Which ocean surrounds the Maldives, the island country southwest of Sri Lanka?

The Maldives is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. This island country lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, across a strategic part of the northern Indian Ocean. Its territory is made up of coral atolls and hundreds of small islands.

The Maldives contains 26 natural atolls, which are grouped administratively into 20 atolls. The islands formed around ancient volcanic mountains as coral reefs grew near the sea surface while the volcanic foundations subsided.

Malé, the capital, is one of the country’s most densely populated islands. Much of the Maldives is extremely low-lying; its highest natural point is generally identified as being only about 2.4 metres above sea level.

The Indian Ocean shapes Maldivian life through fishing, maritime trade, tourism, and monsoon weather. The country is often described as being in the Arabian Sea region, but the Arabian Sea is a subdivision of the Indian Ocean rather than a separate ocean.