Maldives

Where the name comes from

Maldives is often linked to Sanskrit mālā, “garland”, and dvīpa, “island”; competing South Asian explanations make the origin uncertain.

First people

South Asian settlement and Indian Ocean trade shaped the islands, which converted to Islam in 1153.¹

Known for

The Maldives averages about 1.5 metres above sea level, the world’s lowest-lying country, so sea-level rise threatens its coral islands.²

Outside contact

Portugal occupied the islands in 1558–1573, and British protection began in 1887.¹

The modern country

Independence came in 1965, and a republic followed in 1968.¹