Asia

Flag of the Maldives

The Maldives is an archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean south of India, consisting of 26 coral atolls and more than 1,000 individual coral islands. It is the world's lowest-lying country, with an average ground elevation of just 1.5 metres above sea level, making it acutely vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Maldives has developed a successful tourism economy centred on its legendary overwater bungalows, crystal-clear lagoons, and exceptional marine biodiversity.

CapitalMale
RegionAsia
Current flag since1965
Main coloursRed, Green, White
Populationabout 520,000
Areaabout 300 km²
GeographyIsland nation
Flags in history3

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of the Maldives means

Red represents the courage of the nation's heroes, green peace and prosperity, and the white crescent the Islamic faith. The earliest flags of the Maldivian sultans were plain red; the green rectangle and crescent were added in the early 20th century, and the current flag dates from 1965, when the country became independent from Britain.

More about the flag

The Maldives is a chain of about 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, and the lowest-lying country in the world, with an average height of about 1.5 metres above sea level. The crescent faces the fly. The capital, Malé, is one of the most densely populated cities on Earth. The country became independent from Britain on 26 July 1965.

How to recognise it

Red border, green centre rectangle, white crescent.

Did you know?

The Maldives is the flattest country on Earth and the most at-risk nation from rising sea levels.

Easily confused with

The Maldives' flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Flag history of the Maldives

Every flag that has flown over the Maldives, from today back through time.

1965–present

Flag of the Maldives

Adopted at independence in 1965; the black-and-white hoist stripes were removed, leaving the red field, green panel, and white crescent opening toward the fly.

1953–1965

Republic flag (striped hoist)

On becoming a republic in 1953, a green rectangle with a white crescent was set on the red field, with black-and-white "Dhandimathi" stripes still at the hoist.

1926–1953

Red flag with crescent

The white crescent was added to the historic plain red flag around 1926, with the black-and-white striped hoist band.

Related historical states

Empires, kingdoms and republics that once covered part of the Maldives.

1959–1963

United Suvadive Republic

The three southern atolls of the Maldives broke away under Abdullah Afeef for four years; their blue-green-red flag carried a crescent and three stars before the rebellion collapsed.