Capital of Maldives: Malé — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Maldives is Malé. Maldives sits in Asia, has a population of 523,787, and uses the MVR. Official languages include Dhivehi.
Quick facts
- Capital: Malé
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~523,787
- Area: 298 km²
- Population density: 1,758 people per km²
- Official language: Dhivehi
- Currency: MVR
- ISO code: MV
How big is Maldives?
By population, Maldives ranks 170th in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 189th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Maldives has 1,758 people per square kilometre, which is about 30 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, Maldives is the 47th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Maldives in population are Malta (533,286) and Cabo Verde (593,149).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Malta (316 km²) and Saint Kitts and Nevis (261 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Dhivehi is listed as an official language of Maldives alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
Maldives uses the MVR, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Maldives
Malé, the capital, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, packed onto a small island at the edge of North Malé Atoll. For the flag, picture a green island with a white moon, in a red sea.
The flag of Maldives: red, green and white
🇲🇻 The flag is a red flag with a large green rectangle in the centre and a white crescent moon on the green. Red stands for those who gave their lives defending the country, green for peace and prosperity, and the white crescent for Islam.
Region and neighbours
Maldives is an island country in South Asia, a chain of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean southwest of India and Sri Lanka, stretching across the equator. As an island country it has no land neighbours.
Three facts about Maldives
- The Maldives is the world's lowest-lying country: the ground is on average about 1.5 m above sea level.
- It is the smallest country in Asia, with only 298 square kilometres of land spread over about 90,000 square kilometres of sea.
- The country used to be known as the Maldive Islands.
Sources: Wikipedia: Maldives, Wikipedia: Flag of the Maldives, Wikipedia: Malé, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Maldives
- Asian capitals quiz — match Maldives to Malé
- Asian flags quiz — spot the Maldives flag among its neighbours
- Island nations quiz — Maldives is an island country
Maldives capital quiz
What is the capital of Maldives 🇲🇻?
- Thimphu
- Malé
- Ankara
- Doha
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Malé
What is the capital of Brunei 🇧🇳?
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Tbilisi
- Islamabad
- Dushanbe
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Bandar Seri Begawan
What is the capital of Bhutan 🇧🇹?
- Hanoi
- Bishkek
- Vientiane
- Thimphu
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Thimphu
What is the capital of Timor-Leste 🇹🇱?
- Dili
- Hanoi
- Tashkent
- Kabul
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Dili
What is the capital of Bahrain 🇧�
- Phnom Penh
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Manama
- Naypyidaw
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Manama
Maldives in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Maldives belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Maldives.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Maldives?
The capital of Maldives is Malé.
What is the population of Maldives?
About 523,787, making it the 170th most populous country in the world.
How big is Maldives?
298 square kilometres, ranking 189th by land area, at a density of 1,758 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Maldives use?
The MVR, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Maldives flag?
The flag of Maldives is a red flag with a large green rectangle in the centre and a white crescent moon on the green. Red stands for those who gave their lives defending the country, green for peace and prosperity, and the white crescent for Islam.
Which countries border Maldives?
None. Maldives is an island country in South Asia, a chain of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean southwest of India and Sri Lanka, stretching across the equator, so it has no land borders with other countries.
How can I remember the capital of Maldives?
Malé, the capital, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, packed onto a small island at the edge of North Malé Atoll. For the flag, picture a green island with a white moon, in a red sea.
More capitals to learn
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