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List of islands of the Maldives

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of islands of the Maldives. There are 1,192 in total, of which 187 are inhabited.[1] They are listed by administrative division/atoll. The islands are divided into:

  • Inhabited islands- those officially recognized as towns, villages, fishing, and farming communities with permanent human habitation. They all have an island office and island chiefs (councilor and "katheeb").[2]
  • Uninhabited islands- islands with no permanent human habitations. They are sometimes used for agricultural and industrial purposes, and more recently as tourist resorts and picnic islands. Some of these islands are valuable breeding grounds for various species of seabirds and sea turtles.
  • Disappeared islands- islands which during recorded history, have been completely eroded away, claimed by the sea due to the sea level rise or assimilated by other islands. Some of these islands were previously inhabited and have been important in the history of the country. Some natural atolls are named after them (islands of Thiladhoo and Addu after which Thiladhunmati and Addu atoll are named respectively) while others are thought to have been the sites of the first settlements in the Maldives (Ihadhoo- meaning seen first and possibly the first settlement of the Maldives).[3]

Islands by area size

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This list ranks the top 10 islands of the Maldives by area.

Some islands in the Maldives, although geographically one island, are divided into two administrative islands (for example, Gan and Maandhoo in Laamu Atoll). For such cases, this list ranks the entire (combined) area of the geographical island.

Inland water bodies such as lakes and ponds are included in the total area.

Rank Island Atoll Total area Population
(2014)[4]
(km2)[5] (sq mi)
1 Gamu-Maandhoo Laamu 7.3 2.81 2,809 (Gan)
2 Hithadhoo Seenu 5.4 2.08 10,398
3 Fuvahmulah Gnaviyani 4.9 1.89 13,037
4 Hulhumalé Kaafu 4.0 1.54 14,843
5 Hulhumeedhoo Seenu 3.9 1.50 3,113 (combined)
6 Isdhoo-Kalaidhoo Laamu 3.6 1.38 1,461 (combined)
7 Gan Seenu 3.3 1.27 -
8 Hanimaadhoo Haa Dhaalu 3.1 1.19 1,618
9 Hulhulé Kaafu 3.0 1.15 -
10 Filladhoo-Dhapparu Haa Alif 2.6 1.00 562 (Filladhoo)

Note: The combined area of Malé, Hulhulé and Hulhumalé exceeds 9 km2, which surpasses the area of the largest natural island in the Maldives. However, these three together are considered to be a city, not an island.

List of inhabited islands and districts by population

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Atoll or city Island Population[6]
2022 2014
Malé (City) Malé (Island) 137,433
  • 34,081
  • 28,600
  • 27,824
  • 46,928
 125,969
  • 31,391
  • 25,788
  • 26,002
  • 42,788
Hulhumalé (Island) 66,526
  • 65,724
  • 802
 17,516
  • 17,149
  • 367
Vilimalé (District - Island) 6,754 7,988
Harbours (District) 1,425 1,438
Addu Atoll - Seenu Atoll (Addu City) Hithadhoo (Addu Atoll) 13,745 11,129
Maradhoo (Island) 3,943
  • 2,547
  • 1,396
 3,602
  • 2,374
  • 1,228
Feydhoo (Addu Atoll) 4,291 3,431
Hulhumeedhoo (Island) 3,074
  • 1,182
  • 1,892
 3,113
  • 1,242
  • 1,871
Alif Alif Atoll Bodufolhudhoo 697 608
Feridhoo 543 441
Himandhoo 884 724
Maalhos (Alif Alif Atoll) 516 434
Mathiveri 874 662
Rasdhoo 1,286 1,067
Thoddoo 1,923 1,534
Ukulhas 1,274 1,005
Dhaalu Atoll Bandidhoo 630 793
Hulhudheli 761 719
Kudahuvadhoo 3,132 2,447
Maaenboodhoo 675 621
Meedhoo (Dhaalu Atoll) 1,113 929
Rinbudhoo 317 277
Faafu Atoll Bileddhoo 964 914
Dharanboodhoo 454 400
Feeali 922 839
Magoodhoo (Faafu Atoll) 693 549
Nilandhoo (Faafu Atoll) 1,825 1,663
Gaafu Alif Atoll Dhaandhoo 1,045 1,077
Dhevvadhoo 598 584
Gemanafushi 1,307 1,223
Kanduhulhudhoo 616 533
Kolamaafushi 635 958
Kondey 328 272
Maamendhoo 1,197 1,137
Nilandhoo (Gaafu Alif Atoll) 542 600
Villingili 2,906 2,837
Gnaviyani Atoll Fuvahmulah (City) 9,166 8,510
Haa Alif Atoll Baarah 1,141 1,215
Dhiddhoo (Haa Alif) 3,408 2,854
Filladhoo 559 584
Hoarafushi 1,831 1,826
Ihavandhoo 2,866 2,575
Kelaa 1,117 1,074
Maarandhoo (Haa Alif) 667 671
Mulhadhoo 286 230
Muraidhoo 534 467
Thakandhoo 279 354
Thuraakunu 427 421
Uligamu 400 383
Utheemu 612 569
Vashafaru 476 449
Haa Dhaalu Atoll Finey 409 409
Hanimaadhoo 2,645 1,951
Hirimaradhoo 293 335
Kulhudhuffushi (City) 10,251 8,440
Kumundhoo 996 886
Kurinbi 492 463
Makunudhoo (Haa Dhaalu Atoll) 1,265 1,282
Naivaadhoo 495 417
Nellaidhoo 1,036 859
Neykurendhoo 641 743
Nolhivaramu 1,980 1,892
Nolhivaranfaru 1,255 1,081
Vaikaradhoo 776 783
Kaafu Atoll Dhiffushi (Kaafu Atoll) 1,274 1,053
Gaafaru 1,289 1,066
Gulhi 976 912
Guraidhoo (Kaafu Atoll) 1,739 1,738
Himmafushi 2,015 1,725
Huraa 1,654 1,300
Kaashidhoo 2,450 1,865
Maafushi 4,499 3,025
Thulusdhoo 1,818 1,408
Lhaviyani Atoll Hinnavaru 2,288 2,497
Kurendhoo 1,171 1,259
Naifaru 4,814 4,103
Olhuvelifushi 696 521
Meemu Atoll Dhiggaru (Meemu Atoll) 1,096 984
Kolhufushi 790 735
Maduvvaree (Meemu Atoll) 318 369
Mulah 1,423 1,275
Muli 940 860
Naalaafushi 430 424
Raimmandhoo 170 112
Veyvah 304 263
Vaavu Atoll Felidhoo (Vaavu Atoll) 618 506
Fulidhoo 399 372
Keyodhoo (Vaavu Atoll) 642 675
Rakeedhoo 77 106
Thinadhoo (Vaavu Atoll) 259 152
Maldives (total) 515,122 402,071

North Thiladhunmathi (HA) (Haa Alif Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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South Thiladhunmathi (HDh) (Haa Dhaalu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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North Miladhunmadulu (Funadhuffaaru) (Sh) (Shaviyani Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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  • Bis Huraa
  • Dhigu Rah
  • Dhiguvelldhoo
  • Dholhiyadhoo
  • Dholhiyadhoo Kudarah
  • Dhonveli-huraa
  • Ekasdhoo
  • Eriyadhoo
  • Farukolhu
  • Fushifaru
  • Firunbaidhoo
  • Gaakoshinbi
  • Gallaidhoo
  • Hirubadhoo
  • Hurasfaruhuraa
  • Kabaalifaru
  • Keekimimi
  • Kudafaruboduhuraa
  • kudafaruhuraagandu
  • kudafaruhuraa
  • Killissafaruhuraa
  • Kudalhaimendhoo
  • Madidhoo
  • Madikurendhdhoo
  • Maleehuraa
  • Mathikomandoo
  • Maakandoodhoo
  • Medhurah
  • Medhukunburudhoo
  • Migoodhoo
  • Naainfarufinolhu
  • Naalaahuraa
  • Nalandhoo
  • Naruibudhoo
  • Neyo
  • thabeyhuraa
  • Vagaru

Disappeared Islands

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South Miladhunmadulu (N) (Noonu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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  • Kulhimila (unconfirmed)
  • Kudavattaru (unconfirmed)
  • Koalaa

North Maalhosmadulu (R) (Raa Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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South Maalhosmadulu (B) (Baa Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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Faadhippolhu (Lh) (Lhaviyani Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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Male' (K) Atoll (Kaafu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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North Ari Atoll (AA) (Alif Alif Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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South Ari Atoll (ADh) (Alif Dhaal Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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Felidhu Atoll (V) (Vaavu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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Mulakatholhu (M) (Meemu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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North Nilandhe Atoll (F) (Faafu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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South Nilandhe Atoll (Dh) (Dhaalu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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Kolhumadulu (Th) (Thaa Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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Hadhdhunmathi (L) (Laamu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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North Huvadhu Atoll (GA) (Gaafu Alif Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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South Huvadhu Atoll (GDh) (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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Fuvahmulah (Gn) (Gnaviyani Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Taking into consideration the geography of the island along with its size and population, the 8 wards of Fuvahmulah are officially recognised as administrative divisions which act as the replacement for islands in other atolls. They are Dhadimago, Diguvāndo, Hōdhado, Mādhado, Miskimmago, Funādo, Mālegan, Dūndigan. For each ward a chief ('Katheeb') was appointed as in charge of the day-to-day affairs of the respective ward and held accountable for an Atoll chief. According to the Decentralisation Act 2010 an island council too have to be elected for each division of the island. There was formerly a ninth ward named Dhashokubaa which was merged with Miskimmago.[7]

Addu Atoll (Seenu Atoll)

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Inhabited Islands

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Uninhabited Islands

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Disappeared Islands

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Maldives Bureau of Statistics > Maldives in Figures – June 2021".
  2. ^ Godfrey, Tim. Maldives, Travellers and Divers Map: Islands, Resorts, Dive Sites, Protected Marine Areas, Surfing Locations. Apollo Bay, Vic., Australia: Atoll Editions, 1999. ISBN 1-876410-30-2
  3. ^ Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī. Malé 1999.
  4. ^ "Maldives 2014 Census - National Bureau of Statistics" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Maldives Geographical Land Area Survey 2019". 13 February 2019.
  6. ^ "population of maldives 2022 - 2014" (PDF).
  7. ^ Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom, Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5
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