Southern Asia · AsiaMaldives
Discover the Maldives - 1,192 coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, famous for overwater villas, bioluminescent beaches, and a race against rising seas.
Where Is the Maldives?
The Maldives is a country in Southern Asia. Its capital is Malé.
- Capital Malé
- Population 530K
- Area 300 km²
The Maldives is what happens when you scatter 1,192 coral islands across 90,000 square kilometers of Indian Ocean and barely raise any of them above sea level. The result is one of the most visually stunning countries on Earth - rings of white sand and palm trees encircling lagoons of impossible turquoise, where the marine life beneath the surface is just as spectacular as the view above. It has become synonymous with luxury travel, overwater villas, and honeymoon perfection.
But the Maldives is also a country living on borrowed time. With an average elevation of just 1.5 meters above sea level, it is the lowest-lying nation on Earth and the most vulnerable to rising seas. The irony is cruel - a country that contributes almost nothing to climate change stands to lose everything to it. Beyond the resorts, Maldivian culture runs deep, shaped by centuries of maritime trade connecting Arabia, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The capital Male is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, and life on the local islands - fishing, coconut harvesting, dhoni boat building - offers a very different picture from the resort brochures.
At a glance
Largest cities in Maldives
Male
Addu City
Fuvahmulah
Famous people from Maldives
Mohamed Thakurufaanu
PoliticsNational hero who liberated the Maldives from Portuguese occupation in 1573, celebrated on National Day
Hassan Saeed
PoliticsLegal scholar and former Attorney General who played a key role in the Maldives' democratic transition
Hussain Mohamed
SportLegendary Maldivian footballer and the country's most decorated athlete, a hero in South Asian football
Traditional cuisine of Maldives
- Garudhiya
- Clear tuna broth served with rice, lime, chili, and onions, the quintessential Maldivian comfort food eaten daily across the islands
- Mas Huni
- Shredded smoked tuna mixed with fresh coconut, onion, and chili, the traditional Maldivian breakfast eaten with flatbread
- Hedhikaa
- An array of savory short eats including fish pastries, fried dough, and spicy snacks served at traditional afternoon tea
- Bis Keemiya
- Crispy spring roll-style pastry stuffed with tuna, cabbage, egg, and spices, the Maldivian take on a samosa
Nature and landmarks in Maldives
- Baa AtollMarine
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with Hanifaru Bay, where hundreds of manta rays gather to feed in one of the greatest marine spectacles on Earth
- Vaadhoo IslandIsland
- Famous for its bioluminescent beach where glowing plankton light up the shoreline at night like a sea of stars
- Ari AtollMarine
- Premier diving destination with whale shark encounters, manta ray cleaning stations, and some of the clearest water in the Indian Ocean
- Addu AtollIsland
- Heart-shaped atoll straddling the equator with mangroves, WWII shipwrecks for diving, and a unique freshwater lake
Sports in Maldives
- Football
- The most popular sport in the Maldives, with the national team competitive in South Asian regional tournaments
- Water Sports
- Surfing, bodyboarding, and traditional bodu beru drum-accompanied activities are deeply woven into island life
Did you know?
The Maldives is the lowest country in the world with an average ground level of just 1.5 meters above sea level
There are 1,192 islands but only about 200 are inhabited, with another 150 or so developed as tourist resorts
The Maldives held the world's first underwater cabinet meeting in 2009 to highlight the threat of rising sea levels
Tuna fishing is central to Maldivian life - the country's pole-and-line fishing method is one of the most sustainable in the world
The Thaana script used for Dhivehi is one of the few writing systems that is written right to left using modified Arabic numerals as its basis
Can you find Maldives on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Maldives and its neighbours without a second thought.
