The Maldives is a small island nation located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka. The country is made up of 26 atolls, which are composed of more than 1,000 coral islands. It is the smallest country in Asia in terms of land area and population, with just over 500,000 people.

The Maldives is known for its stunning natural beauty, with crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches, and abundant marine life. It is a popular destination for scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as other water sports such as surfing and windsurfing. The Maldives is also home to a number of luxury resorts, which offer a range of amenities and activities for visitors.

The official language of the Maldives is Dhivehi, but English is widely spoken in the country's tourist areas. The Maldives is a Muslim-majority country, and visitors are expected to respect local customs and dress modestly, especially when visiting places of worship.

The Maldives has a tropical climate, with temperatures ranging from 24°C to 33°C throughout the year. The best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from November to April. During this time, visitors can expect sunny skies and warm temperatures, making it perfect for beach and water activities.

In order to visit the Maldives, visitors need a valid passport with at least six months validity remaining. A visa is not required for stays of up to 30 days, but visitors must have a confirmed hotel reservation or invitation from a resident of the Maldives.

Telephone Code
960

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 102; Fire: 999; Police: 119

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

Climate
Tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Currency (Code)
Rufiyaa (MVR)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, D, G, J, K, L

Major Languages
Dhivehi, English

Major Religions
Sunni Muslim

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Left

Tourist Destinations
National Museum; Sultan Park; Tsunami Monument; Republic Square; Rasfannu; Male Waterfront; Friday Mosque; Muleeaage Palace

Major Sports
Soccer, tennis, baseball, badminton, basketball, table tennis

Cultural Practices
While beachwear is acceptable in resorts, it is typically frowned upon in other locations.

Tipping Guidelines
If staying in a hotel for a few days or more and the staff has demonstrated good service, a gratuity of $2 (USD) per day is suggested. Tipping guides $10 (USD) per day is appropriate.

Souvenirs
Hand-woven wicker and reed mats, woven baskets, shell and stone jewelry, tree-sap-carved lacquered boxes and other carved wooden items

Traditional Cuisine
Garudiya — a clear fish (typically tuna) broth

Geography
Area
total: 298 sq km
land: 298 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Natural resources
fish

People and Society
Population
389,568 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
homogeneous mixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African resulting from historical changes in regional hegemony over marine trade routes

Languages
Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)

Religions
Sunni Muslim (official)

Population growth rate
-0.17% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Male

Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; major tourism, fishing, and shipping industries; high public debt; systemic corruption; crippled by COVID-19; ongoing deflation; poverty has tripled since pandemic began

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$9.785 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$18,800 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
papayas, vegetables, roots/tubers nes, nuts, fruit, other meat, tomatoes, coconuts, bananas, maize

Industries
tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Exports
$3.95 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Thailand 24%, United States 13%, China 12%, France 11%, Germany 11%, Italy 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
fish products, natural gas, scrap iron, jewelry, liquid pumps (2019)

Imports
$3.501 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
United Arab Emirates 24%, China 16%, Singapore 14%, India 11%, Malaysia 6%, Thailand 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fruits, furniture, broadcasting equipment, lumber (2019)