26 atolls, 1,000+ islands, 90,000 km² of ocean
The country comprises 26 natural atolls, made up of more than a thousand coral islands scattered across nearly 90,000 square kilometres of ocean. Yet only a small fraction of this area is land. The true scale of the Maldives is found beneath the surface, in the reefs, lagoons and channels that shape every island and sustain life across the archipelago.
The very word 'atoll'
The very word atoll reflects this relationship with the ocean. Derived from the Dhivehi word atholhu, it entered the English language through early encounters with the Maldives and is now used worldwide to describe ring-shaped coral islands formed around lagoons.
One of the planet's richest marine environments
Warm ocean currents and clear equatorial waters have created one of the richest marine environments on the planet. Coral reefs form natural barriers that protect islands from the open sea while supporting an extraordinary diversity of marine life: thousands of species, from reef fish and sea turtles to manta rays, dolphins, and whale sharks that migrate through Maldivian seas year-round.
A way of life shaped by water
Living in such close proximity to the ocean has shaped a way of life built on awareness and adaptation. For centuries, Maldivians have understood the sea not as a boundary, but as a connector. It has guided navigation between islands, provided sustenance and fostered a deep respect for balance between people and nature.
