How Many Maldives Islands Are There?

Have you ever wondered how many islands in the Maldives? It is the initial question that appears in the head of travellers admiring the crystal clear blue waters, the powder white beaches, and the final escape to the daily routine. I will also guide you on a close tour around the archipelago in this blog, guide you through the figures, and provide you with a personal experience of the process of booking a dream holiday with World Holiday Vibes. By the finish, not only will you be aware of the precise figures, but you will get to experience the heart-beat of the Maldives, and how to select the appropriate island to spend your next holiday.

A panorama of the Archipelago.

When you pose the question of how many Maldives islands are there, the official response that you will get on the government Web site is simply staggering: a number of approximately 1,192 islands spread out across 26 natural atolls. These islands create a vast system of 90,000 square kilometres of the Indian ocean that gives the Maldives its special geography characterised by coral reefs, lagoons, and a system of small islets. However, the figure on the paper is not the entire story. The majority of these islands are very small, deserted and merely a part of the largest coral ecosystem in the world. Knowledge of the settlement of such islands, the number of those that are inhabited, those that are developed into luxury resorts, and those that remain natural assists the travellers to make well-informed decisions.

Inhabited Islands: Where Life Thrives

The Maldives has been mythologized as an overwater bungalow heaven but much of the attraction is in the number of islands in the Maldives that are inhabited by people. Of the 1,192 islands, only about 200 are occupied and each of them has a small community of Maldivian families carrying on with traditional fishing methods, colourful markets and distinctive cultural activities. A trip to a populated Island will provide an insight into the lives of the people living along the bluest water. One day of my stay I was in the Maldives island holidays where I sampled fresh seafood in the area, saw craftsmen making traditional mats and I also got to learn the history of the place which has been a fishing ground all along. These islands serve as a living beacon to the fact that the Maldives is not merely a chain of resort islands but an ecosystem-cultural mosaic.

Everything starts with a private island in the Allure of the Maldives.

When you are counting how many Maldives islands are there, do remember that approximately 164 islands have been transformed into the exclusive resorts. The resorts are usually situated on their own island and are characterised by privacy, personal beaches and a dining experience in the world. The thought of being on a Maldives private island is too much to resist: there is no one around, no traffic, only a close unity with the sea and the sky. On my last visit, when I was booked on World Holiday Vibes, I was taken to what was advertised as the best private island experience to spend. Picture waking up in a glass-bottomed over water villa to go out on to a white sand beach and have your own butler to bring your favourite cocktail as you hear the lush lullaby of the waves. This is what a private island getaway is all about.

Uninhabited and Unspoiled

The other islands are the ones that are not inhabited at all or even converted into resorts and these islands are more or less uninhabited. Some of them are utilised as farmlands, others as fishing or conservational purposes. Some of them are sometimes open as day trips, picnics and eco-tourism. It is possible to have a Maldive island as a personal paradise when no one is around, and several tourists like to discover one of these secret spots and have a silent awe-inspiring experience. Their pristine beaches are ideal to snorkel their way through colourful coral reefs or lying on the beach and knowing that the only thing that breaks the daytime are the gulls calling in the distance.

My experience with World Holiday Vibes is as follows.

In my recent holiday, I thought of trying out the concept of making a booking of a Maldives island holiday package in World Holiday Vibes. They excel in personalised itineraries, featuring a fast flight between a busy international airport and a peaceful private resort, a day on a populated island, and a sunset cruise around a deserted and pristine isle. The reservation was so convenient- World Holiday Vibes arranged all the transfers, visas and even advised the most appropriate time to visit each of the islands according to the monsoon season. I found myself staying in a resort island that had its own lagoon and my days were spent snorkelling, spa sessions and evening sunsets that turned the sky pink and orange. The individual touch points such as a welcome present of local spices and a map of the local reefs made the experience just really memorable.

Summary

• Total islands: ~1,192 (across 26 atolls)
• Populated islands: ~200 and each is a lively group of Maldivians.
• Resort islands: they are approximately 164, most of which are individual private islands.
• Uninhabited islands: The rest, utilised either in nature or as agricultural lands or left untouched.

Therefore, how many Maldives islands are there? The answer is 1,192. However, the question that you will be more interested in asking yourself is; Which kind of island will your holiday style be? The Maldives can be as intimate as exploring the culture of a people who live on an inhabited island, as decadent as hanging on your own personal resort, or as remote as an island with no people.

These figures are something to remember when planning your next adventure and the beauty of the coral reefs, the luxury of the resorts and the warmth of the local communities can be your guides. And when you are considering a stress-free process of booking your dream getaway, you can even think about World Holiday Vibes. They will take you through the process of booking until your last sunset on that deserted white-sand beach.

Spend your time in the Maldives and each of the islands will have a story and each sunset will promise you a new start.

Final Thoughts

The question like how many Maldives islands are there is not a number but a gateway to a new world of various experiences. Out of the busy life of the populated islands up to the remote privacy of personal resorts and the flawless natural charm of the atolls inhabited by no one, there is a tale that would be written on every island. You may be a first-time traveller or an experienced one, but either way, World Holiday Vibes will see you through this paradise of the options, and experience the Maldives in all its astounding beauty.

Frequently Asked Questions