Contents

Country Overview

The Maldives is a low-lying Indian Ocean republic composed of coral atolls southwest of India and Sri Lanka. Its people are concentrated in the Greater Malé area and inhabited island communities, while tourism islands, fisheries, foreign employment and imported energy shape the economy. The 2008 constitutional settlement established a presidential system with an elected People’s Majlis. Sea-level rise, coastal erosion, fiscal pressures and dependence on tourism and imported supplies remain major structural policy concerns.

Reference status: Contemporary country profile • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Source years and statistical or jurisdictional limitations are stated.

CapitalMaléGreater Malé includes surrounding urban islands [9]
Population529,676World Bank 2025 estimate [2]
Nominal GDPUS$7.74 billionWorld Bank 2025 [2]
PresidentMohamed MuizzuIn office since November 17, 2023 [5]
2025 tourist arrivals2.25 millionWorld Bank June 2026 development update [3]
UNESCO World Heritage0 propertiesOne tentative listing: Coral Stone Mosques [12]

Data and status note: The World Bank estimates 529,676 people and US$7.74 billion GDP in 2025; the 2022 census counted approximately 515,000 residents. Published official 2022 census summaries differ slightly across revisions (515,122 and 515,132), so this page does not treat those versions as identical. World Bank June 2026 projected only 0.7% GDP growth in 2026 after a 6.3% rise in 2025; its forecast differs from other agencies and may change. WTO merchandise imports/exports are 2024 and exclude international tourist services, the country’s major external earnings channel. The Maldives has no inscribed UNESCO World Heritage properties; its Coral Stone Mosques remain on the tentative list.

Identity & State Formation

Official state name
Republic of Maldives (Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa). [8]
Short name
Maldives, an island republic in the northern Indian Ocean. [1] [14]
Capital
Malé, in the central island group. [14] [9]
Regional classification
Southern Asia under UN M49. [1]
Political system
Unitary presidential republic governed under 2008 Constitution. [8]
Constitution date
2008 constitution replaced earlier constitutional arrangements. [8]
National independence
26 July 1965, independence from British protection. [14]
Republic declaration
Presidential republican status adopted in 1968. [14]
Pre-republic period
Sultanate and British-protected political structures preceded the modern republic. [14]
Major democratic transition
Competitive presidential institutions expanded under the 2008 constitution. [8]
Official language
Dhivehi, written in Thaana script. [8]
National script
Thaana script is used for modern Dhivehi writing. [8]
Common tourism language
English widely used in travel, business and tourism employment. [14] [3]
State religion
Islam, expressly designated by the constitution. [8] [16]
Citizenship and religion
The constitutional system requires citizens to be Muslim. [8] [16]
National currency
Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR), divided into 100 laari. [2]
Currency ISO code
MVR. [2]
ISO alpha-2 code
MV. [1]
ISO alpha-3 code
MDV. [1]
ISO numeric country code
462. [1]
International telephone code
+960. [14]
National domain
.mv. [14]
Time zone
Maldives Time, UTC+05:00 throughout the archipelago. [14]
National flag
Red field, green rectangle and white crescent. [18]
Official public institutions
President, People’s Majlis, independent commissions and judiciary. [8]
National motto or identity
Island communities, marine culture and Islam are integral to national heritage. [8] [14]
Presidential inauguration
Mohamed Muizzu began office November 17, 2023. [5]
Government legitimacy
President and parliament are selected in separate national elections. [5] [6]
Language and religion distinction
Dhivehi is national language and Islam the established religion; these are different legal categories. [8]
Strategic identity
Small-island developing state with a strong interest in marine environmental security. [15] [14]

Geography & Population

Land area
Approximately 298 square kilometers in World Bank land-area series. [17]
Geographic setting
Coral atoll archipelago southwest of Sri Lanka and India. [14]
Ocean
Northern Indian Ocean, extending north–south along oceanic ridges. [14]
Island inventory
Roughly 1,200 low-lying coral islands and sandbanks, depending on counting rules. [14]
Atoll groups
About 26 natural atolls, distinct from administrative atoll divisions. [14]
Inhabited islands
Around 200 islands have permanent settlements; count changes by definition. [14]
Tourist resort islands
Numerous islands developed principally for resort accommodation. [14] [3]
Capital island
Malé is exceptionally densely built and urbanized. [9]
Greater Malé
Statistical metropolitan definition includes Malé, Hulhumalé, Villimalé and Hulhulé. [9]
Northern setting
Close maritime and airline links to India and Sri Lanka. [14]
Main airport
Velana International Airport serves the capital region and overseas travel. [3]
Coral reef system
Reef structures surround and shelter much of the island land area. [14]
Lagoon ecosystems
Shallow lagoons and marine habitats form the core geography of the atolls. [14]
Highest land
Extremely low-lying islands; most inhabited surfaces are only a few meters above sea level. [14] [3]
Physical vulnerability
Waves, erosion, storm surge and rising seas threaten low-lying islands. [14] [15]
Climate
Tropical monsoonal conditions, warm temperatures and seasonal rainfall. [14]
Southwest monsoon
Generally wetter and windier conditions occur during much of May–November. [14]
Northeast monsoon
Generally drier period during much of December–April. [14]
Saltwater intrusion
Freshwater lenses can be affected by sea-water intrusion and overuse. [3] [14]
Rainfall and water
Rainwater storage and desalination contribute to island water security. [3]
2022 national census
Approximately 515,000 residents; revisions present slightly different precise totals. [9] [10]
Census P1 resident count
Early official table reports 515,122 for 2022. [10]
Census revision caveat
Some official public summaries report 515,132, not exactly the early P1 value. [9] [10] [19]
World Bank 2025 population
Estimated 529,676 residents. [2]
Population comparison
2022 enumeration and 2025 World Bank projection are different observations. [2] [9]
Citizenship coverage
Census distinguishes resident Maldivians and resident foreigners. [9]
Urban population
A large share of residents live in Greater Malé and other growing islands. [9]
Island governance
Administrative atolls and city councils serve geographically dispersed communities. [8] [9]
Biodiversity
Coral reefs, sea turtles, seabirds and pelagic fish depend on healthy ocean ecosystems. [14] [15]
Energy and climate link
Imported fuel powers much electricity and transport, creating decarbonization challenges. [3] [15]
Marine pollution
Plastic waste and wastewater can damage reef and lagoon ecosystems. [14] [15]
Climate adaptation
Elevated infrastructure, reefs, coastal protection and water systems are priority adaptations. [3] [15]

Population measurement and census

The cited 2022 census publications report slightly different final/early figures. Values are not interchangeable with the World Bank 2025 projection. [9] [10] [2] [19]

Source Period Population
2022 census early P1 table2022515,122
Revised census summary (different release)2022approximately 515,132
World Bank resident estimate2025529,676

Economy & International Trade

National currency
Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR). [2]
2025 nominal GDP
US$7.74 billion in World Bank current-dollar series. [2]
2025 population denominator
529,676 for World Bank GDP per capita series. [2]
2025 GDP per capita
Approximately US$14,614.7 in World Bank series. [2]
2025 real GDP growth
6.3% according to World Bank latest annual indicator. [2] [3]
2026 real GDP outlook
World Bank June 2026 projects growth slowing to 0.7%. [3]
Forecast distinction
A projection, not a realized 2026 national-accounts estimate. [3]
2025 inflation
About 4.0% according to World Bank indicators. [2]
2025 modeled unemployment
About 4.5% under World Bank/ILO modeled indicator. [2]
Main economic engine
International tourism and travel-related services dominate external earnings. [3]
2025 visitor arrivals
2.25 million tourists, World Bank June 2026 update. [3]
2025 tourism growth
International tourist arrivals rose about 9.8% year on year. [3]
Tourism seasonality
Air service, regional holidays, monsoon conditions and visitor markets affect arrivals. [3]
Tourism infrastructure
Resorts, guesthouses, ports, airports and seaplane networks support travel. [3]
Fisheries
Oceanic tuna fisheries supply local food and export goods. [11] [3]
Fish processing
Canned tuna, frozen skipjack and yellowfin tuna are leading export products. [11]
2024 goods exports
US$92.4 million in WTO merchandise-trade profile. [11]
2024 goods imports
US$3.6343 billion in WTO merchandise-trade profile. [11]
Goods-balance interpretation
Merchandise deficit does not measure high-value foreign tourist spending. [11] [3]
2024 top export market
Thailand accounted for 35.0% of goods exports. [11]
Second export destination
United Kingdom accounted for 21.8% of goods exports. [11]
2024 leading import source
China supplied 18.7% of recorded goods imports. [11]
Other import sources
UAE and India were 15.0% and 13.8% respectively. [11]
Leading import good
Fuel/oil preparations are a major import category. [11]
Tuna export category
Prepared or preserved tuna represented 33.1% of 2024 goods exports. [11]
Frozen skipjack
Accounted for 30.0% of 2024 merchandise exports. [11]
Public financing
High debt and debt-servicing costs constrain the fiscal position. [3]
2026 government debt outlook
World Bank projected debt could exceed 140% of GDP over the medium term. [3]
2026 fiscal deficit outlook
World Bank June 2026 projected 10.9% of GDP fiscal deficit in 2026. [3]
Foreign exchange pressures
Tourism dollar earnings must finance imports, debt service and essential equipment. [3]
Infrastructure investment
Airports, housing, land reclamation and interisland facilities require substantial capital. [3]
Renewable energy
Solar energy and system upgrades can reduce imported-fuel dependence. [3] [15]
Macroeconomic vulnerability
Concentration in tourism increases exposure to external travel shocks. [3]
Service-versus-goods note
Trade-in-services tourism revenue is excluded from WTO merchandise export figures. [11] [3]

Economic benchmarks

World Bank 2026 growth figure is a forecast, not an actual outcome. [2] [3]

Indicator Reference period Value
GDP (current US$)World Bank 2025US$7.74 billion
Real GDP growthWorld Bank 20256.3%
GDP per capitaWorld Bank 2025US$14,614.7
World Bank growth forecast2026, June outlook0.7%
Tourist arrivals20252.25 million

2024 WTO merchandise trade

International tourist services are excluded; do not infer the overall external current-account position from this table. [11] [3]

Indicator Value (US$ million) Scope
Exports92.4Goods only
Imports3,634.3Goods only
Goods trade balance−3,541.9Calculated from two WTO series

Leading merchandise export products in 2024

HS merchandise categories; imports and services are excluded. [11]

WTO product category Share of goods exports US$ million
Prepared or preserved tuna33.1%30.6
Frozen skipjack30.0%27.7
Frozen yellowfin tuna11.5%10.6
Fresh or chilled fish fillets6.8%6.3

Main import partners in 2024

WTO partner groupings include European Union as a bloc. [11]

Trade partner Share of goods imports US$ million
China18.7%679.0
United Arab Emirates15.0%545.1
India13.8%501.6
European Union10.2%369.1
Oman7.7%280.2

People & Society

National language
Dhivehi. [8]
Script
Thaana, a right-to-left script used for Dhivehi. [8]
English in public life
English is widely used in tourism, education and international business. [14]
Religion
Sunni Islam is central to the constitutional religious order. [8] [16]
State religion
Islam is designated as state religion. [8]
Citizenship rule
Legal citizenship eligibility is conditioned on being Muslim. [8] [16]
Religious practice policy
Other religious practice and expression are subject to substantial legal restrictions. [16]
Population composition
Resident Maldivians and foreign residents are separately counted in census results. [9]
2022 resident Maldivians
Approximately 382,000–383,000 depending on public census revision. [9] [10]
2022 resident foreigners
Approximately 132,000 foreign residents in published census tables. [10]
Foreign workers
Migrant employment is important in construction, hospitality and services. [9] [3]
Dense urban households
Greater Malé concentrates jobs, higher education and public services. [9]
Island communities
Smaller islands maintain distinct patterns of work, fishing and social organization. [14]
Urban expansion
Hulhumalé and reclaimed areas accommodate metropolitan housing and services. [9] [3]
Education
Schools and tertiary institutions face challenges of interisland transport and access. [14] [3]
Health system
Malé-based tertiary services are complemented by dispersed island health facilities. [3]
Life expectancy
World Bank lists approximately 81 years for 2024. [2]
Traditional fishing
Pole-and-line tuna fishing is associated with Maldivian marine culture. [11] [14]
National cuisine
Tuna, coconut, rice and chili are characteristic food ingredients. [14] [11]
Dish example
Mas huni, a tuna-and-coconut breakfast dish, is part of Maldivian food culture. [14]
Music traditions
Bodu beru drumming and island performance traditions remain familiar. [14]
Local boat tradition
Dhoni vessels are important in fishing, transport and maritime history. [14]
Architecture
Coral-stone construction is prominent in surviving older mosques. [13]
Heritage mosques
Coral Stone Mosques of Maldives appear on UNESCO's tentative list. [12]
World Heritage distinction
The tentative mosques are not yet inscribed World Heritage properties. [12]
Resort economy employment
Tourism provides jobs directly and indirectly across islands. [3]
Migration and rights
Foreign-resident labor conditions merit separate analysis from citizen welfare. [9] [3]
Local customs
Hospitality, religious observance and marine livelihoods influence public culture. [8] [14]
Religious calendar
Ramadan and Islamic festivals are nationally significant. [8]
Youth and employment
Education and workforce pathways must account for geographic dispersion. [3]
Gender representation
IPU lists three women among 93 sitting Majlis members in its current profile. [6]
Cultural preservation
Modern infrastructure and climate adaptation pose challenges for historic island places. [13]

Government & Institutions

Head of state
President Mohamed Muizzu, in office since November 17, 2023. [5] [20]
Head of government
President; no separate prime-minister office in the current presidential design. [8] [5]
Political system
Unitary presidential republic. [8]
Constitution
2008 Constitution is the principal legal framework. [8]
Executive power
Constitution vests executive authority in the President. [8]
Legislative power
People's Majlis holds legislative authority. [8] [6]
Judicial power
Constitution assigns judicial power to the courts. [8]
Parliament name
People's Majlis. [6]
Parliament structure
Unicameral. [6]
Statutory seats
93 elected members in current legislature. [6]
Current sitting seats
IPU current profile reports 93 members. [6]
2024 parliamentary election
Held April 21, 2024. [7]
Post-election governing party
People's National Congress gained a large majority following the 2024 election. [7]
2024 party movements
Six independent winning candidates joined PNC, bringing its total to 72 on April 25, 2024. [7]
Seat-count warning
Post-election party affiliations can change; the 72-seat figure is dated April 2024. [7]
Presidential term
Five-year electoral term under 2008 constitutional framework. [8]
Presidential elections
Direct nationwide elections determine the presidency. [8]
Legislative elections
Directly elected constituency MPs serve in the Majlis. [6]
Local government
City and island councils implement subnational administration. [8]
Administrative divisions
Local councils are organized across cities and administrative atolls. [8] [9]
Chief justice and courts
Judiciary is a separate constitutional branch with Supreme Court at its apex. [8]
Constitutional Islam
State legal framework is founded on Islamic principles. [8] [16]
Religious eligibility
Constitution sets religious criteria for citizenship and high office. [8] [16]
Political party contest
Parties participate in presidential and legislative elections. [7]
National budget
Central government manages public financing and capital project spending. [3]
Financial accountability
Fiscal governance is a prominent concern in World Bank 2026 assessment. [3]
External borrowing
Government and state enterprises hold liabilities relevant to debt sustainability. [3]
Economic reform
Subsidy, social insurance and capital spending are identified as fiscal reforms. [3]
Electoral institutions
Election Commission administers the national electoral process. [7]
Women in parliament
Three of 93 MPs recorded as women by IPU; figure is source-date-specific. [6]
Rights and representation
Constitutional protections coexist with restrictions on religious expression. [8] [16]

International Profile

UN membership
Maldives joined the United Nations in 1965. [15]
South Asian grouping
Founding member of SAARC since 1985. [15]
World Trade Organization
WTO member since 1995. [15] [11]
Commonwealth
Rejoined the Commonwealth on February 1, 2020. [14]
Prior Commonwealth withdrawal
Withdrew in October 2016 before rejoining in 2020. [14]
Indian Ocean setting
Major sea lanes and regional aviation links connect surrounding states. [14] [15]
India relationship
Geographic, trade, security and development cooperation with India. [15] [11]
Sri Lanka relationship
Close transport, trade and South Asian diplomatic links. [14] [15]
China trade
China was largest source of 2024 goods imports in the WTO data. [11]
United Arab Emirates trade
UAE supplied 15.0% of merchandise imports in 2024. [11]
Thailand export market
Largest recorded merchandise export destination in 2024. [11]
United Kingdom export market
Second-largest destination in the WTO 2024 series. [11]
Tourism dependence
International flight connections and visitor markets tie tourism to global conditions. [3]
Small-island diplomacy
Climate adaptation and coastal resilience are central foreign-policy themes. [15]
AOSIS
Maldives is a prominent participant in the Alliance of Small Island States. [15]
G77
Participates in developing-country diplomatic coordination. [15]
UN climate agreements
Advocates for stronger climate action and island resilience. [15]
Coral conservation
Marine habitat protection is essential to the national economic and ecological future. [14] [15]
Ocean governance
Fishing, marine pollution and maritime boundaries are recurring issues. [15]
International finance
Development finance and debt support affect external stability. [3] [4]
World Heritage Convention
Maldives accepted the World Heritage Convention in May 1986. [12]
Inscribed World Heritage count
Zero properties as of November 6, 2026. [12]
Tentative World Heritage count
One listing: Coral Stone Mosques of Maldives (2013). [12]
Coral Stone Mosques
Tentative serial cultural nomination focuses on distinct coral-stone architectural traditions. [12] [13]
Heritage counting note
Tentative listing does not constitute World Heritage inscription. [12]
Intangible versus physical
Intangible cultural heritage is a separate UNESCO framework from World Heritage listing. [12]
2026 foreign-policy statement
July 2026 ministry statement highlights development, diplomacy, sovereignty and climate resilience. [15]
Diplomatic network
Foreign missions and multilateral delegations support tourism, investment and security aims. [15]
Economic vulnerability
Energy import needs and debt servicing expose the balance of payments to shocks. [3]
Climate financing
External support for adaptation and resilience remains an important diplomatic priority. [15] [3]

UNESCO World Heritage status

Tentative sites are proposals and not inscribed World Heritage properties. [12] [13]

Category Count Reference
Inscribed World Heritage properties0World Heritage Centre 2026
Tentative sites1Coral Stone Mosques of Maldives (2013)

Sources and Methodology

Sources distinguish dated official census outputs from later international population estimates. The early census Table P1 and public revised census material differ by ten persons, which is explicitly signaled rather than reconciled without source inspection. The 2026 macroeconomic forecast is drawn from the World Bank June 2026 development update and is not an annual actual. WTO merchandise totals omit tourism-related service exports. UNESCO World Heritage status is stated separately from the tentative list.

Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). All stated population counts, prices, elections, and legal statuses have specific reference dates or qualifications. This page should be updated following major new statistical releases or changes of government.

  1. United Nations Statistics Division — M49 — Southern Asia regional classification and country codes.
  2. World Bank — Maldives data — 2025 population, GDP, economic indicators and 2024 life expectancy.
  3. World Bank — Maldives Development Update, June 2026 — 2025 tourism and growth, 2026 forecast and fiscal vulnerabilities.
  4. International Monetary Fund — Maldives — macroeconomic outlook and Article IV coverage.
  5. President’s Office — President Mohamed Muizzu — current president and November 2023 inauguration.
  6. Inter-Parliamentary Union — People’s Majlis — 93 statutory and sitting seats and legislative structure.
  7. Inter-Parliamentary Union — April 2024 election — 2024 election and post-election party changes.
  8. WIPO Lex — Maldives 2008 Constitution — presidential republican system and religious provisions.
  9. Maldives Bureau of Statistics — Census 2022 results summary — census coverage and definitions of residents and foreigners.
  10. Maldives 2022 population census Table P1 — early tabulated census total 515,122 and nationality detail.
  11. WTO — Maldives tariff and trade profile — 2024 goods trade, tuna categories and import markets.
  12. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Maldives — zero inscribed World Heritage properties and one tentative listing.
  13. UNESCO — Maldives coral stone mosques nomination assistance — tentative mosques and conservation objectives.
  14. Commonwealth — Maldives profile — island geography and Commonwealth membership history.
  15. Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Foreign Policy, July 2026 — UN, SAARC, WTO, AOSIS and foreign policy priorities.
  16. US State Department — Maldives religious freedom report — constitutional religious rights and nationality restrictions.
  17. World Bank — Land area of Maldives — land area approximately 298 square kilometers.
  18. Maldives government — official background — national institutions and presidential administration.
  19. Maldives Bureau of Statistics — World Population Day 2024 — 2022 revised population figure 515,132.
  20. Maldives Presidency — November 3, 2026 — contemporary presidential officeholder confirmation.