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South Asia · Asia

Maldives

ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ
Capital
Malé
Population
521K
Area
298 km²
Language
Dhivehi

Maldives is a country in South Asia, Asia. Its capital is Malé, with a population of approximately 521K and a total area of 298 km². The official language is Dhivehi and the currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR).

📊 Quick Facts about Maldives

👥
Population
521K
total residents
📐
Total Area
298 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
1,749/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$6.6B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$12,668
per person
💱
Currency
Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
Dhivehi
official
🌊
Coastline
644 km
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+5
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1965
established
🕐
Local Time in Malé

Maldives covers an area of 298 km² with a population density of 1,749/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $6.6B ($12,668 per capita) and gained independence in 1965. It has a coastline of 644 km.

Did You Know?

The Maldives is the world's lowest-lying country with an average elevation of just 1.5 metres above sea level. Rising seas driven by climate change pose an existential threat, the government has discussed buying land in other countries as a contingency.

See all 14+ facts about Maldives

✈️ Travel Information for Maldives

📅
Best Time to Visit
November–April
Tropical, dry season November–April
💸
Cost of Travel
Expensive
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa on arrival (30 days free)
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Maldives travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Maldives on the Map

Street-level photo from Malé
📍 Malé · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 Maldives World Rankings

1st
Lowest Country
World's lowest-lying country, average 1.5m above sea level
1st
Luxury Resorts
Highest concentration of luxury overwater resorts in the world
1st
Coral
One of the world's largest coral reef systems
1st
Climate Threat
Most threatened nation by rising sea levels

🏛 Must-See Places in Maldives

⚖️ Compare Maldives with another country

See how Maldives stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

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Maldives vs Afghanistan
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Maldives vs India
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Maldives vs Pakistan
MaldivesvsBangladesh
Maldives vs Bangladesh
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Maldives

What is the capital of Maldives?

The capital of Maldives is Malé.

What continent is Maldives in?

Maldives is located in Asia, in the South Asia region.

What currency does Maldives use?

Maldives uses the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR). The international calling code is +960.

What is the GDP of Maldives?

Maldives has a GDP of $6.6B, with a GDP per capita of $12,668.

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