Maldives

About Maldives

Capital

Malé

Continent

Independence Date

26 July 1965

Official Language	Afrikaans
Second Language	English
Population	~540,000
Passport Color	Green
Passport Rank	#58
Dialing Code	960
Country TLD	.mv

Maldives Overview

Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ), is a tropical island nation in the Indian Ocean, located southwest of India and Sri Lanka. It consists of over 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls spread across the equator. The capital and most populous city is Malé.

The Maldives is world-famous for its luxury resorts, crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches, and vibrant coral reefs, making it one of the top global destinations for tourism, diving, and honeymoons. Its economy relies heavily on tourism, fishing, and services.

The official language is Dhivehi, and English is widely spoken. The currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR). The Maldives is a Muslim-majority country with Islam as the state religion, and its culture reflects South Asian, Arab, and African influences.

Quick Facts About Maldives

Coordinates	3.2028° N, 73.2207° E
Bordering Countries	None (Island Nation – Indian Ocean)
Region / Continent	Asia (South Asia)
Total Area	~298 sq km (spread across 90,000 sq km of ocean)
Population Density	~1,800 people per sq km (heavily concentrated in Malé)
Highest Point	Mount Villingili – 5.1 m (world’s lowest highest point)
Major Islands	Malé, Hulhumalé, Addu, Fuvahmulah
Climate Type	Tropical monsoon; warm and humid year-round
Famous For	Resorts, coral reefs, scuba diving, overwater villas
Major Landmarks	Malé Friday Mosque, Hulhumalé Island, Addu Atoll, Banana Reef
Official Language	Dhivehi (English widely spoken)
Currency	Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
Government Type	Unitary Presidential Republic
Time Zone	UTC+5 (Maldives Standard Time)
Major Exports	Fish, seafood products, garments, handicrafts
Visitor Entry	Visa-free for all nationalities for up to 30 days on arrival