Maldives consists of 1,192 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres, making this one of the world's most dispersed countries. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars. Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.4 metres, with the average being only 1.5 metres above sea level.