Maldives

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Map of the Maldives showing the chain of small islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean, with the capital city Male marked. An inset locator map in the upper left shows the Maldives' position southwest of India and Sri Lanka.

Tropical beach resort in the Maldives with palm trees, sandy shoreline, and open-air structures beside lush greenery under a bright blue sky.

Map showing the location of the Maldives as a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka, with surrounding countries including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Iran labeled for regional context. The Maldives is outlined in orange.

Map showing the physical features of the Maldives, a chain of atolls and islands in the Indian Ocean south-southwest of India and Sri Lanka. The map labels major atolls and channels, and includes a locator inset showing the Maldives' position relative to India and Sri Lanka.

Maldives: Ethnic composition

Maldives: Urban-rural

Maldives: Age breakdown

Maldives: Major import sources

At a Glance

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Maldives summary

Maldives: Media

country, Indian Ocean

Images

Maldives

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of the Maldives showing the chain of small islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean, with the capital city Male marked. An inset locator map in the upper left shows the Maldives' position southwest of India and Sri Lanka.

Maldives

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Tropical beach resort in the Maldives with palm trees, sandy shoreline, and open-air structures beside lush greenery under a bright blue sky.

Maldives: island resort

Island resort in the Maldives, north-central Indian Ocean.

© Lucian Milasan/Dreamstime.com

Map showing the location of the Maldives as a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka, with surrounding countries including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Iran labeled for regional context. The Maldives is outlined in orange.

Maldives

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing the physical features of the Maldives, a chain of atolls and islands in the Indian Ocean south-southwest of India and Sri Lanka. The map labels major atolls and channels, and includes a locator inset showing the Maldives' position relative to India and Sri Lanka.

Physical features of Maldives

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Mohamed Waheed Hassan, President of the Maldives, speaks at a podium with the United Nations emblem during the General Assembly in New York.

Mohamed Waheed Hassan

Mohamed Waheed Hassan, 2012.

Marco Castro/UN Photo

A scuba diver swims above a colorful coral reef in the Maldives, surrounded by schools of small orange fish and several butterflyfish among the rocks.

A diver exploring a coral reef in the Maldives.

© Jakub Gojda/Dreamstime.com

Maldives

Maldives

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Audio

National anthem of Maldives

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Maldives.

Interactives

Maldives: Ethnic composition

Maldives: Ethnic composition

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Maldives: Urban-rural

Maldives: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Maldives: Age breakdown

Maldives: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Maldives: Major import sources

Maldives: Major import sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Maldives: Major export destinations

Maldives: Major export destinations

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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