The island is 287.89 km (179 mi; 155 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.

[2] On 8 December 1821, an extremely strong cyclone hit Nellaidhoo and many other islands in northern Maldives, causing severe damage.

In 2006 the government of Maldives listed Nellaidhoo as one of the islands under significant threat from sea level rise due to global warming.

The government planned to relocate the population to larger islands with more facilities and better protection against rising sea levels.

Women play a key role on the island, looking after children and doing work such as thatch weaving and coir rope making.