Maldives: Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita (cubic meters)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2022, Maldives' renewable internal freshwater resources per capita (cubic meters) fell 0.88 on 2021 (from 58.12 to 57.24).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1992 to 2021), the average change was −2.38 and a typical year strayed about 0.58 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.6 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly fall was 11.7 in 1966. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2013 to 2022 the straight-line trend is downward, about 2.02 a year. A straight line explains 99% 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 2022, Maldives had the 175th highest value of the 181 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 2022 ranking

• Sudan — 172nd of 181: 81
• Saudi Arabia — 173rd of 181: 74.59
• Jordan — 174th of 181: 60.59
• Yemen, Rep. — 176th of 181: 54.94
• Qatar — 177th of 181: 21.07
• United Arab Emirates — 178th of 181: 14.89

What this measures

Renewable internal freshwater resources flows refer to internal renewable resources (internal river flows and groundwater from rainfall) in the country. Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita are calculated using the World Bank's population estimates.

Limitations: A common perception is that most of the available freshwater resources are visible (on the surfaces of lakes, reservoirs and rivers). However, this visible water represents only a tiny fraction of global freshwater resources, as most of it is stored in aquifers, with the largest stocks stored in solid form in the Antarctic and in Greenland's ice cap. The data on freshwater resources are based on estimates of runoff into rivers and recharge of groundwater. These estimates are based on different sources and refer to different years, so cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

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

All 62 values

Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita (cubic meters) in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — 619.89 (2022)
• Bhutan — 99,883 (2022)
• India — 1,014 (2022)
• Nepal — 6,670 (2022)
• Sri Lanka — 2,380 (2022)

More environment data for Maldives

• Rural population — 304,531 (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 57.49% (2025)
• Urban population — 225,145 (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 42.51% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 9 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 107,414 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 107,423 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — -0.52% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — 1.56% (2025)
• Agricultural land (sq. km) — 59 (2024)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Maldives's renewable internal freshwater resources per capita (cubic meters)?

57.24 in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1961?

It is down 82.17% from 321.03 in 1961 (2.79% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 321.03 in 1961 and the lowest 57.24 in 2022.

How does Maldives rank?

175th highest of 181 economies with data for 2022.

Is the latest change in renewable internal freshwater resources per capita (cubic meters) unusual for Maldives?

In 2022, Maldives' renewable internal freshwater resources per capita (cubic meters) fell 0.88 on 2021 (from 58.12 to 57.24). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1992 to 2021), the average change was −2.38 and a typical year strayed about 0.58 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.6 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator ER.H2O.INTR.PC, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), uri: https://data.apps.fao.org/aquastat/, publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), date accessed: 20240529 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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