Maldives

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 98,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

formerly a state-owned radio and TV monopoly; now 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned TV stations; 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.mv

Internet users

percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 13,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 745,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

fruits, vegetables, nuts, other meats, papayas, bananas, tomatoes, maize, pulses, chillies/peppers (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

revenues: $1.407 billion (2021 est.) expenditures: $1.939 billion (2021 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

-$1.257 billion (2024 est.) -$1.4 billion (2023 est.) -$1.042 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$3.113 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; major tourism, fishing, and shipping industries; high public debt; systemic corruption; crippled by COVID-19; ongoing deflation; poverty has tripled since pandemic began

Exchange rates

rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - 15.389 (2024 est.) 15.387 (2023 est.) 15.387 (2022 est.) 15.373 (2021 est.) 15.381 (2020 est.)

Exports

$5.413 billion (2024 est.) $4.88 billion (2023 est.) $5.096 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

fish, aircraft, refined petroleum, scrap iron, natural gas (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Thailand 32%, India 21%, Singapore 9%, UK 7%, Germany 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.975 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 51.4% (2023 est.) government consumption: 17.1% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 35% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 74.4% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -75.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3% (2024 est.) industry: 9% (2024 est.) services: 73.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

29.3 (2019 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.8% (2019 est.) highest 10%: 23.3% (2019 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$5.344 billion (2024 est.) $4.984 billion (2023 est.) $4.939 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, plastic products, aircraft, granite, ships (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

India 15%, UAE 15%, Oman 14%, China 12%, Singapore 8% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-2.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2024 est.) 2.9% (2023 est.) 2.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

270,300 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

5.4% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

61.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.325 billion (2024 est.) $11.723 billion (2023 est.) $11.194 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

5.1% (2024 est.) 4.7% (2023 est.) 13.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$23,400 (2024 est.) $22,300 (2023 est.) $21,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$673.886 million (2024 est.) $590.523 million (2023 est.) $832.094 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

19.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

4.7% (2024 est.) 4.3% (2023 est.) 4.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 16.1% (2024 est.) male: 20% (2024 est.) female: 9.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

imports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 432,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 821.397 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 25.867 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

50.886 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

1.908 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.908 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Environmental issues

rising sea levels; depletion of freshwater aquifers; inadequate sewage treatment; coral reef bleaching

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land: 19.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 13.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.) forest: 12.5% (2023 est.) other: 67.7% (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

30 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 5.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 268,194 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 42% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 211,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.9% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 298 sq km land: 298 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Coastline

644 km

Elevation

highest point: 8th tee, golf course, Villingi Island 5 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 2 m

Geographic coordinates

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Geography - note

smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); strategic location along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 19.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 13.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.) forest: 12.5% (2023 est.) other: 67.7% (2023 est.)

Location

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm note: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Natural hazards

tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise

Natural resources

fish

Population distribution

about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago

Terrain

flat coral atolls, with white sandy beaches; sits atop the submarine volcanic Chagos-Laccadive Ridge

Administrative divisions

21 administrative atolls ( atholhuthah , singular - atholhu ); Addu (Addu City), Ariatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Ari Atoll), Ariatholhu Uthuruburi (North Ari Atoll), Faadhippolhu, Felidhuatholhu (Felidhu Atoll), Fuvammulah, Hahdhunmathi, Huvadhuatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Huvadhu Atoll), Huvadhuatholhu Uthuruburi (North Huvadhu Atoll), Kolhumadulu, Maale (Male), Maaleatholhu (Male Atoll), Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Maalhosmadulu), Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi (North Maalhosmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Miladhunmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi (North Miladhunmadulu), Mulakatholhu (Mulaku Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilandhe Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Uthuruburi (North Nilandhe Atoll), Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi (South Thiladhunmathi), Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi (North Thiladhunmathi)

Capital

name: Mal geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name may come from the Sanskrit word mala , or "garland"

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Maldives dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

Constitution

history: many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008 amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by its membership and the signature of the president of the republic; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and the terms of office of Parliament and of the president also requires a majority vote in a referendum

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje etymology: the origin of the name is obscure but may derive from the Sanskrit word maladvipa , meaning "garland of islands;" the local name, Dhivehi Raajje, means "land of the Dhivehi people" in the local language

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d Affaires Chunnong SAEGER (since January 2026) embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka; note - as of early November 2023, the US has no consular or diplomatic offices in Maldives; the US Mission to Maldives operates from US Embassy Colombo, Sri Lanka telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500 FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345 email address and website: Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Maldives

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdul GHAFOOR Mohamed (since 15 June 2023) chancery: 1100 H Street NW, Suite 250, Washington, D.C. 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 516-5458 email address and website: WashingtonInfo@foreign.gov.mv The Embassy (mdvmission.gov.mv)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023) head of government: President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by People's Majlis election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 9 September 2023, with runoff on 30 September 2023 election results: 2023: Mohamed MUIZZU elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed MUIZZU (PNC) 46.1%, Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 39.1%, Ilyas LABEEB (DEMS) 7.1%, other 7.7%; percent of vote in the second round - Mohamed MUIZZU 54%, Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH 46% expected date of next election: 2028 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Flag

description: red with a large green rectangle in the center and a vertical white crescent moon centered on the rectangle meaning: red stands for those who have sacrificed their lives to defend the country, green for peace and prosperity, and the white crescent is a symbol of Islam

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

26 July 1965 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission -- a 10-member body of selected senior government officials and the public -- and on confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)

Legal system

Islamic (sharia) legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters

Legislative branch

legislature name: People's Majlis (Majlis) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 93 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/21/2024 parties elected and seats per party: People's National Congress (PNC) (66); Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) (12); Independents (11); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 3.2% expected date of next election: April 2029

National anthem(s)

title: "Gaumee Salaam" (National Salute) lyrics/music: Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA history: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; the anthem has seven verses, but only the first two are commonly used

National color(s)

red, green, white

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

National symbol(s)

coconut palm, yellowfin tuna

Political parties

Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party or DRP Maldives Development Alliance or MDA Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP Maldives Third Way Democrats or MTD People's National Congress or PNC People's National Front Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887 and a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. After political demonstrations in the capital Male in 2003, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Political parties were legalized in 2005. In 2008, a constituent assembly -- termed the "Special Majlis" -- finalized a new constitution ratified by GAYOOM. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held later that year. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist whom the regime had jailed several years earlier. In 2012, after several weeks of street protests in response to a top judge's arrest, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. A government-appointed Commission of National Inquiry concluded that there was no evidence of a coup, but NASHEED contended that police and military personnel forced him to resign. NASHEED, WAHEED, and Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ran in the 2013 elections with YAMEEN ultimately winning the presidency after three rounds of voting. In 2018, YAMEEN lost his reelection bid to parliamentarian Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH. YAMEEN was arrested and jailed in 2022 on corruption charges. Maldives' fourth democratic election was held in September 2023. The winner, Male City Mayor Dr. Mohamed MUIZZU, campaigned on a platform of Maldivian sovereignty, vowing to remove Indian military personnel from the country. MUIZZU represents a joint Progressive Pary of Maldives and People's National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition.

Military - note

the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) is responsible for defending and safeguarding the Maldives' territorial integrity, economic exclusion zone, and people; it is also responsible for disaster relief, and if requested, assisting the Maldives Police Service in maintaining internal security and law and order; maritime security is its largest focus; the Indian Armed Forces have long been the MNDF's most important partner (2025)

Military and security forces

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Air Corps, Fire and Rescue Service Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology (MOHST): Maldives Police Service (2025) note: in addition to the MNDF, the Maldives Ministry of Defense controls the Aviation Security Command, which provides security for the civil aviation industry, and the National Counter Terrorism Center

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 3-4,000 active Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Defense Force has a limited inventory consisting of mostly secondhand or donated equipment from suppliers such as Germany, India, Japan, T rkiye, and the UK (2025)

Military expenditures

not available

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription (2025) note: in 2025, the Maldives began allowing Maldivians 16-28 (under 18 with parental consent) who lacked access to further education after completing their secondary education or employment could join the Maldives National Service Program and be recruited to the Army or Police

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.4% (male 44,321/female 42,626) 15-64 years: 71.5% (male 143,021/female 135,044) 65 years and over: 6.1% (2024 est.) (male 10,397/female 13,449)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

14.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 0% (2017) women married by age 18: 2.2% (2017) men married by age 18: 2.2% (2017)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.8% (2017 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

68.4% (2022 est.)

Death rate

4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 39.8 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 31.3 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 11.7 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

5.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 9.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

homogeneous mixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African resulting from historical changes in regional hegemony over marine trade routes

Gross reproduction rate

0.83 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

10% of GDP (2021) 18.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Dhivehi (official, closely related to Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.) male: 75.1 years female: 79.9 years

Literacy

total population: 98.2% (2019 est.) male: 98.2% (2019 est.) female: 98.3% (2019 est.)

Major urban areas - population

177,000 MALE (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

32 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 32.4 years (2025 est.) male: 31.3 years female: 32.4 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.2 years (2016/17 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian

Net migration rate

-12.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.6% (2016)

Physician density

2.24 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

total: 388,858 (2024 est.) male: 197,739 female: 191,119

Population distribution

about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago

Population growth rate

-0.24% (2025 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim (official)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years (2022 est.) male: 11 years (2022 est.) female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 28% (2025 est.) male: 41.5% (2025 est.) female: 9.2% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 42% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 54 (2023 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Maldives remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/maldives/

Airports

20 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

8Q

Merchant marine

total: 82 (2023) by type: general cargo 30, oil tanker 20, other 32

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Male