This is a list of islands of the Maldives. There are 1,192 in total, of which 187 are inhabited. They are listed by administrative division/atoll. The islands are divided into: * Inhabited islands- those officially recognized as towns, villages, fishing, and farming communities with permanent human habitation. They all have an island office and island chiefs (councilor and "katheeb"). * Uninhabited islands- islands with no permanent human habitations. They are sometimes used for agricultural and industrial purposes, and more recently as tourist resorts and picnic islands. Some of these islands are valuable breeding grounds for various species of seabirds and sea turtles. * Disappeared islands- islands which during recorded history, have been completely eroded away, claimed by the sea du