Which ocean surrounds the Maldives, the island nation made up of 26 atolls?

The Maldives is surrounded by the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives is an archipelago southwest of Sri Lanka and India, extending across the equatorial Indian Ocean. Its 26 natural atolls contain nearly 1,200 coral islands, although only a fraction are inhabited. The islands are formed from coral reefs built around submerged volcanic mountain chains.

The country is famous for exceptionally low elevation. Its highest natural point is only about 2.4 metres above sea level, making the Maldives especially vulnerable to coastal erosion, storm surges, saltwater intrusion, and long-term sea-level rise. Malé, the densely populated capital, occupies a small island and is surrounded by seawalls and reclaimed land.

The Indian Ocean setting shaped Maldivian history. Monsoon winds helped connect the islands with trading communities in East Africa, Arabia, India, and Southeast Asia. Fishing, especially tuna fishing, has long been important, while tourism became a major economic sector during the late 20th century. The Maldives became independent from the United Kingdom in 1965 and became a republic in 1968.