Maldives

South Asia·Upper middle income

Population: 526K; 171st of 217
GDP: $6.98B; 166th of 214 · 2024
GDP per capita: $13,216; 93rd of 214 · 2024
Life expectancy: 81; 45th of 217
Human development: 0.747; 89th of 189 · 2021

Benchmarked against

Maldives

Sri Lanka

Bhutan

India

Bangladesh

Default peers are drawn from region, income, and bloc membership — swap in any country you like. The gray tick on each strip is the world median.

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

Area: 298 km²
Languages: Dhivehi (official, closely related to Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English…
Resources: fish

Religion

who identifies with what, 2020

world view →

Muslim94.1%
Hindu2.5%
Christian1.6%
Buddhist1.3%

Religious diversity: 1.33 / 10 · low · 145th of 193

Change markers show percentage-point shifts from 2010 to 2020 · Pew Research Center, Religious Composition 2010–2020.

Score card

quartile grades among all countries with data

A · Top quartileB · Above medianC · Below medianD · Bottom quartile

Topic

MDV

LKA

BTN

IND

GDP

current US$

$6.98B–––

GDP per capita

current US$

–––

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

–––

GDP growth

annual %

–––

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

–––

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

–––

FDI inflows

current US$

$806M–––

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

57.6%–––

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

3%–––

Industry value added

% of GDP

9%–––

Unemployment

% of labor force

–––

Gini index

0–100

–––

Extreme poverty

% below $2.15/day

–––

Population

people

526K–––

Population density

people per km²

1,747–––

Urban population

% of total

42%–––

Life expectancy

years at birth

–––

Fertility rate

births per woman

1.6–––

Net migration

people

-2,421–––

Population under 15

% of total

19.6%–––

Population 65+

% of total

4.6%–––

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Health expenditure

% of GDP

9.7%–––

Physicians

per 1,000 people

–––

Adult literacy

% ages 15+

–––

Education expenditure

% of GDP

5.2%–––

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

–––

Internet users

% of population

–––

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

–––

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

–––

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

–––

Access to electricity

% of population

–––

Energy use per capita

kWh

14.9K–––

Electricity per capita

kWh

1,615.9–––

Electricity generation

TWh

0.9–––

Renewable electricity

% of generation

–––

Fossil electricity

% of generation

–––

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

–––

CO₂ per capita

t per person

–––

Share of global CO₂

0%–––

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

–––

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

–––

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Emancipative values

Welzel index, 0–1

0.434–––

Secular values

Welzel index, 0–1

0.277–––

Importance of God

mean, 1–10

9.88–––

Acceptance of homosexuality

justifiable, 1–10

1.26–––

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

2.53–––

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

5.72–––

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

48.3%–––

Men make better leaders

agree, 1–4

2.57–––

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

26%–––

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

23.6%–––

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

31.7%–––

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

55.2%–––

Environment over economy

% choosing environment

44.3%–––

Luck matters more than work

1–10

3.31–––

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

1.33–––

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

0.1%–––

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

–––

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

2.03–––

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

2.01–––

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

2.29–––

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

2.22–––

Importance of democracy

mean, 1–10

7.37–––

National pride

mean, 1–4

3.59–––

Would fight for country

% yes

86.3%–––

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

1.95–––

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

–––

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

–––

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

–––

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

–––

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

–––

Economy & Trade

Output, growth, prices, and openness

theme overview →

GDP

current US$

#166/214

$6.98B2024

GDP per capita

current US$

#93/214

$13,2162024

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

#85/203

$24,735latest

GDP growth

annual %

#36/214

5.1%2024

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

#88/207

$11,6502024

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

#28/213

0.7%2024

FDI inflows

current US$

#98/201

$806M2024

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

#93/205

57.6%2024

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

#133/206

3%2024

Industry value added

% of GDP

#195/208

9%2024

Unemployment

% of labor force

#74/187

4.2%latest

Gini index

0–100

#27/168

29.3latest

Extreme poverty

% below $2.15/day

#11/168

0%latest

People & Society

Population structure, urbanization, and migration

theme overview →

Population

people

#171/217

526Klatest

Population density

people per km²

#7/216

1,747latest

Urban population

% of total

#167/215

42%latest

Life expectancy

years at birth

#45/217

81latest

Fertility rate

births per woman

#140/217

1.6latest

Net migration

people

#126/217

-2,4212024

Population under 15

% of total

#129/217

19.6%2024

Population 65+

% of total

#153/217

4.6%2024

Health & Education

Longevity, mortality, learning, and public spending

theme overview →

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

#50/196

5latest

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

#46/196

5.7latest

Health expenditure

% of GDP

#37/192

9.7%latest

Physicians

per 1,000 people

#83/195

2.2latest

Adult literacy

% ages 15+

#52/160

97.9%latest

Education expenditure

% of GDP

#53/199

5.2%latest

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

#85/194

50%latest

Connectivity

Internet, mobile, and digital infrastructure

theme overview →

Internet users

% of population

#81/210

84.7%latest

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

#38/214

141.62023

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

#88/208

18.72023

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

#99/215

1,330.12024

Access to electricity

% of population

#70/215

100%latest

Energy & Climate

Energy use, electricity mix, and emissions

theme overview →

Energy use per capita

kWh

#97/198

14.9K2023

Electricity per capita

kWh

#121/202

1,615.92023

Electricity generation

TWh

#159/202

0.92023

Renewable electricity

% of generation

#159/202

7.1%2023

Fossil electricity

% of generation

#161/202

92.9%2023

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

#52/204

2.32024

CO₂ per capita

t per person

#131/204

4.42024

Share of global CO₂

#154/204

0%2024

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

#86/193

4.42023

Governance & Democracy

Democratic institutions, corruption, and rule of law

theme overview →

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#71/172

0.5832022

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#70/172

0.442022

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

#88/178

402022

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#110/193

-0.4022022

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#98/193

-0.1342022

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#84/193

-0.02742022

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#53/193

0.6682022

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

#141/172

0.5532022

Values & Beliefs

What people hold sacred, permit, and pass on — from 40 years of World Values Survey interviews

theme overview →

Emancipative values

Welzel index, 0–1

#58/104

0.4342021

Secular values

Welzel index, 0–1

#81/105

0.2772021

Importance of God

mean, 1–10

#3/113

9.882021

Acceptance of homosexuality

justifiable, 1–10

#108/112

1.262021

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

#79/114

2.532021

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

#38/114

5.722021

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

#9/114

1.292021

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

#2/111

1.392021

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

#36/113

48.3%2021

Men make better leaders

agree, 1–4

#37/109

2.572021

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

#23/112

26%2021

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

#47/112

23.6%2021

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

#85/114

31.7%2021

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

#24/114

55.2%2021

Environment over economy

% choosing environment

#90/110

44.3%2021

Luck matters more than work

1–10

#101/109

3.312021

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

#145/193

1.332020

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

#167/193

0.1%2020

Trust & Institutions

Who people trust, and how much faith they place in government, press, and courts

theme overview →

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

#56/114

21.3%2021

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

#83/112

2.032021

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

#94/113

2.012021

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

#81/110

2.292021

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

#64/111

2.222021

Importance of democracy

mean, 1–10

#99/104

7.372021

National pride

mean, 1–4

#50/114

3.592021

Would fight for country

% yes

#17/113

86.3%2021

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

#107/114

1.952021

Development & Wellbeing

Composite measures of how life is going

theme overview →

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

#89/189

0.7472021

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

#83/170

0.3482021

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

#102/164

5.22020

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

#5/113

8.122021

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

#48/114

7.32021

Explore any measure in depth on its own page — try GDP per capita or electoral democracy.