The Maldives are a chain (the name "Maldives" means "island chain", see Mala) of 19 island groups in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka. They extend over 871 kilometers in a north-south direction until shortly south of the equator. The islands are spread over 26 atolls with coral reefs. They lie, like the Lakkadiven, on the Maldivian back. This is considered as dumped and sunken Randscholle the Indian land mass. The Maldives are not, such as Hawaii, of volcanic origin. In total, of the 1196 islands only 220 islands are inhabited, making this one of the world's most dispersed countries. The islands are all about 1 meter (m) above sea level, which makes them particularly vulnerable to the ever increasing sea level. The highest elevation of 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) is located on the island Vilingilli in Addu Atoll.

The nearby reefs provide the only shelter from the sometimes violent monsoon towers. The islands are overgrown with palm trees and breadfruit trees and surrounded by sandy beaches and clear lagoons.

The Maldives can be distinguished in islands for local people and tourist islands (like Kuramathi, Bandos, Vabbinfaru or Meerufenfushi). Maldivians are admitted on the tourist islands only as personnel. Since 2009, it is possible for tourists to vacation on local islands.