01Free
The 30-second card
Visa · United States passport
Visa on arrival · up to 30 daysSource: U.S. Department of State · Checked 25 Oct 2026 ↗SIM and eSIM
Two operators, Dhiraagu and Ooredoo, sell prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs with data at fair prices.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Cards or cash
Mostly cashMostly cards
Step 3 of 5: Cash and cards are used about equally, so it pays to carry some of each.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Money in Maldives
Maldivian Rufiyaa · MVR
Keep the exchange receipt: it is needed to change leftover rufiyaa back at the airport.
Local cafés called hotaa in Malé serve a full Maldivian meal from about Rf20 (US$6).
Divers can save by choosing a liveaboard boat over a resort.
Ask about extras before diving: boats, guides and bigger tanks can each cost more.
Collect Maldivian Rufiyaa in CointryOur sister app for coin and banknote collectors · cointry.appOpenPublic holidays in the next 12 months
Mon, 8 Feb 2027–8 Mar · Ramadan (expected date)
Tue, 9 Mar 2027 · Eid al-Fitr (expected date)
Sun, 16 May 2027 · Eid al-Adha (expected date)
02Free
Safety today
Germany, the US and the UK publish their travel advice openly. Here is what those that cover Maldives say, side by side, checked daily.
German Foreign Office says
No travel warning
Calm ●
Caution
Serious
Don’t go
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
U.S. Department of State says
Exercise increased caution
Calm
Caution ●
Serious
Don’t go
Level 2 of 4
Source: travel.state.gov
Updated 6 Oct 2025 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 6 Oct 2025 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
UK Foreign Office says
No advice against travel
Source: GOV.UK
Updated 12 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 12 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Countrywise is a summary. The official page is authoritative.
03Free
Health
Routine shots incl. measles; hepatitis A and B if unvaccinated; typhoid for most visitors.
Vaccinations
Be up to date on routine shots including measles; hepatitis A and B are advised for unvaccinated travellers, and typhoid for most visitors.
Talk to a travel clinic 4–8 weeks before you go.
Source: CDC
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Summarised from the CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages. Using them does not mean the CDC endorses Countrywise.
04Travel layer
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What’s different from home, and what’s the lawMust-see places, free entry and World Heritage sites20 words to remember, with pronunciationStrange and surprising factsThe anthem and national symbolsSaved for offline use
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Deep facts
| GDP | ≈ $7.7 billionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Per person | ≈ $14,615Source: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Top exports | fish, aircraft, refined petroleum, scrap iron, natural gas (2023)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Population | 529,676Source: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Life expectancy | 77.4 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2024 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim (official)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Area | 298 km²Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Climate | tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Terrain | flat coral atolls, with white sandy beaches; sits atop the submarine volcanic Chagos-Laccadive RidgeSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Type of government | presidential republicSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Calling code | +960Source: libphonenumber · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗ |
About the data
Written from the sources we link, and checked against them before each release. Countrywise summarises public sources. We are not an official source. For safety and entry rules, always follow the official page we link to.
From your foreign ministry when it publishes its advice openly (Germany, the US, the UK). Otherwise we show those three side by side. Checked daily, with the date next to every entry.
CDC · 24 Oct 2026 ↗GOV.UK · 24 Oct 2026 ↗IANA Time Zone Database · 23 Oct 2026 ↗libphonenumber · 24 Oct 2026 ↗The World Factbook (archive) · 23 Oct 2026 ↗U.S. Department of State · 25 Oct 2026 ↗Umm al-Qura calendar (computed with ICU) · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Unicode CLDR · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikidata · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikivoyage · 24 Oct 2026 ↗World Bank · 23 Oct 2026 ↗
Flag artwork from flag-icons (MIT licence).
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