What animals live in Maldives?

The Maldives sits in the Indian Ocean as a chain of tiny coral islands, and the water around those islands is packed with life. Reef fish in every stripe and color dart through the coral — parrotfish, clownfish, and lionfish are just a few. Green sea turtles glide through the lagoons, and spinner dolphins ride the waves near the boats. The biggest visitors of all are whale sharks — the largest fish on earth — which cruise through Maldivian waters looking for tiny plankton to filter through their wide mouths. Manta rays with wingspans wider than a car soar through the deeper channels too. Above the water, fruit bats hang in the palm trees at night, and white terns nest on the islands. Most of the Maldives wildlife lives in or near that warm blue sea — it is truly one of the most richly stocked ocean neighborhoods on the planet.

What do kids eat in Maldives?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in the Maldives eat a lot of fish — it is the most important food on these islands. One favorite dish is 'mas huni,' which is tuna mixed with coconut, onion, and chili, often eaten with flatbread called 'roshi' for breakfast. Rusty loves this part — because the Maldives is made up of over a thousand small islands surrounded by the Indian Ocean, fresh fish is caught every single day. Rice and fish curry is a staple meal, and kids often snack on fresh tropical fruits like papaya and banana. The ocean shapes almost everything people eat here!

How do people say hello in Maldives?

In the Maldives, people speak a language called Dhivehi, and the most common greeting is 'Assalamu Alaikum' — which comes from Arabic and means 'Peace be upon you.' Since almost everyone in the Maldives is Muslim, this greeting is used all day long, whether you are meeting a friend or a shopkeeper. A shorter, more casual way to say hello in Dhivehi is 'Kihineh?' which is a bit like asking 'How are you?' or 'How's it going?' Knowing even one or two words in someone's language is a great way to show respect — and missionaries who go to the Maldives work hard to learn Dhivehi so they can share the good news about Jesus in words people truly understand.

What sports or games do kids play in Maldives?

Herman here, with Rusty peering over my shoulder at the map! Kids in the Maldives love football — that's soccer — and you'll find them playing it on beaches and small fields across the islands. Because the Maldives is made up of hundreds of tiny coral islands surrounded by the Indian Ocean, swimming and fishing are also big parts of life from a very young age. Rusty wants to add that a traditional game called 'bashi' is popular too — it's a bat-and-ball game that Maldivian girls have played for generations, kind of like their own version of baseball. Many kids also enjoy boduberu drumming and dancing, which is a big part of Maldivian culture. When you think about all these kids on their island homes, it's worth knowing that almost all of them have never heard the good news about Jesus — which is why we pray that missionaries and local believers will find ways to share that message with them.

What's the weather like in Maldives?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! The Maldives sits right on the equator in the Indian Ocean, so it is warm and humid just about every single day of the year. Temperatures stay close to 86°F (30°C) most of the time — there is no real winter here. Rusty wants to add that the Maldives has two main seasons: a dry season from November to April, and a rainy season from May to October when big monsoon winds bring heavy rain and choppy seas. But even during the rainy season, the sun often comes back out the same afternoon. The islands sit so low in the ocean — most are less than six feet above the water — that the sea and sky feel like they are everywhere you look.

Tell me a fun fact about Maldives.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along — the Maldives is made up of about 1,200 tiny coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, and almost all of them are so flat that the highest point in the whole country is barely taller than a grown man! You could walk across many of these islands in just a few minutes. Rusty wants to add this: because the islands sit so low in the water, fishermen there have been skilled at reading the ocean and the sky for hundreds of years to stay safe at sea. The people of the Maldives have a long history on the water — and what a reminder that God made this wide, wild ocean and knows every person living on every one of those small islands by name.

What is school like for kids in Maldives?

Great question to wonder about! In the Maldives, kids go to school on their home island — but here's the tricky part: the Maldives is made up of about 1,200 small islands scattered across the Indian Ocean. If a child lives on a tiny island with only a few families, there might not be a full school nearby. Some kids have to leave their families and move to a bigger island just to keep studying. The Maldives follows Islam as its official religion, so Islamic studies are a big part of what kids learn in school every day. The national language is Dhivehi, which has its own unique script that looks quite different from the alphabet you might know. Most Maldivian children also learn English. One thing Herman and Rusty think about is that very few people in the Maldives have ever heard the good news about Jesus — which means Christian kids around the world have a real reason to pray for the children there.

Who are the unreached people in Maldives?

The Maldives is a chain of nearly 1,200 small coral islands in the Indian Ocean, and almost everyone who lives there — about 99% — is Maldivian and Muslim. These are called the Maldivian people, and they are considered 'unreached' because very few of them have ever heard the good news about Jesus in a real and clear way. In fact, it is against the law there to share the gospel with Maldivians or to leave Islam. This means that local Christians face serious dangers, and there are very few known believers among the Maldivian people. Missionaries cannot simply walk in and preach openly — doors are mostly closed. But Herman and Rusty know this: no door is too shut for God. He can reach people through radio, through the internet, through dreams, and through the quiet courage of believers nearby. That is why prayer for the Maldivian people matters so much.

How can I pray for the people of Maldives?

The Maldives is a country of about 1,200 small islands in the Indian Ocean, and almost everyone there follows Islam. Sharing the gospel openly is very difficult, and Maldivian citizens who trust in Jesus can face serious trouble from their families and government. You can pray that God opens hearts to hear the good news about Jesus, even in hard places. Pray for the small number of secret believers in the Maldives — that they stay strong, find other Christians, and are kept safe. Pray also that missionaries and Christian workers find open doors to share who Jesus really is, and that one day the Bible will be freely read in the Dhivehi language by people eager to know God.

What is a holiday or celebration in Maldives?

One of the biggest celebrations in the Maldives is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan — a month when Muslims fast from food and drink during daylight hours. When Eid arrives, people put on their best clothes, share special foods, visit family, and gather for prayers at mosques across the islands. The Maldives is one of the most Muslim countries in the world, and almost everyone there follows Islam. That means very few people in the Maldives have heard the good news about Jesus as Savior. Sharing the gospel there is difficult, and Maldivian Christians face real hardship for their faith. That makes the Maldives a place worth remembering in prayer — that somehow, some way, people on those beautiful islands would get the chance to hear about Jesus.

What language do people speak in Maldives?

The people of the Maldives speak a language called Dhivehi. It is spoken almost nowhere else in the world, which makes it quite unique! Dhivehi has its own special script called Thaana, which is written from right to left. Dhivehi has been spoken in the Maldives for hundreds of years, and it has picked up some words from Arabic, Persian, and even Portuguese along the way — like footprints left by old traders and travelers. Here is something worth knowing: the Bible has not been fully translated into Dhivehi. That means many Maldivians have never had the chance to read God's Word in their own heart language. That is one big reason missionaries and Bible translators care so deeply about this small island nation.

What's a famous place to visit in Maldives?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! The Maldives is a chain of about 1,200 tiny coral islands in the Indian Ocean, and one of the most well-known spots is Malé, the capital city. It is one of the smallest capital cities in the world, packed with people, markets, and mosques all on one small island. Rusty wants to add that the underwater coral reefs around the Maldives are some of the most striking in the world — fishermen and divers have explored them for centuries. Most of the people who live in the Maldives are Muslim, and very few have had a chance to hear about Jesus. That is something worth remembering as you explore this place on the map.

Maldives — Kids Missions Explorer

Whale Shark

The whale shark is the largest fish in the ocean and visits Maldivian waters to feed on tiny plankton near the surface, often letting snorkelers swim alongside it.

Manta Ray

Manta rays glide through the warm Indian Ocean around Maldives like underwater kites, sometimes leaping fully out of the water in a behavior scientists still do not fully understand.

Green Sea Turtle

Green sea turtles nest on Maldivian beaches and can hold their breath for up to seven hours while resting on the ocean floor.

Mas Huni

Mas huni is a breakfast dish made from shredded tuna, coconut, onion, and chili, eaten by scooping it up with a flatbread called roshi.

Garudhiya

Garudhiya is a clear, fragrant tuna broth served with rice, lime, and chili that Maldivians have eaten as a daily staple for centuries.

Bis Keemiya

Bis keemiya are crispy pastries filled with egg, cabbage, and tuna that are a popular street snack eaten during the evening.

Maldives

Things you should know about Maldives

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

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Life in Maldives

Missions in Maldives

Pray for Maldives