Out of 1,192 islands of the Maldives, 187 are inhabited. [1] They are listed by administrative division/atoll. The islands are divided into:
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.
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]
The Transport in the Maldives is highly facilitated by road, bridges, highways, air and water networks. The country has no railways. Transportation in the Maldives primarily revolves around its maritime and air travel systems, given the archipelagic nature of the country, which consists of 26 atolls and over 1,000 coral islands. The absence of extensive road networks between islands necessitates a heavy reliance on boats and seaplanes for inter-island connectivity. Dhoni, traditional Maldivian wooden boats, and modern speedboats are widely used for short distances and local travel, while ferries provide regular services between inhabited islands. For longer journeys, the Maldives domestic airlines operate seaplane and airplane services that link the capital, Malé, with outlying atolls, enhancing both passenger and cargo transport across the islands.
Huvadhu, Suvadive, Suvaidu or Suvadiva is the atoll with the most islands in the world. The atoll is located in the Indian Ocean. It is south of the Suvadiva Channel in the Republic of Maldives with a total area of 3,152 km2, of which 38.5 km2 is dry land. The atoll contains 255 islands.
The Maldives are formed by 20 natural atolls, along with a few islands and isolated reefs today which form a pattern stretching from 7 degrees 10′ North to 0 degrees 45′ South. The largest of these atolls is Boduthiladhunmathi, while the atoll containing the most islands is Huvadhu.
Addu City is a city in Maldives that consists of the inhabited islands of Addu Atoll, the southernmost atoll of the archipelago. Addu City is the second-largest urban area in Maldives, in terms of population, and is one of the two urban areas to get the status of "city" other than the capital city, Malé, and Fuvahmulah. Addu City has 6 districts. They are Hithadhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo. These divisions are naturally islands, but are well connected. In addition, Addu Atoll has other uninhabited islands.
Trans Maldivian Airways (Pvt) Ltd. (TMA) is a private airline headquartered on the grounds of Velana International Airport in Malé, Maldives.
Hithadhoo is a district of Addu City, in the Maldives. Hithadhoo is the main administrative district of Addu City, with many of the administrative buildings in this district. The town is situated on the island of the same name, the westernmost of Addu Atoll. In terms of population, Hithadhoo is home to the largest population in Addu City. According to the 2014 Census, with 11,129 residents, Hithadhoo also has the largest population of any administrative island in Maldives, a category that excludes the much larger national capital, Malé.
Addu Atoll, also known as Seenu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Addu Atoll, together with Fuvahmulah, located 40 km north of Addu Atoll, extend the Maldives into the Southern Hemisphere. Addu Atoll is located 540 km south of Malé, the country's capital. Administratively, Addu Atoll is the location of Addu City, one of the four cities of the Maldives. Addu City consists of the inhabited areas of Addu Atoll, namely the natural islands of Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, and Hithadhoo.. In addition to the areas that are included as a part of Addu City, Addu Atoll has a number of other inhabited and uninhabited islands, including the island of Gan, where Gan International Airport is located.
Maradhoo-Feydhoo is a district of Addu City, in the Maldives. The district borders the district of Maradhoo to the north, as they both share the same natural island, and the district of Feydhoo to the south. After Addu City became a city, Maradhoo-Feydhoo was extended to include the previous administrative island and a part of Feydhoo. The district has a village known as Feydhooburi. People still often refer to this village by the district's name.
Thinadhoo may refer to several islands in the Maldives:
Hulhumeedhoo or Hulhudhoo-Meedhoo is an island located on the northeastern end of Addu City. It is the fifth largest island in the Maldives. Although Hulhumeedhoo is geographically one island, it is divided into two administrative constituencies of Addu City; Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo, which are roughly the northern half and southern half of the island respectively. The name Hulhumeedhoo is an amalgamation of Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo.
Kaafu Atoll is an administrative atoll in the Republic of Maldives. It consists of two separate atolls: North Malé Atoll and South Malé Atoll. Together with smaller geographic atolls of Kaashidhoo Island and Gaafaru, the group forms the administrative division of Male' Atoll which is referred to by its Thaana alphabet letter code name Kaafu Atoll.
The Administrative Divisions of the Maldives refers to the various units of government that provide local government services in the Maldives. According to the Decentralization Act 2010, the administrative divisions of the Maldives would consist of atolls, islands, and cities; each administered by their own local council, under the basic terms of home rule. Geographically, the Maldives are formed by a number of natural atolls plus a few islands and isolated reefs which form a pattern from North to South. Administratively, there are currently 189 islands, 18 atolls and 4 cities in the Maldives.
There are broad channels between the Atolls of the Maldives known locally as 'kandu'. The deepness and broadness of the channels vary from channel to channel.
Abdulla Sodiq was the first mayor of Addu City, Maldives. He was elected mayor in February 2011 for a three-year term as mandated by the newly instated Decentralization Act. He was reelected on February 1, 2014. His tenure ended in 2021 and succeeded by the current mayor Ali Nizar.
Addu City Bridge, commonly known as Addu bridge or Addu City Bridge Project, Addu Connectivity Bridge Project is a planned bridge project, which will connect capital of Addu Atoll, Hithadhoo and Meedhoo in Addu city. The estimated length of the bridge is 13 to 15 kilometres cross the Addu atoll.