Maldives profile

Demography and Health

Maldives is a compact island nation with a total population of about 527,799 in 2024, placing it among smaller-population countries and shaping its social and service-oriented economy. Life expectancy at birth stands at 81.0 years (rank 44), reflecting strong health outcomes and access to medical services relative to income levels. The crude birth rate of 11.0 per 1,000 people and the crude death rate of 2.34 per 1,000 indicate a transitioning demographic with slow natural growth and a shifting age structure that may increasingly depend on migration and services-driven employment. Under-5 mortality is 5.7 per 1,000 live births, a relatively favorable indicator signaling improvements in child health and maternal care. The country faces a negative net migration balance in 2024 (-2,421), suggesting that outward movement mitigates some of the potential population growth and could influence labor supply, dependency ratios, and demand for social services. Health system financing shows a notable commitment to public health: current health expenditure is 9.65% of GDP in 2022, and health expenditure per capita (PPP) is about 1,918 international dollars, indicating substantial public investment in health relative to many peers. Internet penetration is high, with 84.7% of the population using the Internet in 2023, which supports health education, telemedicine, and information access alongside broader social development. Taken together, the demographic profile points to a well-educated, relatively healthy population undergoing gradual aging pressures, with migration and financing dynamics shaping future outcomes.

Economy, Trade and Investment

The Maldives displays a highly open, services-oriented economy. Exports of goods and services account for 74.4% of GDP in 2023 (rank 24), while imports constitute 75.7% of GDP (rank 23), underscoring a trade-intensive economy with substantial external linkages for both consumption and investment. GDP per capita stands at 13,216 current US$ in 2024, and GDP per capita, PPP, reaches 26,543 international dollars, signaling a relatively elevated standard of living when adjusted for purchasing power. Inflation is modest at 1.4% in 2024 (rank 128), contributing to price stability and predictable consumption and investment conditions. Foreign direct investment, net inflows, represent 11.6% of GDP in 2024 (rank 9), indicating strong investor interest and capital inflows that can support tourism infrastructure, services, and related sectors. However, the current account balance is negative, at -18.0% of GDP in 2024 (rank 107), highlighting a sizeable deficit that traders and policymakers must manage through external financing, reserves, or strategic reforms. The data also show that high-technology exports are small in value (646 current US$; rank 145), reflecting a limited domestic high-tech manufacturing base and suggesting potential for diversification through services, logistics, and technology-enabled platforms. Net migration is negative (-2,421 in 2024), which can constrain the available labor pool and influence long-term growth dynamics even as FDI remains robust. Overall, the Maldives combines strong capital inflows and solid income levels with notable external vulnerabilities, reinforcing the need for prudent macro management, exchange-rate flexibility, and a diversified growth strategy anchored in sustainable tourism and service sectors.

Governance and Institutions

Governance in the Maldives shows a mixed profile. Political stability and absence of violence or terrorism are moderate (0.53 in 2023, rank 70), suggesting a relatively resilient political environment compared with some peers. However, governance quality faces some challenges: regulatory quality is negative (-0.672, rank 145), indicating difficulties in designing and implementing effective regulatory frameworks; the rule of law is near neutral (-0.0786, rank 96), implying variances in judicial independence and enforcement. Control of corruption stands at -0.397 (rank 114), and government effectiveness is -0.128 (rank 105), together signaling room for strengthening public institutions, policy implementation, and anti-corruption efforts. These indicators point to an investment climate that, while open and attractive due to macro stability and investor interest (notably FDI), requires ongoing reforms to improve regulatory predictability, rule of law, and public sector performance. Strengthening governance could further reduce business risk, improve project permitting and public service delivery, and bolster inclusive growth as the economy deepens its reliance on tourism, finance, and service-oriented sectors.

Infrastructure and Technology

Maldives benefits from strong digital connectivity, with 84.7% of the population using the Internet in 2023 (rank 54). This widespread connectivity supports e-government, digital finance, remote work, and online education, crucial for an archipelago where dispersed islands demand resilient service delivery. However, the country records limited high-technology exports (646 current US$; rank 145), suggesting a narrow domestic base for advanced manufacturing and a reliance on external technology and services. Renewable energy consumption accounts for only 1.2% of total final energy consumption in 2022 (rank 60), signaling a heavy dependence on imported energy or conventional fuels and illustrating a management challenge for energy security and climate goals. The combination of strong digital infrastructure and a constrained domestic tech base points to opportunities to leverage connectivity for service specialization, digital platforms, and capacity-building while prioritizing investment in renewable generation, grid modernization, and local tech capabilities to reduce energy vulnerability and foster sustainable growth.

Environment and Sustainability

Environmental sustainability in the Maldives is shaped by finite freshwater resources and climate-related pressures. The level of water stress is 15.7% of freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources in 2021 (rank 77), indicating moderate vulnerabilities given the archipelago’s sensitivity to rainfall variability and tourism-driven water demand. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita are 5.87 t CO2e in 2023 (rank 70), reflecting a modest per-person footprint but one that remains significant in the context of climate-change concerns for small island developing states. Renewable energy remains a small share of total final energy use (1.2%), underscoring the need for ambitious decarbonization and energy diversification. Taken together, these indicators highlight a path where strengthening renewable generation, improving water management, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure are essential for sustainable development, especially as tourism growth and rising living standards increase energy and resource demand. The Maldives faces a dual challenge: maintaining high living standards and protecting fragile ecosystems in a climate-vulnerable setting, requiring coherent policy coordination, investment in resilience, and regional cooperation to manage shared environmental risks.