Maldives

presidential republic

name: Mal 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"

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% expected date of next election: 2028 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

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)

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

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

not available

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

18-25 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription (2025) note: in 2025, the Maldives began allowing Maldivians 16-28 (under 18 with parental consent) who lacked access to further education after completing their secondary education or employment could join the Maldives National Service Program and be recruited to the Army or Police

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)

$12.325 billion (2024 est.) $11.723 billion (2023 est.) $11.194 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$23,400 (2024 est.) $22,300 (2023 est.) $21,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

5.1% (2024 est.) 4.7% (2023 est.) 13.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

1.4% (2024 est.) 2.9% (2023 est.) 2.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

61.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

$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

$5.344 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

4.7% (2024 est.) 4.3% (2023 est.) 4.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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

fruits, vegetables, nuts, other meats, papayas, bananas, tomatoes, maize, pulses, chillies/peppers (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 388,858 (2024 est.) male: 197,739 female: 191,119

-0.24% (2025 est.)

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)

14.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-12.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.) male: 75.1 years female: 79.9 years

urban population: 42% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

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

Sunni Muslim (official)

total population: 98.2% (2019 est.) male: 98.2% (2019 est.) female: 98.3% (2019 est.)

fish

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

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.)

20 (2025)

total: 82 (2023) by type: general cargo 30, oil tanker 20, other 32

total subscriptions: 745,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2022 est.)

percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)