Maldives

The Maldives ( /ˈmɒldaɪvz/ or ), ( Dhivehi : ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ Dhivehi Raa'je ) or Maldive Islands , officially Republic of Maldives , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls stretching in a north-south direction off India 's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and Chagos Archipelago . It stands in the Laccadive Sea , about seven hundred kilometres (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka . The atolls of Maldives encompass a territory spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making it one of the most disparate countries in the world. It features 1,192 islets , of which two hundred are inhabited. The Republic of Maldives's capital and largest city is Malé , with a population of 103,693 (2006). It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll , in the Kaafu Atoll . It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives . Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where the palace was located. The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and area. With an average ground level of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the lowest country on the planet. It is also the country with the lowest highest point in the world, at 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in). "CIA World Fact Book" (.html) . 2009 revision.

Maldives , officially the Republic of Maldives , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean – Arabian Sea area, consisting of a double chain of twenty-six atolls , oriented north-south, that lie between Minicoy Island (the southernmost part of Lakshadweep , India) and the Chagos Archipelago . The chains stand in the Laccadive Sea , and the capital, Malé , is about 600 kilometres (370 mi) south-west of India and 750 kilometres (470 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka . From the mid-sixteenth century, the Maldives was dominated by colonial powers : Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain. The islands gained independence from the British Empire in 1965, and in 1968 became a republic ruled by a president and an authoritarian government. The archipelago is located atop the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge , a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean, which also forms a terrestrial ecoregion together with the Chagos and the Lakshadweep. Their atolls encompass a territory spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), making the country one of the world's most geographically dispersed. Its population of 328,536 (2012) inhabits 192 of its 1,192 islands. In 2006 the capital and largest city Malé , located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll , had a population of 103,693. Malé is one of the Maldives' administrative divisions and, traditionally, it was the "King's Island" where the ancient royal dynasties were enthroned. It is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. With an average ground level elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the planet's lowest country. It is also the country with the lowest natural highest point in the world, at 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in). Future inundation of the Maldives due to rising sea levels is of great concern to its people, motivating the government to pledge becoming a carbon-neutral country by 2019. Ethnic groups worldwide: a ready reference handbook . Ministry of Health and Family (MoHF) (28 February 2013). Department of National Planning . There are <ref group=nb> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ).

Island nation in the Indian Ocean southwest of India and Sri Lanka The Maldives ( / ˈ m ɔː l d iː v s / , US : / ˈ m ɔː l d aɪ v z / ; Dhivehi Raajje ), officially the Republic of Maldives , is a small island nation in South Asia , located in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean . It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India , about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) from the Asian continent. The chain of 26 atolls stretches from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south to the equator . Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), the Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states as well as the smallest Asian country by land area and population, with around 521,457 inhabitants. Malé is the capital and the most populated city, traditionally called the "King's Island" where the ancient royal dynasties ruled for its central location. The Maldives archipelago is located on the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge , a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean; this also forms a terrestrial ecoregion , together with the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep . With an average ground-level elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the world's lowest-lying country, with even its highest natural point being one of the lowest in the world, at 5.1 metres (17 ft). In the 12th century Islam reached the Maldivian archipelago, which was consolidated as a sultanate , developing strong commercial and cultural ties with Asia and Africa . From the mid-16th-century the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers , with the Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887. Independence from the United Kingdom came in 1965, and a presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected People's Majlis . The ensuing decades have seen political instability, efforts at democratic reform, and environmental challenges posed by climate change . The Maldives became a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It is also a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations , the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , and the Non-Aligned Movement . The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an upper- middle income economy. Fishing has historically been the dominant economic activity, and remains the largest sector by far, followed by the rapidly growing tourism industry. The Maldives rate "high" on the Human Development Index , with per-capita income significantly higher than other SAARC nations. The Maldives was a member of the Commonwealth from July 1982 until withdrawing from the organisation in October 2016 in protest at allegations by the other nations of its human-rights abuses and failing democracy. The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular support. Ethnic groups worldwide: a ready reference handbook . The President's Office - Republic of Maldives . National Bureau of Statistics . Most of [the Maldives'] land mass, which totals roughly one-fifth of Greater London, is a great deal lower [...], averaging around 1.5m. "Maldives – Country report – Freedom in the World – 2015" . 21 January 2015.

Island country in Southern Asia The Maldives ( / ˈ m ɔː l d i v z / MAWL -deevz ; , Dhivehi pronunciation: [diʋehi ɾaːd͡ʒːe] ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( , Dhivehi pronunciation: [diʋehi ɾaːd͡ʒːeːge d͡ʒumhuːɾijjaː] ), is an archipelagic state and country in South Asia , situated in the Indian Ocean . It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India , about 750 kilometres (470 miles; 400 nautical miles) from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south. Comprising a territory spanning roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi) including the sea, land area of all the islands comprises 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), the Maldives is the smallest country in Asia as well as one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states and as well as one of the smallest Muslim-majority countries by land area and, with a population of 521,021, the 2nd least populous country in Asia . Malé is the capital and the most populated city, traditionally called the "King's Island", where the ancient royal dynasties ruled for its central location. The Maldivian Archipelago is located on the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge , a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean; this also forms a terrestrial ecoregion , together with the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep . With an average ground-level elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, and a highest natural point of only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in), it is the world's lowest-lying country. (Some sources state the highest point, Mount Villingili , as 5.1 metres or 17 feet.) The Maldives has been inhabited for over 2,500 years. In the 12th century Islam reached the Maldivian Archipelago, which was consolidated as a sultanate , developing strong commercial and cultural ties with Asia and Africa . From the mid-16th century, the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers , with the Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887. Independence from the United Kingdom came in 1965, and a presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected People's Majlis . The ensuing decades have seen political instability, efforts at democratic reform, and environmental challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels . The Maldives became a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It is also a member of the United Nations , the Commonwealth of Nations , the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , and the Non-Aligned Movement . The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an upper- middle income economy. Fishing has historically been the dominant economic activity, and remains the largest sector by far, followed by the rapidly growing tourism industry. The Maldives rates "high" on the Human Development Index , with per capita income significantly higher than other SAARC nations. The Maldives was a member of the Commonwealth of Nations from July 1982 until withdrawing from the organisation in October 2016 in protest of allegations by other nations of its human rights abuses and failing democracy. The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular support. Most of [the Maldives'] land mass, which totals roughly one-fifth of Greater London, is a great deal lower [...], averaging around 1.5m. "Maldives - Country report - Freedom in the World - 2015" . 21 January 2015.

Island country in South Asia "Maldive Islands" redirects here. The Maldives , officially the Republic of Maldives , and historically known as the Maldive Islands , is an archipelagic country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres (470 miles; 400 nautical miles) from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south. The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia . Its land area is only 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), but this is spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi) of the sea, making it one of the world's most spatially dispersed sovereign states. With a population of 515,132 in the 2022 census, it is the second least populous country in Asia and the ninth-smallest country by area , but also one of the most densely populated countries . The Maldives has an average ground-level elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, and a highest natural point of only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in), making it the world's lowest-lying country. Some sources state the highest point, Mount Villingili , as 5.1 metres or 17 feet. Malé is the capital and the most populated city, traditionally called the "King's Island", where the ancient royal dynasties ruled from its central location. The Maldives has been inhabited for over 2,500 years. Documented contact with the outside world began around 947 AD when Arab travellers began visiting the islands. In the 12th century, partly due to the importance of the Arabs and Persians as traders in the Indian Ocean, Islam reached the Maldivian Archipelago. The Maldives was soon consolidated as a sultanate , developing strong commercial and cultural ties with Asia and Africa. From the mid-16th century, the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers , with the Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887. Independence from the United Kingdom came in 1965, and a presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected People's Majlis. The ensuing decades have seen political instability, efforts at democratic reform, and environmental challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels . The Maldives became a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The Maldives is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations , the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , and the Non-Aligned Movement . The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an upper- middle income economy. Fishing has historically been the dominant economic activity, and remains the largest sector by far, followed by the rapidly growing tourism industry. The Maldives rates "high" on the Human Development Index , with per capita income significantly higher than other SAARC nations. The Maldives was a member of the Commonwealth of Nations from July 1982 until withdrawing from the organisation in October 2016 in protest of allegations of its human rights abuses and failing democracy. The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular support. Maldives Mission to the United Nations . Embassy of the Republic of Maldives . Maldives Population and Housing Census . International Monetary Fund . 10 October 2024 . Human Development Report 2025 - A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI . "List of all left- & right-driving countries around the world" . worldstandards.eu . 31 December 2024 . Most of [the Maldives'] land mass, which totals roughly one-fifth of Greater London, is a great deal lower [...], averaging around 1.5m. There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).