethnically the people of the islands are very similar to the people of Kerala even their languages is the same except in Minicoy where Mahl is spoken. As Muslims, they have conservative customs and traditions and yet they are liberal in approach. 93% of the popultion are indigenous Muslims. According to 1991 census, population is 51707. 

History comes alive in folk ballads that women chant during their house - hold chores. Events of the past - the arrival of Hazrat Ubaidulla in Lakshadweep, the plunder of the islands by the Portuguese, have been perpetuated by the balladeer. 

Smiling and friendly people. Nobody is tip-minded. The place in the world to go for a walk, with no dogs and no poisonous snakes either. The people of Lakshadweep are often commended for their honesty. The absence of crime in the islands is laudable. The most obvious testimony to this is the profusion of gold ornaments worn by the women - heavy ear rings and necklaces. The fact that very young children are allowed to wander around alone wearing chunky jewellery is a pointer to a way of life that one hopes will continue into the future. 

The young men have some spirited folk dances. The women are modest with colourful dress and wear their jewellery in safety. The people of Minicoy have a good sense of colour, painting their houses, furniture and boats in bright and tasteful combinations. Seamen from Minicoy are to be found on merchant ship all over the world. 

The economy of Lakshadweep has a few peculiar features which are influenced by its geography. It is a small Robinson Crusoe-type of economy with one major difference that it maintains trade with outside world. That it resembles the primitive economy in many respects, but it is not a closed economy. The only commercial crop is Coconut which are cultivated in every available space and the most important source of income generation. The annual yield of coconuts is approximately 265 lakhs nuts. Surrounded on all the sides by sea, the fishing industry is the other major source of income generation here. The annual fishlanding crossed the level of 10000 MTs in 1996. Industries based on coconut products and fishery products are yet another source of income of the people. 

Boat building was once an important skill. Sadly, after the advent of motorized boats, this has reduced considerably. However, majestic wooden boats anchored along the shore stand silent testimony to the past. Boats were built for fishing, for navigation from one end of the island to another, for interisland communication, for transporting coconuts and dried fish to the mainland and returning with food supplies, as well as for friendly competitive races Each boat was built differently, according to its function and every island has its own slight variation in design. This meant that just sighting a boat approaching the shore was indication enough of island from where it came from.