Maldives: Net migration

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Maldives' net migration rose 138 on 2024 (from -2,421 to -2,283).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −55.1 and a typical year strayed about 2,429 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 4,428 in 2006 and the biggest yearly fall was 12,086 in 2022. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is downward, about 1,751 a year. A straight line explains 72% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Maldives had the 121st highest value of the 217 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Maldives in the 2025 ranking

• Comoros — 118th of 217: -2,127
• Tonga — 119th of 217: -2,150
• Madagascar — 120th of 217: -2,227
• Timor-Leste — 122nd of 217: -2,550
• Mauritius — 123rd of 217: -2,784
• Korea, Dem. People's Rep. — 124th of 217: -2,787

What this measures

Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.

Limitations: International migration is the component of population change most difficult to measure and estimate reliably. Thus, the quality and quantity of the data used in the estimation and projection of net migration varies considerably by country. Furthermore, the movement of people across international boundaries, which is very often a response to changing socio-economic, political and environmental forces, is subject to a great deal of volatility. Refugee movements, for instance, may involve large numbers of people moving across boundaries in a short time.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 66 values

Net migration in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — -402,100 (2025)
• Bhutan — 455 (2025)
• India — -495,753 (2025)
• Nepal — -364,699 (2025)
• Sri Lanka — -30,724 (2025)

More social protection & labor data for Maldives

• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 43.26% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 58.57% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 51.74% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 43.17% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 79.2% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 66.43% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Maldives's net migration?

-2,283 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is down 7,034% from -32 in 1960. The highest value was 9,648 in 2019 and the lowest -2,877 in 2023.

How does Maldives rank?

121st highest of 217 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in net migration unusual for Maldives?

In 2025, Maldives' net migration rose 138 on 2024 (from -2,421 to -2,283). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −55.1 and a typical year strayed about 2,429 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SM.POP.NETM, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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