Which is bigger: Malta or Maldives?

Malta is larger (320 km²) — about 1.1 times the size of Maldives (300 km²).

Why do Malta and Maldives look different on the map than in reality?

The common Mercator projection enlarges areas the farther they lie from the equator, so the on-map size proportions of Malta and Maldives are distorted compared to their true land area.

02Act II · 1:1 studioChange pair ↙

Malta×Maldives

Put Malta and Maldives on the same scale. Drag, separate, and see what the Mercator map hides.

Reverse order ⇄

True-size comparison

Same scale. Real difference.

Drag the outlines to overlap them, or place them side by side.

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Malta ↗

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Total surface area320 km²2023

Population579,7042025

Land area320 km²2023

TypeCountry

Maldives ↗

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Total surface area300 km²ed. 2024

Population529,6762025

Land area298 km²2023

TypeCountry