The Maldives gained independence from the British Empire.

Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives; also known as the The Maldives, is a sovereignisland country and archipelago in the Indian Ocean. It is located southwest of India and Sri Lanka in the Laccadive Sea. The chain of twenty six atolls stretches from Minicoy Island to the Chagos Archipelago. The capital and largest city is Malé, traditionally called the "King's Island".

Historically linked with the Indian subcontinent, the Maldives is a Muslim-majority country. From the mid-sixteenth century, it was dominated by colonial powers: Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain. The islands gained independence from the British Empire on July 26th, 1965, becoming a republic in 1968 and is ruled by a president and authoritarian government. The Maldivian economy is dominated by tourism and fishing. The country is classified as a low-middle income economy.