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The Administrative Divisions of the Maldives refers to the various units of government that provide local government services in the Maldives. According to the Decentralization Act 2010, the administrative divisions of the Maldives would consist of atolls, islands, and cities; each administered by their own local council, under the basic terms of home rule. Geographically, the Maldives are formed by a number of natural atolls plus a few islands and isolated reefs which form a pattern from North to South. Currently, there are 189 islands, 19 atolls and 2 cities in the Maldives.
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During the regime of Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, the administrative divisions consisted of 20 administrative atolls, all controlled by the central government in Male'. Each atoll was headed by an atoll chief, but they were heavily criticized by locals for being heavily under the influence of the central government and acting rather as spokespersons than chiefs.
Before the Decentralization act was ratified in May 2010, seven provinces were established in 2008, in an attempt of decentralization, by the new government of Mohamed Nasheed. This maneuver was the first time that governing power has been moved away from the capital Male' since 1117 A.D. However, the bill submitted by the government to decentralize the country according to this system was rejected by the opposition-majority parliament, who amended the bill, restricting decentralization as seven provinces. The final bill that was passed by the parliament and ultimately ratified by the president, saw the decentralization of the country as 21 separate atolls. The seven provinces were:-
President Nasheed was the architect of this decentralisation process. This is the first time in the history of the Maldive Islands since 1117 A.D., that governing power has been moved away from the capital Male'. The seven provinces closely correspond to the historic divisions of Uthuru Boduthiladhunmathi. Dhekunu Boduthiladhunmathi, Uthuru Medhu-Raajje, Medhu-Raajje, Dhekunu Medhu-Raajje, Huvadhu (or Uthuru Suvadinmathi) and Addumulah (or Dhekunu Suvadinmathi).
On October 15 2010, the government released a finalized list of the administrative constituencies established under the Decentralization Act. It listed 184 administrative constituencies. Out of these constituencies:
Therefore, the final organization of the administrative divisions were as below:
On 5th February 2011, the country's first ever Local council elections were held to elect 188 island councils, 19 atoll councils and 2 city councils. The island of Felivaru, in Lhaviyani Atoll did not participate in the election, since being a newly declared inhabited island, did not have any person registered as a citizen of the island. As of November 2011, the island council election for Felivaru is yet to take place.
The administrative definition of an “island” differs from the actual meaning of the word, island. While naturally, an "island” refers to a land-mass surrounded by water, an “island” in the administrative sense, refers to a specified inhabited area within an administrative atoll, which is governed over by an “island council”. While the majority of “island” class constituencies are indeed natural islands, there are 8 constituencies at “island” class, that are not naturally islands. (The 8 wards of Fuvahmulah Island are administratively considered “islands”) There are 189 such islands, each with it’s own island council. (Except for Felivaru, Lhaviyani Atoll)
The administrative definition of an “atoll” differs from the actual meaning of the word, atoll. While naturally, an “atoll” refers to a ring of islands, an “atoll” in the administrative sense, refers to a group of “island” class constituencies, not necessarily within the requirements of a natural atoll. While the majority of administrative atolls are indeed natural atolls, there are natural atolls which have 2 to 3 administrative atoll divisions, in addition to 1 “atoll” which is naturally an island. (The 19th administrative atoll, Fuvahmulah) Each administrative atoll has an “atoll council” which monitors the work of the “island councils” in the atoll, and keep communications with the central government. There are 19 atolls in Maldives.
A city is an inhabited area with a population of 25,000+. The criteria also includes a certain level of economic development and facilities available. A city has a “city council” which governs over the affairs of the city”, and keeps communication with the central government. A city will not be included within an administrative atoll. A city has further subdivisions called “wards” or “districts”. There are two cities in Maldives. They are Male’ and Addu.
Although the earlier provincial decentralization was rejected by Parliament, the President reinstated the concept through “National Administrations”. The National Administrations of Maldives are in the same divisions as the earlier provinces, and the previous province offices were reinstated as the office of that National Administration. Therefore, there exists 7 national administrations, to which the atoll councils will report to, accordingly. The National Administrations will act as an extension of the central government based in Male’, for the convenience of dealing with regional affairs. The National Administrations operate under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The seven National Administrations are:-
Each administration is headed by a state minister assigned by the president.
Every administrative atoll of the Maldives have the following:
Each atoll has a capital island. All islands of every atoll have their own official name. All cities have an official name, and names for their subdivisions. They also have a latin code letter assigned to them.
Traditionally, Maldivians call the atolls ending in '-madulu' or '-mathi' by their name without adding the word 'Atoll' at the end. For example, it is correct to write simply Kolhumadulu, without adding the word 'Atholhu' or 'Atoll'. This is also the case in the atoll known as Faadhippolhu as well as the small detached atoll of Fuvahmulah.
| Latin Letter | Code Abbr. | Local letter | Code Name | Official Name | Capital |
| A | HA | ހއ | Haa Alif | Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi | Didhdhoo |
| B | HDh | ހދ | Haa Dhaalu | Thiladhunmathi Dhekunuburi | Kulhudhuffushi |
| C | Sh | ށ | Shaviyani | Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi | Milandhoo |
| D | N | ނ | Noonu | Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi | Manadhoo |
| E | R | ރ | Raa | Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi | U'ngoofaaru |
| F | B | ބ | Baa | Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi | Eydhafushi |
| G | Lh | ޅ | Lhaviyani | Faadhippolhu | Naifaru |
| H | K | ކ | Kaafu | Malé Atholhu | Maafushi |
| U | AA | އއ | Alif Alif | Ari Atholhu Uthuruburi | Rasdhoo |
| I | ADh | އދ | Alif Dhaal | Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi | Mahibadhoo |
| J | V | ވ | Vaavu | Felidhu Atholhu | Felidhoo |
| K | M | މ | Meemu | Mulak Atholhu | Muli |
| L | F | ފ | Faafu | Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi | Nilandhoo |
| M | Dh | ދ | Dhaalu | Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi | Kudahuvadhoo |
| N | Th | ތ | Thaa | Kolhumadulu | Veymandoo |
| O | L | ލ | Laamu | Haddhunmathi | Fonadhoo |
| P | GA | ގއ | Gaafu Alif | Huvadhu Atholhu Uthuruburi | Villingili |
| Q | GDh | ގދ | Gaafu Dhaalu | Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi | Thinadhoo |
| R | Gn | ޏ | Gnaviyani | Fuvahmulah | Fuvahmulah |
| Latin Letter | Code Abbr. | Local letter | Code Name | Official Name | Capital |
| T | - | - | Malé | Malé City | - |
| S | S | ސ | Seenu/Addu | Addu City | - |
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