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Sheet 103 of 195 · AsiaMDV · 4.2°N 73.5°E

Maldives

Republic of the Maldives · ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ

Capital
Malé
Population
529,676 2025
Area
300 km²
Neighbours
0
Locator map of MaldivesMALDIVESINDIASRI LANKAIndian OceanArabian SeaLaccadive Sea0250 km
Maldives hatched and ringed, Malé marked with a triangle. Orthographic projection centred on 3.7°N 73.5°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

The Maldives is an island country in Southern Asia, with no land border. Of the other 194 countries in this atlas, the nearest capital to Malé is Colombo, in Sri Lanka, 768 km away. At 300 km², it is the 9th-smallest of the 195 countries by area.

529,676 people lived in the Maldives in 2025, according to the World Bank; only 27 countries have fewer. That is 1,766 people per km², the 5th-highest density of the 194. Most people live outside urban areas: the urban share was 42.5% in 2025.

In 2025, GDP per capita stood at US$14,615 in current US dollars: 71st of 191 worldwide, 14th of 46 in Asia. Newborns in 2024 had a life expectancy of 81.3 years.

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres. From 3.2°N to 4.2°N, it spans about 113 km north to south. The point on the opposite side of the Earth from Malé lies in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1,700 km from the nearest land, Ecuador.

How it compares Asia: 47 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAsia
Population529,6762025, World Bank167th of 19446th of 47
Area300 km²world-countries187th of 19547th of 47
GDPUS$7.7 billion2025, World Bank, current US$155th of 19144th of 46
GDP per capitaUS$14,6152025, World Bank, current US$71st of 19114th of 46
Population density1,766 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries5th of 1943rd of 47
Life expectancy81.3 years2024, World Bank37th of 1949th of 47
Urban population42.5%2025, World Bank147th of 19434th of 47
Forest area12.5% of land2024, World Bank142nd of 19425th of 47
Population growth+0.35% a year2025, World Bank142nd of 19438th of 47
Internet users85.2%2024, World Bank79th of 18824th of 45
Fertility rate1.56 births per woman2024, World Bank129th of 19436th of 47
Land neighbours0world-countries; among the 195157th of 19542nd of 47
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaMalta, Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis

Closest in populationCape Verde, Malta and Brunei

Neighbours none by land

No land borders. The nearest capitals:

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Northern and Eastern
Capital
Malé
4.17°N 73.50°E
Northernmost latitude
4.25°N
Southernmost latitude
3.23°N
Westernmost longitude
73.38°E
Easternmost longitude
73.53°E
North to south
about 113 km
Antipode of Malé
4.17°S 106.50°W
in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1,700 km from the nearest land (Ecuador)