The Maldives

Republic of Maldives ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ (Maldivian) Dhivehi Raa'jeyge Jumhooriyya
Flag Emblem
Anthem: Qaumii salaam National Salute
Location of Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
Capital and largest city	Malé
Official languages	Maldivian (Dhivehi)
Ethnic groups (2011)	≈100% Maldiviansa
Religion	Islam
Demonym	Maldivian
Government	Unitary presidential constitutional republic
• President	Abdulla Yameen
• Vice President	Abdulla Jihad
• Speaker	Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed
• Chief Justice	Abdullah Saeed
Legislature	People's Majlis
Independence
• from the United Kingdom	26 July 1965
• Current constitution	7 August 2008
Area
• Total	298 km2 (115 sq mi) (206th)
• Water (%)	0
Population
• July 2015 estimate	393,253 (175th)
• 2014 census	341,356
• Density	1,102.5/km2 (2,855.5/sq mi) (11th)
GDP (PPP)	2016 estimate
• Total	$5.407 billion (162nd)
• Per capita	$15,287 (69th)
GDP (nominal)	2016 estimate
• Total	$3.270 billion
• Per capita	$9,246
Gini (2005–2013)	37.4 medium
HDI (2014)	0.706 high · 103rd
Currency	Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR)
Time zone	Maldives Time (UTC+5)
Date format	dd/mm/yy
Drives on the	left
Calling code	+960
ISO 3166 code	MV
Internet TLD	.mv
Excluding foreign nationals.

(Maldivian)

The Maldives (/ˈmɒldiːvz/, /ˈmɔːldiːvz/, ⁱ/ˈmɔːldaɪvz/ or /ˈmældaɪvz/), officially the Republic of Maldives (Maldivian: ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, Dhivehi Raa'jeyge Jumhooriyya), is a South Asian island country, located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Arabian Sea. It lies southwest of India and Sri Lanka. The chain of twenty-six atolls stretches from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to the Addu City in the south. Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), the Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed countries, as well as the smallest Asian country by both land area and population, with a little over 393,500 inhabitants. Malé is the capital and most populated city, traditionally called the "King's Island" for its central location.