• The Maldives is an archipelago in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean.
• It consists of 26 atolls and is situated about 750 km from mainland Asia.
• It is the smallest country in Asia, covering 298 km², with a population of 515,132 (2022).
• Malé is the capital and most populated city, known as the "King's Island."

• The islands have been inhabited for over 2,500 years, with documented outside contact starting in 947 AD.
• Islam was introduced in the 12th century, leading to the establishment of a sultanate.
• It became a British protectorate in 1887 and gained independence in 1965.

• Fishing remains important, but tourism is now the largest sector of the economy.
• The Maldives has a "high" Human Development Index and is classified as an upper-middle income economy by the World Bank.

• A member of various international organizations, it underwent a temporary withdrawal from the Commonwealth in 2016 and was readmitted in 2020.

List of newspapers published in Maldives.