Macro analysis

Figure 1.2.1

Figure 1.2.1V

OVERVIEW

Two kilometres west of Malé, Villimalé is the quiet suburb of the Greater Malé Region. Once a tourist resort, it became a residential island to relieve overcrowding in Malé. Today it is low-rise and close-knit, with tree-lined streets, quiet beaches and a slower pace of life.

Villimalé, an illustration by the Villimalé group.

KEY POINT

Villimalé stays low-rise and green: a quiet place to live, beside the dense capital.

Villimalé is mainly a place to live, and a weekend escape, for people who work in Malé. Where Malé and Hulhumalé grow upward and dense, Villimalé stays low-rise and walkable, with the feel of a village.

LAND AREA (HA)

35.52 ha

DENSITY (PEOPLE PER HA)

175 per ha (2026)

DISTANCE FROM MALÉ

1.7 km

DOMINANT LAND USE

Residential

Table 1.2.1V

LOCATION AND ROLE IN THE REGION

Figure 1.2.2V

Sources

Villimalé at a glance. Census 2022, Maldives Bureau of Statistics; 2026 figures as given by the Villimalé group.

Malé to Villimalé Travel time: 5 to 7 min

Villimalé in the Greater Malé Region.

Rethink Malé; Google Maps.

Malé to Hulhumalé Travel time: 10 to 15 min

POPULATION (YEAR)

6,211 (2026)

HOUSEHOLDS

1,294

ROLE IN THE REGION

A quiet, low-rise place to live, beside Malé

MAIN ACCESS

Ferry terminal

Villimalé is the quiet, low-rise part of the Greater Malé Region, beside the tall towers of Malé and Hulhumalé. It depends on Malé for work and services, but keeps the feel of a village. The Thilamalé bridge, now being built, will bring more people through.

Historical timeline

Figure 1.3.1V

16th century

Inhabited for centuries. Burnt and looted by Malabar pirates.

1940

Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen III spent part of his exile here, after first being banished to Fuvahmulah.

Villimalé’s history, from the 16th century to 2026. Compiled by the Villimalé group from Wikipedia.

1961

The people living here were moved to Hulhulé, to clear the land for a state-run farm.

1963

A high-security prison was built for political prisoners, after the state farm was cancelled.

1972

Villingili became Kolige Resort, the second resort in the Maldives after Kurumba Village.

1990

Kolige Resort closed, and Villingili was resettled to ease overcrowding in Malé.

1998

Villingili became Malé’s fifth administrative district, and was renamed Villimalé.

2026

The Thilamalé bridge is being built, linking Malé, Villimalé, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

Spatial history and landmarks

Figure 1.3.2V

grew, and its landmarks. People per hectare: the group’s figures.

How Villimalé

Kolige Resort (1972)

Resettled homes (1990s)

First industrial area

Industrial area extension

Homes and community areas

100-year-old banyan tree

Kolige Resort ruins

Marugas tree, about 70 years old

The island’s only jackfruit tree

2000

148

P/HA

LAND AREA

29 ha

POPULATION

4,291

2005

205

P/HA

LAND AREA

31.7 ha

POPULATION

~6,500

2009

230

P/HA

LAND AREA

31.7 ha

POPULATION

~7,300

2026

175

P/HA

LAND AREA

35.52 ha

POPULATION

6,211

Significant landmarks

100-year-old banyan tree

There were once four century-old banyan trees on the island. Two remain. The other two were cut down when their roots began to damage pipes, walls and the foundations of nearby homes.

Marugas tree

This marugas tree is about 70 years old, and thought to be the only one on the island. Local stories say prisoners were once buried beneath it.

Figures 1.3.3V to 1.3.6VFour significant landmarks. Illustrations by the Villimalé group.

Kolige Resort ruins

These are the ruins of a villa from Kolige Resort, which opened in 1972. Most of the resort’s buildings are now rented out as rooms, but this villa, about 54 years old, stands untouched in the island’s woods.

Jackfruit tree

In the yard of the mosque stands a jackfruit tree, believed to be the only one on the island.

Environment map

Figure 1.4.1V

High-current area

Calm waves

Environment map of Villimalé: winds, waves, currents, shallow water, vegetation and the reef. Source: Rethink Malé; Google Maps.

High current

Waves

Vegetation

Weak current

Coral restoration

Diving spot

Revetment

Breakwater

Risk map

Figure 1.4.2V

Risk map of Villimalé: erosion, the sewage outfall, wave and swell risk, fires and flooding. Source: Rethink Malé; Google Maps.

Soil erosion area

Sewage outfall

Wave and swell risk

Recorded fire incidents

Flood

Most prone

Least prone

Population pyramid

Figure 1.5.1V

Villimalé has a young, working-age population: 6,755 residents in the 2022 census. Expatriates are 11.61% of residents. Most Maldivians are young people (33%) or of working age (32.4%); children are 30.1% and older people only 4.5%.

75+

70–74

65–69

60–64

55–59

50–54

45–49

40–44

35–39

30–34

25–29

20–24

15–19

10–14

5–9

0–4

600

Maldivian women, 2026

2014 profile, women

Population by age and sex, 2026, with the 2014 profile and the 2050 projection. Source: Census 2022, Maldives Bureau of Statistics.

POPULATION CHANGE

2014 TO 2022

-15.4%

FROM 7,988 TO 6,755 PEOPLE

MEN

2050

2000

400

200

Maldivian men, 2026

2014 profile, men

YEARLY CHANGE

-2.1%

PER YEAR

0

Foreign men, 2026

2050 projection, women

Projections show growth in every age group, strongest among young and working-age people. Older groups grow too, but the island stays mostly young.

Locals

2,941

Male

3,030

Female

WOMEN

2050

2000

200

400

Foreign women, 2026

2050 projection, men

Female

600

Expats

640

Male

144

Population growth

Number of households vs Population

Male

Female

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

1995

2000

2006

PROJECTED, 2050

8,166

+20.9% FROM 2022

4,291

601

300

44

1995

2000

Households

Expats

2014

DENSITY INCREASE

2026 TO 2050

+31%

175 TO 230 PER HA

7,988

6,956

1,350*

996

2006

2014

Population

Thilamalé bridge opens

2022 2026

1995–2026: Villimalé grew fast, from about 300 residents in 1995 to 4,291 in 2000, then by about 8% a year to 6,956 in 2006. It peaked at 7,988 in 2014, then fell to 6,211 by 2026, as there was no land left for new homes and people moved to Malé and Hulhumalé. Men and women are roughly balanced, and the number of expatriates rises slowly.

2026–2050: With the bridge and new homes, growth is expected to return, at about 1.1% a year, close to Malé’s rate. The population reaches about 8,166 by 2050: slower and steadier than in 1995–2014.

6,755

Figures 1.5.2Vand 1.5.3V

1,378

(projected), and households against population. *The 2014 census did not count households, so 1,350 is the group’s estimate. Source: Census 2022, Maldives Bureau of Statistics.

2022

2035

2045

Population growth, 1995 to 2050

3,670

3,560

950

2050

Land use plan

Existing Greenery

7.91%

of available land (2.57 ha)

Existing Sports & Recreation

23.86%

of available land (7.76 ha)

of available land (0.65 ha)

9.96%

of available land (3.24 ha)

Figure 1.6.1V

Land use plan of Villimalé, with each use’s share of the land. Source: Rethink Malé; Google Maps.

of available land (7.23 ha)

of available land (0.11 ha)

of available land (1.17 ha)

of available land (5.44 ha)

of available land (4.35 ha)

Highest land use

Residential Industrial

Sports and recreation take the most land, 23.86%, closely followed by homes at 22.23%.

Figures 1.6.2Vand 1.6.3V

Number of facilities

Schools

3

Schools, preschools and other education

Mosques

3

Religious facilities

of the land

of the land

Greenery Terminal

Share of land by use, and the number of facilities by type. Source: Rethink Malé.

Health

1

centre, clinic

Vacant Sports and recreation

Institutional use (16.74%) and utilities (13.36%) come next. Together, these four uses cover 76.19% of the land.

Police and safety

1

Police station and security

23.86%

SPORTS AND RECREATION

of the land

of the land

Institutional Utility

Government

6

Council and government offices

Commercial

Transport

2

Ferry terminal, WAMCO

Solid and void

Figure 1.6.4V

Maps.

In the north and west, homes stand close together in a fine, dense grain with small gaps between them. The south and east are coarser, with larger or scattered buildings and more open ground. Villimalé moves from compact housing to a more open pattern.

Solid and void, with fine, medium and coarse grain shown in detail. Source: Rethink Malé; Google

Medium grain

Coarse grain

Fine grain

Building heights

Figure 1.6.5V

High-rise cluster

High-density areas are mostly 3 to 9+ storeys: compact and vertical.

Building heights, in storeys, with a high-rise and a low-rise cluster. Source: Rethink Malé; Google Maps.

Low-rise cluster

Low-density areas are mostly 1 to 4 storeys: lower and more open.

1–2 storeys 3–4 storeys 5–6 storeys 7–9 storeys 10 storeys and above

Population density

LOW

Figure 1.6.6V

with a dense and a less dense area (the group’s figures). Source: Rethink Malé; Google Maps.

HIGH

Population density of Villimalé,

Dense area

The high-density zone is compact housing at about 246 people per hectare. Plots average 1,399 sq ft, and buildings rise from 1 to 10 storeys.

246

1,399

PEOPLE / HA

PLOT SIZE (SQ FT)

1–10

STOREYS

Less dense area

The low-density zone, in the industrial area, has about 88 people per hectare. Plots average 5,724 sq ft, and most buildings are 1 to 4 storeys, with more open space between them.

88

5,724

PEOPLE / HA

1–4

PLOT SIZE (SQ FT)

STOREYS

Walkability

Villimalé is small and compact, so it is easy to walk. Many key facilities are within 400 m, a few are further, and the connected streets keep most daily trips on foot.

Figure 1.6.7V

island’s facilities. Source: Rethink Malé; Google Maps.

Walkability: five-minute walks (400 m) around the

Harbour

Mosque

H

Football ground

Villimalé terminal

Island council

School and preschool

Police

Hospital and pharmacy

Education facilities

Restaurants and cafés

400 m radius: a five- minute walk

Park

Road hierarchy and circulation

Figure 1.7.1V

Over 8 m 4 to 6 m 1.5 to 4 m Bus route Pedestrian Bus stops

Road hierarchy and circulation in Villimalé. Source: Rethink Malé; Google Maps.

Types of roads

Figure 1.7.2V

Number of vehicles

Figure 1.7.3V

Kalhuthukalaa Magu (over 8 m)

Pavement

Parking

Vaaru Hingun (4 to 6 m)

pav

Vehicle lane

Three types of road, in section. pav pavement, veg planting.

Pickups

2

Lorries

2

Vehicles in Villimalé, by type, all electric (the group’s figures).

Vehicle lane

Jumuhooree Magu (1.5 to 4 m)

pav

Veg

Pedestrian

Heavy vehicles

2

Villimalé has a clear road hierarchy. Main roads over 8 m wide link the schools, offices and busiest places. Secondary roads of 4 to 6 m run around the island, and lanes of 1.5 to 4 m serve the homes.

Pavement

Traffic is light, and every vehicle on the island is electric, lorries and pickups included. Buses run along the wider roads, and the streets stay quiet and calm.

Veg

Buses

3

~1,987

Electric cars

4

Bicycles and e-bikes

Pedestrian circulation issues and obstacles

2

With few bicycle racks, bicycles are left along roadsides, paths and building edges, in the way of people walking.

1

Electric vehicles are hard to hear, so people on foot risk being hit, on narrow and wide shared roads alike.

3

Roadside parking narrows the road, so people on foot, bicycles and vehicles compete for space, most of all on narrow residential roads.

4

Unpaved internal roads flood and break up, leaving uneven ground that is hard to walk on.

6

Few street names and signs make it hard to find the way, most of all on the smaller streets.

Figures 1.7.4V to 1.7.9VSix obstacles to walking in Villimalé. Illustrations by the Villimalé group.

5

Unpaved roads throw up dust in dry weather: uncomfortable for people walking and cycling, and for the homes beside them.

Open space map

Figure 1.8.1V

Source: Rethink Malé; Google Maps.

Dense vegetated spaces Recreational open spaces Parks

Major activity nodes

Mosques

Schools

Open space map of Villimalé.

Visuals of notable spaces

Figures 1.8.2V to 1.8.5VFour notable open spaces. Illustrations by the Villimalé group.

Open space per person

Figure 1.8.6V

CURRENT (2026)

18m²

per person

4.24m

6,211

Open space per person, 2026 and 2050 (worst case, projected). Source: Rethink Malé.

4.24m

PROJECTED WORST CASE BY 2050

13.7m²

per person

3.70m

8,166

Villimalé has about 18 m² of open space per person today (2026). Its population is projected to grow from 6,211 to 8,166 by 2050 while its open space stays the same, so each person’s share falls to about 13.7 m². Parks, beaches and neighbourhood spaces are central to daily life here.

3.70m