The Laccadive Islands are an archipelago belonging to India, located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala, between 200 to 300 km away and consist of 36 coral islands covering a land area of 32 sq. km. Only ten are inhabited. The main islands are Kavarrati, Minicoy, and Amini. The total population is about 51,000. The whole group were collectively renamed Lakshadweep in 1973.