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Demographics
Child protection
Gender & GBV
Disability
Health
Substance abuse
Poverty & housing
Social protection
Education
Population & demographics
Maldivian population growth, 1911–2022
Maldivian citizens only. Census 2022 also counted 132,493 foreign residents.
400K
300K
200K
100K
0
72,237
103,220
270,101
382,639
1911
1931
1967
1985
2000
2014
2022
Source: Maldives Bureau of Statistics, Population and Housing Census 1911–2022
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Where Maldivians live, Census 2022
Population distribution by locality type
382,639
Maldivian citizens
Atolls — 46.0%
Malé City — 23.5%
Hulhumalé — 14.3%
Resorts — 10.0%
Industrial — 3.0%
Vilimalé — 2.5%
Source: Census 2022 Results Summary, Maldives Bureau of Statistics
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Total fertility rate, 1990–2022
Children per woman. Replacement level (2.1) shown as dashed line.
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2.1
6.40
5.40
3.52
2.62
2.22
2.10
1.78
1.68
1.58
1990
2000
2010
2022
Source: DHS 2009; DHS 2016–17; World Bank WDI; UNFPA Maldives
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Life expectancy at birth, 1977–2022
Years
85
75
65
55
45
40
47.0
1977
62.5
72.2
76.6
81.1
2022
1990
2000
2010
Source: World Bank WDI; UN DESA; WHO Global Health Observatory
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Marriages and divorces, 2010–2016
Annual registered marriages and divorces
Marriages
Divorces
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Source: Statistical Yearbook of Maldives 2023
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Divorce-to-marriage ratio, 2010–2016
Divorces as percentage of marriages registered in the same year
65%
60%
55%
50%
45%
40%
45.6%
50.1%
52.8%
59.3%
61.1%
58.3%
62.3%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Source: Statistical Yearbook of Maldives 2023
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Population aged 65+, projected to 2062
From 20,490 to 119,246 — a sixfold increase in 40 years
130K
65K
0
Ageing (7%+)
Aged (14%+)
Super-aged (21%+)
20,490
(5%)
~35,000
~65,000
~95,000
119,246
2022
2031
2044
2052
2062
Source: UNFPA Population Projection 2022–2062; Census 2022; Viraasee 2025
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Population pyramid, Census 2022
Maldivian citizens by age group and sex
Male
Female
18,000
9,000
0
9,000
18,000
80+
75–79
70–74
65–69
60–64
55–59
50–54
45–49
40–44
35–39
30–34
25–29
20–24
15–19
10–14
5–9
0–4
Source: Population and Housing Census 2022, Maldives Bureau of Statistics
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Health indicators among the elderly
Prevalence among Maldivians aged 65+
Not living with families (bedridden)
67%
Hypertension
46%
Some disability
45%
Diabetes
28%
Source: Ministry of Health data; National Elderly Policy 2018
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Major crime categories: year-on-year trends
Most recent comparable years available (2021–2024)
Earlier year
Latest year
Change
4,479
3,279
-27%
Drug-related
1,611
1,436
-11%
Assaults
696
537
-23%
Domestic violence
575
467
-19%
Sexual offences
Source: MPS Bureau of Crime Statistics; MV+ 2024
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Prison population profile
47–80%+
Drug offenders
share of inmates
21.6
Mean age at
first arrest (years)
8.2
Average years
of education
64.7%
Poor or working
class background
47.1%
Divorced at time
of incarceration
Source: MCS Prison Review; Vulnerability Mapping
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Child protection
Domestic violence cases reported to FPA, 2013–2024
Annual cases. Gap years not reported.
19
2013
149
2014
438
2015
642
2016
539
2017
···
696
2021
···
537
2024
Source: Family Protection Authority annual records; MPS Bureau of Crime Statistics
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Children's living arrangements, Census 2022
Each square represents 1% of children aged 0–17
Both parents (74%)
One parent (22%)
Alternative care (4%)
Source: Census 2022 Children's Equity Report, Maldives Bureau of Statistics
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Children in alternative care by type, March 2023
187 children total. Only 18 registered foster carers nationwide.
Institutional care — 91% (170 children)
Foster care — 9% (17 children)
Source: MoSFD administrative data; CRC State Party Report 2021
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Child protection cases per social worker
61
child protection
social workers
128,208
children in
Maldives
~160
cases per worker
vs 25–30 recommended
Source: Rogers, Ali & Naeem 2025; MoSFD staffing data
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Juvenile cases investigated by MPS, 2023–2024
+78% increase year-on-year
120
2023
213
2024
+78%
Source: MPS Bureau of Crime Statistics
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Gender, GBV & women's empowerment
GBV justice pathway: cases lost at each stage
From estimated prevalence to final conviction
Estimated lifetime prevalence
~40,000 women
Reported to FPA
696 cases (1.7%)
Police report filed
~500 cases
Submitted to Prosecutor General
~15 cases (3%)
Convicted
~2–3 (16.7% conviction rate)
Source: AIM Project Baseline Assessment 2022; FPA 2021; DHS 2016–17
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
FGM/C prevalence by age group
Percentage of women aged 15–49 who have undergone FGM/C
15–19
1%
20–24
3%
25–29
5%
30–34
8%
35–39
15%
40–44
28%
45–49
38%
Overall
13%
Source: Maldives DHS 2016–17
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Labour force participation rate by gender, Census 2022
Male
80%
Female
44%
36 pp gap
Source: Census 2022, Maldives Bureau of Statistics
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Women's political representation
Percentage of seats held by women, by level of government
Parliament
3.2%
(3 of 93, April 2024)
Cabinet
18.2%
(4 of 22, 2024)
Local councils
39.7%
(2021, with 33% quota)
33% quota
Source: People's Majlis records; Elections Commission; CEDAW Concluding Observations
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
DV case reporters by gender
Women account for 82% of domestic violence reports
82% Women
18%
Men
Source: Family Protection Authority reporting data
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
The higher education gender paradox
Women dominate enrolment; men dominate dropout
64%
female
of higher education
students enrolled
BUT
88%
male
of all higher education
dropouts
Source: Ministry of Higher Education statistical releases
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Disability
Disability registry coverage gap, December 2024
Census-identified persons with disabilities vs. National Disability Registry
24,401
Census 2022
13,656
NDR Dec 2024
44% gap
Census (WG-SS)
NDR registered
Unregistered gap
Source: Census 2022 (WG-SS); NSPA NDR data December 2024
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Disability allowance tiers, 2023
Monthly MVR, maximum MVR 7,000
MVR 2,000
MVR 1,000
MVR 2,000
MVR 2,000
1,000
MVR 2,000
1,000
Basic
General
Carer
Self-care
Total maximum: MVR 7,000/month
Source: NSPA administrative data; Policy on Allowance for Persons with Disabilities, 2023
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Labour force participation by disability status and gender
Women w/ disability
28%
Men w/ disability
41%
Women overall
44%
Men overall
80%
Women
Men
With disability (lighter)
Source: Census 2022, Maldives Bureau of Statistics
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Health systems & mental health
Youth mental health indicators
Percentage of school-age adolescents, GSHS 2009 and 2014
Seriously considered suicide (2009)
19.9%
Made a suicide plan (2014)
16.8%
Attempted suicide (2014)
12.0%
Required medical treatment (2014)
5.1%
Felt lonely (2014)
10.1%
Worry preventing sleep (2014)
9.5%
Source: WHO Global School-based Student Health Survey, Maldives 2009 and 2014
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Parents worried about children's mental health, by region
89% want more information on adolescent mental health
Overall
80%
Central
73%
North
69%
Greater Male'
62%
South
61%
Source: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey 2023
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Psychiatry waitlist reduction through decentralisation
IGMH waitlist, pre-pandemic to August 2023
3,300+
patients waiting
pre-pandemic
90%
reduction
~330
patients waiting
August 2023
Telepsychiatry reach
55,000
people across 56 islands
Source: Ministry of Health mental health decentralisation programme data
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Infant mortality rate, 1990–2023
Deaths per 1,000 live births
10
20
30
40
50
1990
2000
2006
2010
2012
2015
2020
2023
49.8
5.27
Source: World Bank WDI; WHO; Statistical Yearbook of Maldives
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Disease burden: NCDs vs communicable diseases
Percentage of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)
78%
NCDs
NCDs (incl. injuries) 78%
Communicable/maternal/child 22%
Source: WHO / Global Burden of Disease
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Child and maternal nutrition indicators
Prevalence among children under 5 and women of reproductive age
Iron deficiency (children)
57%
Vitamin A deficiency (moderate)
50.1%
Anaemia (children)
26%
Iodine deficiency (children)
19%
Underweight (<5)
17.3%
Zinc deficiency (children)
16%
Overweight (<5)
5.9%
Vitamin A (severe)
5.1%
Source: DHS 2009; National Micronutrient Survey 2007
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Aasandha universal health insurance: key figures
MVR 1.9B
Budget allocation
(2024)
56%
Pharmaceutical costs
share of spending
49%
Out-of-pocket
health spending
75x
Drug prices vs
int'l benchmarks
Source: NSPA; World Bank Aasandha assessment; national budget 2024
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Substance abuse
Drug of first initiation, RAS 2003
What substance people used first
Brown sugar / opioids
43%
Cannabinoids
34%
Alcohol
12%
Other
11%
Source: UNODC Rapid Situation Assessment 2003
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Drug use situational analysis: key indicators, 2021
Peer influence
72.2%
Began before age 18
57.8%
Relapsed
42.7%
Family also using
41.4%
Completed treatment
41.4%
Never sought treatment
34.2%
Injecting use
21.6%
Voluntary treatment
8.9%
Source: National Situational Analysis of Drug Users 2021
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Poverty, housing & economic vulnerability
Poverty rate by atoll
Percentage below national poverty line
National 5.4%
Gaafu Dhaalu
15.6%
Thaa
14.4%
Alif Alif
14.2%
Haa Dhaalu
10.1%
Raa
9.2%
Addu
5.7%
National
5.4%
Alif Dhaalu
3.1%
Kaafu
2.6%
Male'
0.9%
Source: HIES 2019; World Bank Poverty and Inequality in Maldives 2022
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Poverty rate by household head characteristics
National 5.4%
Below-primary education
12.6%
Household >10 members
12.0%
Overcrowded
10.4%
Disability
9.6%
Female-headed
6.0%
Self-employed
5.5%
Wage-earning
2.4%
Tertiary education
0.4%
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality in Maldives 2022
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
COVID-19 socioeconomic impact, 2020
-33.6%
GDP contraction
tourism revenue
44%
of households
reported income loss
2x
women more likely
to stop working
15%
of relief loans
went to women
Source: Ministry of Finance; World Bank; UNDP rapid assessment
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Housing cost burden in the Maldives
33–75%
Housing as share
of household income
~65,000
Population density
per km² in Male'
60%
Greater Male'
households renting
Source: Census 2022; HIES 2019; Housing Market Study
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Unemployment rate, 2019–2023
Overall and youth (15–24)
Overall
Youth (15–24)
0%
4%
8%
12%
16%
20%
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
5.4%
4.2%
16.1%
15.0%
Source: ILO modelled estimates; World Bank WDI
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Social protection
Social protection programmes: beneficiaries
Senior Citizen Allowance
~20,000+
Disability Allowance
11,371
Single Parent Allowance
3,245 parents
(5,563 children)
Foster Parent Allowance
121 parents
(149 children)
Source: NSPA; MoSFD 2023–2024
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Social protection expenditure by component, 2009
Total MVR 782 million (3.5% of GDP)
Social assistance 52%
Social insurance 47%
Social assistance: MVR 389M (52%)
Social insurance: MVR 346M (47%)
Labour market: MVR 7M (1%)
Source: ADB Social Protection Index 2012
Visualization by Public Policy Lab @policylabmv
Education & employment