Maldives

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.  

3 15 N, 73 00 E

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

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

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

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

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

644 km

Total: 0 km

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.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Note: Measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

fish

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

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

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

Asia

0 sq km (2012)

30 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: 8th tee, golf course, Villingi Island 5 m

Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation: 2 m

Total : 298 sq km

Land: 298 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

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)

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.)

Total population: 98.2% (2019 est.)

Male: 98.2% (2019 est.)

Female: 98.3% (2019 est.)

Noun: Maldivian(s)

Adjective: Maldivian

Urban population: 42% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

177,000 MALE (capital) (2018)

2.24 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

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

23.2 years (2016/17 est.)

Note: Data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

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.)

Improved:

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

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

Sunni Muslim (official)

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

10% of GDP (2021)

18.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Total: 13 years (2022 est.)

Male: 11 years (2022 est.)

Female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Women married by age 15: 0% (2017)

Women married by age 18: 2.2% (2017)

Men married by age 18: 2.2% (2017)

0.83 (2024 est.)

68.4% (2022 est.)

Total: 16.1% (2024 est.)

Male: 20% (2024 est.)

Female: 9.5% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-12.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 31.9 years (2024 est.)

Male: 31.3 years

Female: 32.4 years

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

1.7 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 388,858 (2024 est.)

Male: 197,739

Female: 191,119

Total: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 21.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 28% (2025 est.)

Male: 41.5% (2025 est.)

Female: 9.2% (2025 est.)

8.6% (2016)

4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

15.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

14.8% (2017 est.)

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.)

Total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.)

Male: 75.1 years

Female: 79.9 years

5.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

9.6% national budget (2025 est.)

-0.2% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 5.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 268,194 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 211,500 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.9% (2022 est.)

12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

1.908 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

50.886 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo Yue-Ho YON (since 6 September 2023); note - Ambassador YON is the first resident US ambassador to the Republic of Maldives

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

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)

Name: Malé

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"

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

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%

2018: Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH elected president in first round; Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 58.3%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 41.7%

Expected date of next election: 2028

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

26 July 1965 (from the UK)

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)

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

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

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

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

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

18 years of age; universal

presidential republic

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

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)

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

coconut palm, yellowfin tuna

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

red, green, white

5.4% (2019 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 3.8% (2019 est.)

Highest 10%: 23.3% (2019 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

fish, aircraft, refined petroleum, scrap iron, natural gas (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Thailand 32%, India 21%, Singapore 9%, UK 7%, Germany 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

fruits, vegetables, nuts, other meats, papayas, bananas, tomatoes, maize, pulses, chillies/peppers (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

refined petroleum, plastic products, aircraft, granite, ships (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
15.389 (2024 est.)
15.387 (2023 est.)
15.387 (2022 est.)
15.373 (2021 est.)
15.381 (2020 est.)

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

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

$6.975 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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.)

India 15%, UAE 15%, Oman 14%, China 12%, Singapore 8% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

270,300 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$3.113 billion (2023 est.)

Note: Present value of external debt in current US dollars

$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

4.7% (2024 est.)
4.3% (2023 est.)
4.5% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

19.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Note: Central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$12.325 billion (2024 est.)
$11.723 billion (2023 est.)
$11.194 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

1.4% (2024 est.)
2.9% (2023 est.)
2.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$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

$23,400 (2024 est.)
$22,300 (2023 est.)
$21,400 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$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

$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

5.1% (2024 est.)
4.7% (2023 est.)
13.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-2.7% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

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

Imports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.)

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.)

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

Installed generating capacity: 432,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 821.397 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 25.867 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)

.mv

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)

Total subscriptions: 745,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2022 est.)

Total: 98,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 13,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

8Q

20 (2025)

Total: 82 (2023)

By type: General cargo 30, oil tanker 20, other 32

18-25 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription (2024)

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

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)

not available

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

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

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/

IDPs: 54 (2023 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

Total ports: 1 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 0

Small: 0

Very small: 1

Ports with oil terminals: 1

Key ports: Male

29.3 (2019 est.)

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