World Sites & Apps
Asia · #169 · 2025–2026

Maldives: internet and everyday apps

Maldives has about 450 thousand people online — a penetration rate of 84.9% and rank #169 worldwide. This page walks through the local digital scene, the app categories people lean on, and 8 apps worth knowing.

Internet users 450 thousand Penetration 84.9% World rank #169 Updated 2026-11-12
Language ދިވެހިEnglish
TL;DR
  • Maldives has roughly 450 thousand internet users (450,000 people) — about 84.9% of the population and rank #169 globally.
  • The apps people open most: WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. They cover Messaging, Social, Video, Shopping, Mobility, Tools and more.
  • The one to know first: WhatsApp — The most widely used messenger on earth.

Maldives in numbers

2025–2026
Internet users
450 thousand450,000 · #169
Penetration
84.9%#91
Population
530 thousand530,000 · #173
GDP
$7B#165
GDP growth
+3.5%#98
GDP per person
$13,396#95
Land area
300 km²#200
Capital
Malé
Region
Asia
Official languages
Dhivehi

How Maldives goes online

Staff Wi-Fi on a resort island is often better than what guests get in their rooms, and everyone knows the best signal corner. Facebook is the main social feed, used for news from Male, family updates and a steady stream of island job posts. Viber handles the group calls that keep scattered families in touch, especially when someone is working a different atoll. Dhiraagu is the operator most people rely on for mobile data, and its coverage makes inter-island travel feel less isolated. Bank apps handle the rest, from ferry tickets to rent.

Around 84.9%. With a population of about 530 thousand and 450 thousand online, roughly 80 thousand people are still offline — mostly because of rural coverage, device cost and age.

All 8 apps below are grouped by category.

What people actually use

8 Most-used apps

Messaging

1 Most-used apps →
WhatsApp Messaging · Meta · 2009

Social

2 Most-used apps →
Facebook Social · Meta · 2004 Instagram Social · Meta · 2010

Video

1 Most-used apps →
YouTube Video · Google · 2005

Shopping

1 Most-used apps →
Daraz Shopping · Daraz（阿里巴巴旗下） · 2012

Mobility

1 Most-used apps →
inDrive Mobility · inDrive · 2012

Tools

2 Most-used apps →
Google Tools · Google · 1998 Gmail Tools · Google · 2004

Websites people in Maldives actually use

9

The 9 sites locals open most often — news, shopping, search, banking and government services. Every link goes to the official site.

News3Telecom2Banking2Transport1Mail1
Sun OnlineNewssun.mvThe country’s busiest news portal, read in Dhivehi and quick with breaking political news. MihaaruNewsmihaaru.comWell-funded Dhivehi news site known for explainers and investigations into corruption. AdhadhuNewsadhadhu.comNewer Dhivehi outlet that has broken several big political stories and runs a lively comments section. DhiraaguTelecomdhiraagu.com.mvThe islands’ main telecom — broadband, mobile and bill payment, plus the fibre plans everyone waits for. Ooredoo MaldivesTelecomooredoo.mvThe second operator, with 4G on most inhabited islands. Bank of MaldivesBankingbankofmaldives.com.mvEveryone in Male has a BML account, and I use the app to send money to the islands and to check whether the ferry fare has already gone out of the account. Maldives Monetary AuthorityBankingmma.gov.mvThe central bank for the rufiyaa and the country’s banks. MaldivianTransportmaldivian.aeroThe state carrier, running seaplanes and domestic flights to the atolls. Maldives PostMailmaldivespost.comPost and courier service between the islands.

2808 websites →

Frequently asked questions

6 Q&A
How many people in Maldives are online?

About 450 thousand (450,000 people). That works out to roughly 84.9% of the population, which puts Maldives at #169 in the world for total internet users. Figures come from DataReportal’s Digital 2026, which draws on ITU and national statistics.

Which apps do people in Maldives use most?

Mostly WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube — they cover Messaging, Social, Video, Shopping, Mobility, Tools. The full list, grouped by category, is further down this page.

What is the leading Messaging app in Maldives?

WhatsApp dominate this space. The best-known is WhatsApp — The most widely used messenger on earth.

How high is internet penetration in Maldives?

Around 84.9%. With a population of about 530 thousand and 450 thousand online, roughly 80 thousand people are still offline — mostly because of rural coverage, device cost and age.

Where do these app facts come from?

Usage figures come from DataReportal’s Digital 2026 (Kepios, based on ITU and national statistics); app details come from each product’s official site. Updated 2026-11-12.

Which websites are most popular in Maldives?

The everyday ones are Sun Online, Mihaaru, Adhadhu, plus the other 9 sites listed above. They cover news, shopping, search, banking and official paperwork, and every link points to the official site.

Sources

Updated 2026-11-12
Cite this pageWorld Sites & Apps. “Maldives: internet and everyday apps”. 2026. https://abcvv.com/c/mv-en.html