The most interesting facts about the Maldives, from the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting to the Earth’s lowest high point.
Fast facts
Official name: Republic of Maldives
Population: 388,858
Area: 298 sq km
Capital city: Male
Major languages: Dhivehi, English
Major religions: Sunni Muslim
Time zone: UTC+5 (Maldives Time)
Interesting facts about the Maldives
1. The Maldives is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean of South Asia.
2. The Maldives consists of around 1,190 coral islands, of which around 200 are inhabited. The islands are grouped into 26 clusters known as atolls.
3. The Maldives has been inhabited since at least the 5th century BC by Buddhist peoples, presumably from Sri Lanka and southern India.
4. The Maldives were occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century, then the Dutch in the 17th century and then later by the British after they took control of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1796.
5. The Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887, then a republic within the Commonwealth in 1953 before finally gaining complete independence in 1965.
6. The flag of the Maldives is a white crescent on a green panel surrounded by a red background. The white crescent and green colour represent the national religion, Islam, as well as progress, prosperity, and peace. The red represents the “heroes who sacrificed themselves for the nation”.
7. Over 80% of the Maldives’ islands are less than one metre (3.3ft) above sea level. As such, the low-lying Maldives is under threat from rising sea levels caused by climate change.
8. With a mean elevation of just two meters (6.6ft), the Maldives have one of the world’s lowest average elevations.
9. The highest point in the Maldives is the eighth tee of a golf course on Villingi Island. At just 5m (16.4ft), it is the world’s lowest high point.
10. The Maldives is one of 27 countries that do not have a single UNESCO World Heritage Site. They do have one property on the Tentative List of sites intended to be submitted for nomination.
11. It is believed that Islam was first adopted in the Maldives 1153 when the last Buddhist king of Maldives Dhovemi converted and adopted the Muslim title and name of Sultan Muhammad al Adil
12. In 2009, the Maldives government held the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting as a symbolic appeal for help over rising sea levels threatening the country.
Divers Association of Maldives/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
13. The Maldives’ economy is centred around tourism with many (around 160) of the islands developed as resorts for the high-end tourism industry.
14. The Maldives is thought to be named after the main island and capital, Male. The term “Maldives” means “the islands (dives) of Male”. Another suggestion is that the name could come from the Sanskrit word “maladvipa” meaning “garland of islands”.
15. The name of the capital, Male, comes from the Sanskrit word “mahaalay” meaning “big house”.
16. Cowrie shells (Cypraea moneta) used to be a currency in the Maldives. The shells have also been used as currency by the Chinese, Hawaiians, West Africans and the Ojibwa Indians of North America.
17. The Maldives is home to the UNESCO-designated Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve. The reserve is made up of 75 islands, supports one of the largest collections of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and is a vital feeding and breeding ground for manta rays and whale sharks.
18. The Maldives is a great place to spot Hammerhead sharks and it’s possible to dive with them. The most famous spot is a site called Hammerhead Point (also known as Rasdhoo Madivaru) in Rasdhoo Atoll.
19. Measured by surface area, the Maldives is the world’s ninth-smallest sovereign nation.
20. The Maldives is also the smallest country in South Asia by both land area and population.
21. The Maldives is also the world’s smallest Muslim nation.
22. The Maldives is home to five of the world’s seven species of marine turtles the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and the olive ridley turtle(Lepidochelys olivacea). The most common nesting species in the Maldives are the green and hawksbill species.
23. The national symbols of the Maldives are the coconut palm and yellowfin tuna.
24. The Maldives was severly affected by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami which saw waves travelling at over 700km/h. In the Maldives, the Tsunami killed 83 people with 25 missing and presumed dead, injured at least 1,300 people and caused widespread destruction.
25. Whale sharks – the world’s largest known fish – are year-round residents of the waters of the Maldives, making the country a prime spot for swimming with whale sharks.
Every effort has been made to verify these facts about the Maldives. However, if you find an error or have any questions, please contact us.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.