Land area

298 sq km

Population

407,660 (2014 Population and Housing Census of Maldives)

Major islands

Thiladhunmathi Atoll (resident population 57,078 according to 2014 census; includes Miladhunmadulu group)

Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll (resident population 15,819 in 2014 census)

Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll (resident population 9,601 in 2014 census)

Malé Atoll (resident population 14,092 in 2014 census)

Capital

Malé (population 157,935 in 2014 census)

Climate

Tropical; average temperature range: 25-32°C

Weather in Malé (altitude 2.4 metres)

Average rainfall is 1,945 mm per year. There is a dry season from January to April and a rainy season from May to December

Languages

Dhivehi (official language; English also widely spoken among officials)

Measures

Metric

Currency

Maldivian rufiyaa. Rf1 = 100 laari. Average exchange rate in 2021: Rf15.37:US$1

Fiscal year

January 1st-December 31st

Time

5 hours ahead of GMT

Public holidays

January 1st (New Year); April 3rd (beginning of Ramadan); May 1st (Labour Day); May 3rd-5th (Eid-ul Fitr); July 10th-12th (Eid-ul Adha); July 26th (Independence Day-observed); September 27th (Quamee Dhuvas); October 9th (Mawlid al-Nabi); October 26th (celebration of the day that the Maldives embraced Islam); November 3rd (Victory Day); November 11th (Republic Day)