Maldives
Asia · Capital: Malé
Maldives is a country in Asia, home to about 520,000 people across 298 km². Its capital is Malé. It is an island nation with no land borders.
Key facts
Capital
Malé
Region
Asia
Population
~520,000 people
Area
298 km²
Density
1,745 people per km²
Coastline
Island nation
Hemisphere
Both hemispheres
Crossed by
The equator
Drives on the
Left
Language
Dhivehi
Standard time zones
1
Highest point
5 m
Head of state
Not a monarch
Member of
Commonwealth of Nations
Flag colors
red, green, white
Flag features
a crescent
How Maldives ranks
- 8th smallest country in the world by area.
- One of the flattest countries on Earth — nothing rises above 5 m.
- 4th most densely populated country in the world.
- One of 40 countries on Earth with no land border at all.
Every ranking is computed from the facts above — see the full record tables.
Which countries border Maldives?
Maldives shares no land border with another sovereign state.
Maldives in the game
Every puzzle gives three clues that exactly one country satisfies. Maldives is a deep cut — answers this obscure only show up in hard puzzles. These are the 28 clues from the pool that are true of Maldives, rarest first — the fewer countries share a clue, the harder it works for you on the board.
- Has a coastline on the Arabian Sea1 of 6
- The equator passes through it1 of 13
- Its flag features a crescent moon1 of 14
- Its name begins with “M”1 of 18
- Its capital city's name begins with “M”1 of 19
- Has more than 350 people per km²1 of 23
- Has no point higher than 500 m above sea level1 of 23
- Is an archipelago1 of 28
- Its name and its capital city begin with the same letter1 of 28
- Has an area smaller than 10,000 km²1 of 32
- Has fewer than 1 million people1 of 37
- Has no land borders1 of 40
- Has no point higher than 1,000 m above sea level1 of 41
- Is an island nation1 of 47
- Is in Asia1 of 48
- Drives on the left1 of 54
- Is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations1 of 56
- Has an area smaller than 50,000 km²1 of 69
- Has fewer people than Ireland1 of 74
- Its flag contains green1 of 83
- Borders fewer than 3 countries1 of 84
- Is smaller than Portugal1 of 86
- Has an area smaller than 100,000 km²1 of 88
- Is smaller than Iceland1 of 89
- Lies entirely within the tropics1 of 90
- Has fewer than 10 million people1 of 100
- Has exactly one official language1 of 130
- Has an area smaller than 500,000 km²1 of 144
Common questions about Maldives
- Which countries border Maldives?
- Maldives shares no land border with another sovereign state.
- What is the capital of Maldives?
- The capital of Maldives is Malé.
- Is Maldives landlocked?
- No — Maldives is an island nation.
- What language is spoken in Maldives?
- Maldives has one official language, Dhivehi.
Facts reviewed June 2025. Populations are rounded estimates; area includes inland water.