Population, GDP, natural resources, leaders and history of Maldives: the Magna Factbook country file, with its Magna grade (MCC, ranked #132 of 195).
Maldives is a presidential republic in Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India. The country's capital is Malé; it covers 298 sq km. Independence: 26 July 1965 (from the UK). Terrain: flat coral atolls, with white sandy beaches; sits atop the submarine volcanic Chagos-Laccadive Ridge. Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August). Population: 389,000 (2024 estimate). Population growth: +0.24% per year. Median age: 32.4 years. Life expectancy: 77.4 years (2024 est.). Languages: Dhivehi (official, closely related to Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government…
| Capital | Malé |
|---|---|
| Population | 388,858 (2024 est.) |
| GDP (PPP) | $12.325 billion (2024 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $23,400 (2024 est.) |
| Real GDP growth | 5.1% (2024 est.) |
| Inflation | 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% |
| Public debt | 61.7% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Exports | $5.413 billion (2024 est.) |
| Imports | $5.344 billion (2024 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 77.4 years (2024 est.) |
| Median age | 32.4 |
| Urbanization | 42% of total population (2023) |
| Government | presidential republic |
| Independence | 26 July 1965 (from the UK) |
| Languages | Dhivehi (official, closely related to Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials) |
MCC · 43/100 — The Magna grade is our 0–100 composite of structural national power — five dimensions, 100+ indicators. It is the Bureau's own assessment, not a mirror of World Bank or CIA figures.
Momentum 0 — Quarterly momentum: the Bureau's read on the country's trajectory over the last quarter, from −10 (deteriorating fast) to +10 (accelerating).
No single event defined Jul–Sep 2026. The country's position is the product of long-cycle forces — geography, trade, neighbours — all of which held steady.
Momentum at zero is not stagnation; it is the accurate record of a quarter without a catalyst.
Mohamed Muizzu — President. President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023)
Maldives maintains 17 embassies and 2 consulates abroad. The breadth of a diplomatic network is a direct measure of diplomatic power — it shows how far a country’s influence, alliances and interests reach.
| Embassies abroad | 17 |
|---|---|
| Consulates abroad | 2 |
Source: Outbound: Consular Affairs Center (Yonsei Univ.), diplomatic & consular networks database, February 2026 report (Zenodo).
Transport networks are economic power made physical — ports, runways, railways and pipelines decide what a country can move, sell and defend.
| Sea access | Coastal — 644 km of coastline. |
|---|---|
| Airports (total) | 20 (registration prefix 8Q) |
| Major seaports | Male |
Gan International Airport (GAN) — Gan; Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ) — Haa Dhaalu Atoll; Velana International Airport (MLE) — Malé; Kaadedhdhoo Airport (KDM) — Huvadhu Atoll; Kadhdhoo Airport (KDO) — Kadhdhoo; Maafaru International Airport (NMF) — Noonu Atoll; Villa International Airport Maamigili (VAM) — Maamigili.
Sources: OurAirports public-domain extract (2026-10-02); per-entry Wikipedia links included; CIA World Factbook via cia_factbook snapshot (2026-09-28)
| Political system | presidential republic |
|---|---|
| Next election | No election currently scheduled. |
MCC · 43 Ranked #132 of 195 countries in the Magna Country Rankings. Full ranking breakdown for Maldives.
Historical timeline of Maldives
