Safest cities in Maldives
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in MaldivesTerrorist attacks in Maldives cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Political protests take place occasionally in Malé. Avoid any protests or rallies to ensure your safety and security.
Crime
- Crime levels are low in the exclusive resort islands, but petty crime does happen. Do not leave items unattended on the beach or in unlocked hotel rooms.
Laws and cultural differences
- RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. In 2026, it began on 17 February and finished on 19 March. In 2027, it may start on 7 February and last for 29 or 30 days.
- Alcohol laws and bansAlcoholic drinks are only available on resort islands. Do not take any alcohol out of your resort. You can be arrested and deported for possessing and drinking alcohol, or being intoxicated outside resorts and on inhabited islands.
- Illegal drugs penaltiesPossession, trafficking and manufacture of any illegal drugs are serious offences in Maldives and penalties can be severe. This includes cannabis, even small quantities can lead to arrest.
- Wildlife, animal products and souvenirsIt is illegal to take tortoiseshell jewellery or ornaments, or pieces of coral out of Maldives.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex relations are illegal and if you are convicted, you could get a fine or a lengthy prison sentence.
- Local dress standardsYou should be sensitive to local dress standards when outside holiday resorts, including on beaches used by locals. Men and women should:
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Swimming safetyThe sea around Maldives can have strong tidal currents that can drag you away from the shoreline resulting in drownings. It is important that you know the risks and what you can do to minimise them. Always speak to the appropriate resort staff to find out where it is safe for you to swim.
- Scuba divingMany resort islands are more than an hour away from the nearest hyperbaric chamber. Make sure you understand how your dive operator would get you to one of the 3 chambers in the islands.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive a car in Maldives, see information on driving abroad.
- Sea travelThere is a high risk of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingFlash flooding can affect low-lying islands during periods of heavy rain. Follow the advice of the local authorities.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Maldives, updated 2026-08-12 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 0.62 /100k2019
- Income inequality
- Gini 29.32019
- Human development
- HDI 0.7662023
- Income
- $25,600/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 1.6 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 65/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 58/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 39/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 2.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.70GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 11.2 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 2.2 doctors /1k4.6 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Tsunami
- 9.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Maldives (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Maldives compares
| Measure | Maldives | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.6 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −1.8 /100k — better for Maldives |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 29.3 | 35.2 | −5.9 — better for Maldives |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.766 | 0.763 | +0.003 — better for Maldives |
| Road deaths | 1.6 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −13.8 /100k — better for Maldives |
| Rule of law | 58/100 | 52/100 | +6/100 — better for Maldives |
| Corruption perceptions | 39/100 | 39/100 | ±0/100 |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 11.2 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −8.5 µg/m³ — better for Maldives |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.2/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.6/10 — better for Maldives |
| Measure | Maldives | Asia median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.6 /100k | 1.8 /100k | −1.1 /100k — better for Maldives |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 29.3 | 33.6 | −4.3 — better for Maldives |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.766 | 0.771 | −0.005 — better for Asia median |
| Road deaths | 1.6 /100k | 15.3 /100k | −13.7 /100k — better for Maldives |
| Rule of law | 58/100 | 52/100 | +6/100 — better for Maldives |
| Corruption perceptions | 39/100 | 35/100 | +5/100 — better for Maldives |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 11.2 µg/m³ | 28.6 µg/m³ | −17.4 µg/m³ — better for Maldives |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.2/10 | 3.7/10 | −1.5/10 — better for Maldives |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 1 cities, safest first
- Malé84.6 · #240 worldwide