Net migration in Maldives
Maldives: Net migration was -2,283 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Maldives, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Maldives recorded -2,283 for net migration in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and down 124.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Maldives peaked at 9,648 in 2019 and was at its lowest, -2,877, in 2023.
Maldives ranks 121st of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Maldives, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -32 | — |
| 1961 | -44 | +37.5% |
| 1962 | -80 | +81.8% |
| 1963 | -125 | +56.2% |
| 1964 | -227 | +81.6% |
| 1965 | 1,709 | -852.9% |
| 1966 | 1,511 | -11.6% |
| 1967 | 672 | -55.5% |
| 1968 | 255 | -62.1% |
| 1969 | 313 | +22.7% |
| 1970 | 330 | +5.4% |
| 1971 | 341 | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 269 | -21.1% |
| 1973 | 60 | -77.7% |
| 1974 | -78 | -230.0% |
| 1975 | -14 | -82.1% |
| 1976 | -101 | +621.4% |
| 1977 | -413 | +308.9% |
| 1978 | -716 | +73.4% |
| 1979 | -958 | +33.8% |
| 1980 | -903 | -5.7% |
| 1981 | -1,014 | +12.3% |
| 1982 | -1,220 | +20.3% |
| 1983 | -1,608 | +31.8% |
| 1984 | -1,300 | -19.2% |
| 1985 | -382 | -70.6% |
| 1986 | -175 | -54.2% |
| 1987 | -265 | +51.4% |
| 1988 | -564 | +112.8% |
| 1989 | -610 | +8.2% |
| 1990 | -271 | -55.6% |
| 1991 | -378 | +39.5% |
| 1992 | -522 | +38.1% |
| 1993 | -749 | +43.5% |
| 1994 | -768 | +2.5% |
| 1995 | -302 | -60.7% |
| 1996 | -183 | -39.4% |
| 1997 | -60 | -67.2% |
| 1998 | -94 | +56.7% |
| 1999 | -62 | -34.0% |
| 2000 | 300 | -583.9% |
| 2001 | 560 | +86.7% |
| 2002 | 607 | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 578 | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 668 | +15.6% |
| 2005 | 578 | -13.5% |
| 2006 | 5,006 | +766.1% |
| 2007 | 6,160 | +23.1% |
| 2008 | 6,035 | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 6,093 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 6,369 | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 6,611 | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 6,800 | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 6,963 | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 7,700 | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 9,324 | +21.1% |
| 2016 | 9,421 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 9,555 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 9,637 | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 9,648 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 9,642 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 9,412 | -2.4% |
| 2022 | -2,674 | -128.4% |
| 2023 | -2,877 | +7.6% |
| 2024 | -2,421 | -15.8% |
| 2025 | -2,283 | -5.7% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's -2,283 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,815, 81% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Maldives's -2,283 is above the median for South Asia, which is -197,712, 1% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Maldives changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | +852.9% | -227 | 1,709 |
| 2006 | +766.1% | 578 | 5,006 |
| 1976 | -621.4% | -14 | -101 |
| 2000 | +583.9% | -62 | 300 |
| 1977 | -308.9% | -101 | -413 |
| 1974 | -230.0% | 60 | -78 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 395.2 | -227 | 1,709 | 10 |
| 1970s | -128 | -958 | 341 | 10 |
| 1980s | -804.1 | -1,608 | -175 | 10 |
| 1990s | -338.9 | -768 | -60 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,658 | 300 | 6,160 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,203 | 6,369 | 9,648 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,466 | -2,877 | 9,642 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
- 118 Comoros -2,127 compare
- 119 Tonga -2,150 compare
- 120 Madagascar -2,227 compare
- 122 East Timor -2,550 compare
- 123 Mauritius -2,784 compare
- 124 North Korea -2,787 compare
More financial sector data for Maldives
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 12.42 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 9.07 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 12.42 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Maldives?
- Net migration in Maldives was -2,283 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 9,648 in 2019.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was -2,877 in 2023.
- How does Maldives rank for net migration?
- Maldives ranks 121st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is down 124.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Maldives data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
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.