Maldives
Republic of the Maldives
Southern Asia · MDV
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Maldives
The Maldives is one of the simplest high-comfort beach trips in Asia if the goal is reef time, privacy, and a stay where the hotel and lagoon do most of the work. It is strongest as a short resort-led escape built around one atoll or one pairing of islands, not as a multi-stop sightseeing country.
Popular For
Things To See
- Malé
- Ari Atoll
- Baa Atoll
- Vaadhoo
- North Male Atoll
- Addu Atoll
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- January through March and June are the easiest broad months in the current brief.
- Most trips are better planned around one resort area or atoll instead of trying to move constantly between islands.
- This is a beach-and-water trip first, so it pays off most when the property and reef access are the main decision points.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Maldives.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Maldives Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Maldives.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Malé
- Population
- 515,132
- Area
- 300 km²
- Region
- Southern Asia
Languages
- Maldivian
Currency
Maldivian rufiyaa (.ރ)
MVR
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
51.1
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 52.7
- Restaurants
- 42.9
- Rent
- 24.6
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Malé (4.17°N, 73.51°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 0/100
- Lived safety
- 63/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionUnknown
- Adoption recognition❓
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❓
- Legal gender recognition❓
- Conversion therapy ban❓
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.766
High human development
- 5-year change
- +0.022
- 10-year change
- +0.056
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.986
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.309
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 3.0%
- Forest cover
- 2.8%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 2
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 0
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
44/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
84/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reissued Language: There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise increased caution in Maldives due to terrorism. Advisory summary Terrorist groups may attack with little or no warning. They may target: Tourist locations Transportation hubs Markets and shopping malls Local government facilities Attacks may occur on remote islands. This can lengthen the response time of authorities. If you decide to travel to Maldives: There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in the Maldives. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Monitor local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Stay aware of your surroundings. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Maldives. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for the Maldives. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of August 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data