Subdivisions
The city is divided into six divisions, four of which are on Malé Island: Henveiru, Galolhu, Maafannu and Macchangolhi. The nearby island of Vilingili, formerly a tourist resort and prior to that a prison, is the fifth division (Vilimalé). The sixth division is Hulhumalé, an artificial island settled since 2004. In addition, the airport Island Hulhule is part of the city. There are plans for creating a port island on Gulhi Falu reef.
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| Nr. | Division | Area (ha) |
Population Census 2006 |
Population Density |
Coordinates | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henveiru | 59.1 | 23,597 | 39,927.2 | 4°10′27.96″N 73°31′0.19″E / 4.1744333°N 73.5167194°E / 4.1744333; 73.5167194 | Malé Island |
| 2 | Galolhu | 27.6 | 19,414 | 70,340.6 | 4°10′20.96″N 73°30′41.57″E / 4.1724889°N 73.5115472°E / 4.1724889; 73.5115472 | Malé Island |
| 3 | Machchangolhi | 32.6 | 19,580 | 60,061.3 | 4°10′31.42″N 73°30′26.88″E / 4.1753944°N 73.5074667°E / 4.1753944; 73.5074667 | Malé Island |
| 4 | Maafannu | 75.9 | 29,964 | 39,478.3 | 4°10′32.89″N 73°30′13.92″E / 4.1758028°N 73.5038667°E / 4.1758028; 73.5038667 | Malé Island |
| 1-4 | Malé (Island) | 195.2 | 92,555 | 47,415.5 | 04°10′28″N 73°30′34″E / 4.17444°N 73.50944°E / 4.17444; 73.50944 (Malé) | Malé Island |
| 5 | Vilimalé | 31.8 | 6,956 | 21,874.2 | 4°10′24.84″N 73°29′5.33″E / 4.1735667°N 73.4848139°E / 4.1735667; 73.4848139 | Villingili Island |
| 6 | Hulhumalé | 200.9 | 2,866 | 1,426.6 | 4°13′0.81″N 73°32′25.9″E / 4.2168917°N 73.540528°E / 4.2168917; 73.540528 | Artificial island |
| - | Hulhule | 151.9 | 1,316 | 866.4 | 4°11′22.12″N 73°31′44.88″E / 4.1894778°N 73.5291333°E / 4.1894778; 73.5291333 | Airport Island |
| - | Gulhi Falhu | - | - | - | 4°10′35.24″N 73°27′28.07″E / 4.1764556°N 73.4577972°E / 4.1764556; 73.4577972 | Planned Port Island |
| Malé (city) | 579.8 | 103,693 | 17,884.3 | 04°10′28″N 73°30′34″E / 4.17444°N 73.50944°E / 4.17444; 73.50944 (Malé) |
The Island of Malé is the equal fourth most densely populated island in the world, and it is the 168th most populous island in the world. Since there is no surrounding countryside, all infrastructure has to be located in the city itself. Water is provided from desalinated ground water; the water works pumps brackish water from 50-60m deep wells in the city and desalinates that using reverse osmosis. Electric power is generated in the city using diesel generators. Sewage is pumped unprocessed into the sea. Solid waste is transported to nearby islands, where it is used to fill in lagoons. The airport was built in this way, and currently the Thilafushi lagoon is being filled in.
Many government buildings and agencies are located on the waterfront. Malé International Airport is on adjacent Hulhule Island which includes a seaplane base for internal transportation. Several land reclamation projects have expanded the harbour.
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