Maldives at its true size

Maldives covers 298 km², number 208 of 235 by area. Home to 529,676 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.

Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
Area298 km² Wikidata
Population529,676 World Bank, 2025
Density1,777 per km²
CapitalMale
RegionSouthern Asia, Seven seas (open ocean)
StatusIndependent state
CoastHas a coastline
CodesMV · MDV · 462

Countries of a similar size

How many times does Maldives fit into…

Questions about Maldives

How big is Maldives?
Maldives covers 298 km², which makes it number 208 of 235 countries and territories by area. About 529,676 people live there (2025), 1,777 per km².
Is Maldives bigger than Malta?
Maldives is 6% smaller than Malta. Maldives: 298 km²; Malta: 316 km².
How much does the Mercator map distort Maldives?
Maldives lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
Does Maldives have land borders?
No. Maldives has no land neighbours; every border is a coastline.