Where are the Maldives?

The country stretches roughly 800 kilometres from north to south across the equator, but its total land area is only about 300 square kilometres, making it Asia’s smallest country. It is the world’s lowest-lying nation, with an average ground level of about 1.5 metres above sea level. That makes it highly vulnerable to rising seas, and in 2009 its cabinet held an underwater meeting in scuba gear to highlight the threat. Tourism, led by luxury resorts that often occupy an entire island, is the backbone of the economy. The capital, Malé, is one of the most densely populated cities on Earth.