The Maldives (Republic of Maldives)

https://www.humantruth.info/maldives.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Maldives Republic of Maldives
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	113th best
Capital	Male
Land Area	300km²₁
Location	Asia
Groupings	Small Islands
Population	0.5m₂
Life Expectancy	79.92yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$15 448 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	MV, MDV, 462₅
Internet Domain	.mv₆
Currency	Rufiyaa (MVR)₇
Telephone	+960₈

1. Overview

#bangladesh #india #pakistan #sri_lanka

A sultanate since the 12th century, The Maldives became a British Protectorate in 1887₉_,₁₀, although they didn't station any official representatives there until 1960₁₀ . They gained independence in 1965, although the UK has maintained a military base at Gan, which has great strategic value₁₀. It became a republic in 1968₉.

“President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, the president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic reforms including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. President NASHEED faced a number of challenges including strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. In early February 2012, after several weeks of street protests following his sacking of a top judge, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. In mid-2012, the Commission of National Inquiry was set by the Government to probe events leading to the regime change. Though no evidence of a coup was found, the report recommended the need to strengthen the country's democratic institutions to avert similar events in the future, and to further investigate alleged police misconduct during the crisis. Maldives officials have played a prominent role in international climate change discussions (due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) on the United Nations Human Rights Council, and in encouraging regional cooperation, especially between India and Pakistan.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

In current times, the Maldives has good relations with Sri Lanka (exchanging many workers and tourists there), India, Pakistan and Bangladesh₁₀.

“The Maldives are an archipelago of atolls (raised coral reefs) comprising more than twelve hundred islands that spread out over 800 kilometers north to south and 130 kilometers east to west. Only two hundred of the islands are inhabited.”
"South Asia's Small States in World Politics" by Swarna Rajagopalan (2005)₁₀

“Unrivalled luxury, stunning white-sand beaches and an amazing underwater world make the Maldives an obvious choice for a holiday of a lifetime. The Maldives is home to perhaps the best beaches in the world; they´re on almost every one of the country´s nearly 1200 islands and are so consistently perfect that it's hard not to become blasé about them.
While some beaches may boast softer granules than others, the basic fact remains: you´ll find this whiter-than-white powder sand and luminous cyan-blue water almost nowhere else on earth. This fact alone is enough to bring nearly a million people a year to this tiny and otherwise little-known Indian Ocean paradise.
Every resort in the Maldives is its own private island, and with over 100 to choose from the only problem is selecting where to stay. There´s choice beyond the luxurious five- and six-star resorts. Other islands cater for families, for divers, for those on a (relative) budget, and anyone wanting a tranquil, remote and back-to-nature experience.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₁

2. Maldives National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₂
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₂
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
87	Brazil	0.754
88	Colombia	0.752
89	St Vincent & Grenadines	0.751
90	Maldives	0.747
91=	Tonga	0.745
91=	Algeria	0.745
91=	Azerbaijan	0.745
91=	Turkmenistan	0.745
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₂
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₂
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
74	Antigua & Barbuda	$16 792
75	Botswana	$16 198
76	Macedonia	$15 918
77	Maldives	$15 448
78	Libya	$15 336
79	Bosnia & Herzegovina	$15 242
80	Moldova	$14 875
81	Georgia	$14 664
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₃
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
110	Suriname	93.9
111	Honduras	93.9
112	Nicaragua	94.4
113	Maldives	94.5
114	Ghana	95.2
115	Palau	95.3
116	Botswana	95.4
117	Venezuela	95.7
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Maldives's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #india #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #sri_lanka #yemen

Population Datasets:

The Maldives's population is predicted to fall to 383 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 1.68. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₄. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₅

Migrants to the Maldives have come from India, Sri Lanka, Arabia and Persia₁₀.

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
165	Luxembourg	0.6m
166	Suriname	0.6m
167	Cape Verde	0.5m
168	Maldives	0.5m
169	Malta	0.4m
170	Brunei	0.4m
171	Bahamas	0.4m
172	Belize	0.4m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₂
Pos.		2021 Years₁₂
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
31	Germany	80.6
32	Andorra	80.4
33	Greece	80.1
34	Maldives	79.9
35	Qatar	79.3
36	Chile	78.9
37	Bahrain	78.8
38	Thailand	78.7
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₆
Pos.		2022₁₆
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
44	French Polynesia	1.69
45	Iran	1.68
46	Seychelles	2.32
47	Maldives	1.68
48=	Suriname	2.32
48=	Cambodia	2.32
50	Azerbaijan	1.67
51	USA	1.67
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₇
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₇
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
78=	Micronesia	10.8
79=	Honduras	11.0
79=	Turkmenistan	11.0
79=	Maldives	11.0
82	Mongolia	11.8
83=	Uzbekistan	11.9
83=	Tonga	11.9
85	Kyrgyzstan	12.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₈
Pos.		2017 %₁₈
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
30	Belize	16.0%
31	San Marino	15.7%
32	Bahamas	15.6%
33	Maldives	15.4%
34	USA	15.3%
35	Norway	15.1%
36	Germany	14.8%
37	Estonia	14.7%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₉
Pos.		2010 %₁₉
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
184	Saudi Arabia	0.7%
185	Qatar	0.7%
186	Nigeria	0.6%
187	Maldives	0.6%
188	China	0.6%
189	Japan	0.6%
190	Oman	0.5%
191	Madagascar	0.4%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Maldives's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #maldives #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Asia (2025)₂₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₀
1	Japan	31.6
2	Taiwan	41.3
3	S. Korea	44.8
	...
32	Jordan	118.6
33	Azerbaijan	123.2
34	Uzbekistan	123.5
35	Maldives	123.5
36	Bahrain	123.9
37	Bangladesh	124.4
38	Oman	127.4
39	Palestine	132.1
40	UAE	133.5
	Asia Avg	103.00
q=52.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₂₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₀
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
156	Azerbaijan	123.2
157	Uzbekistan	123.5
158	Antigua & Barbuda	123.5
159	Maldives	123.5
160	Bahrain	123.9
161	Algeria	124.0
162	Comoros	124.3
163	Bangladesh	124.4
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₁. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₁.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₂₁, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₁.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #maldives #mass_media #politics

Press Freedom Higher is better₂₂
Pos.		2025₂₂
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
100	Mozambique	52.63
101	Mongolia	52.57
102	Guinea	52.53
103	Maldives	52.46
104	Burkina Faso	52.25
105	Zimbabwe	52.10
106	Lesotho	52.07
107	Chad	51.89
	Asia Avg	39.69
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
126=	Togo	4.5
126=	Bangladesh	4.5
126=	Guinea-Bissau	4.5
126=	Maldives	4.5
126=	Lebanon	4.5
126=	Mozambique	4.5
132=	Morocco	5.0
132=	Mauritania	5.0
	Asia Avg	5.0
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₂₃
Pos.		2009 Treaties₂₃
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
104=	St Vincent & Grenadines	15
104=	Liberia	15
104=	Libya	15
104=	Maldives	15
104=	Andorra	15
104=	Cape Verde	15
104=	Bangladesh	15
104=	Mozambique	15
	Asia Avg	12.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₂₄
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₂₄
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
127	Macedonia	11.71
128	Czechia	11.73
129	Malawi	11.77
130	Maldives	11.85
131	Central African Rep.	11.87
132	Thailand	11.89
133	Congo, (Brazzaville)	11.91
134	Moldova	11.99
	Asia Avg	10.97
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Amnesty International's 2023-23 report on the state of the world's human rights, had little to say about Maldives: "The authorities took further steps to restrict freedom of expression in law. The security forces routinely used unlawful force to suppress protests. Maldives retained the death penalty and people remained on death row"₂₅.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

The Maldives has made some steps towards ending gender inequality but much more needs to be done.

See:

"Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Gender Inequality Lower is better₂₆
Pos.		2022₂₆
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
76	Azerbaijan	0.33
77	Fiji	0.33
78=	Bahamas	0.33
78=	Maldives	0.33
80	Cape Verde	0.33
81	St Lucia	0.35
82	Kyrgyzstan	0.35
83	Jamaica	0.35
	Asia Avg	0.33
	World Avg	0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
34	S. Africa	1930
35=	Sri Lanka	1931
35=	Spain	1931
37=	Maldives	1932
37=	Uruguay	1932
37=	Thailand	1932
40=	Turkey	1934
40=	Brazil	1934
	Asia Avg	1907
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better₂₇
Pos.		Total Score₂₇
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
182=	Togo	-5.10
182=	Egypt	-5.10
182=	Senegal	-5.10
182=	Maldives	-5.10
186	Yemen	-5.12
187	Oman	-5.13
188	Uzbekistan	-5.24
189	Russia	-5.30
	Asia Avg	-2.88
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Homosexuality is criminalized under Sharia and Penal Code, although tourists are rarely targetted.

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Maldives had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination. They documented cases of LGBT folk being arrested as a result of discriminatory laws within the previous few years. They documented cases of LGBT folk being arrested as a result of discriminatory laws within the previous few years.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

⇣ Opposed a 2003 resolution at the UN Commission tabled by Brazil, on prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and opposed it again in 2004 (it was defeated both times by the Vatican and a collection of Islamic countries).
⇣ Opposed the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.
⇣ Voted against the 2011 Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council posted by South Africa, requesting a report on discrimination and violence against LGBTQ folk.
⇣ Voted against the 2016 UN Human Rights Council Resolution 32/2 to create the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₂₈
Pos.		2021₂₈
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
189=	Brunei	4.8
189=	Sudan	4.8
189=	Yemen	4.8
189=	Maldives	4.8
193=	Saudi Arabia	5.0
193=	Pakistan	5.0
193=	N. Korea	5.0
193=	Afghanistan	5.0
	Asia Avg	3.7
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Maldives's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #maldives #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Japan	37.3
2	Singapore	41.1
3	S. Korea	50.5
	...
17	Vietnam	77.7
18	Iran	81.3
19	Oman	82.5
20	Maldives	83.9
21	Russia	84.2
22	Armenia	86.5
23	Kazakhstan	88.3
24	Turkmenistan	89.3
25	Saudi Arabia	90.6
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
75	Latvia	82.8
76	Lithuania	82.9
77	Chile	83.1
78	Maldives	83.9
79	Russia	84.2
80	Bahamas	85.6
81	St Vincent & Grenadines	85.8
82	Romania	86.3
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₀.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₀, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #maldives #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide

Public health in The Maldives is very good. The Maldives comes in the best 20 in terms of its suicide rate₃₁ (one of the lowest in Asia) and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₂. It does better than average in terms of delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₃, its adolescent birth rate₃₄, its average life expectancy₁₂, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₅, its fertility rate₁₆, its alcohol consumption rate₃₆ and in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₇. But, there's bad news too. The Maldives does worse than average in its smoking rate₃₈. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in the Maldives improved by +16.5yrs in the 30 years from 1990, over double the global average improvement of +7.9yrs. The Maldives is amongst only 7 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 5 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 7.3 in 1970.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₂
Pos.		2021 Years₁₂
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
31	Germany	80.6
32	Andorra	80.4
33	Greece	80.1
34	Maldives	79.9
35	Qatar	79.3
36	Chile	78.9
37	Bahrain	78.8
38	Thailand	78.7
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₆
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
51	Congo, DR	2.6
52=	Uzbekistan	2.7
52=	Ghana	2.7
52=	Maldives	2.7
55	Ethiopia	2.9
56=	Fiji	3.0
56=	Benin	3.0
58	Togo	3.1
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₆
Pos.		2022₁₆
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
44	French Polynesia	1.69
45	Iran	1.68
46	Seychelles	2.32
47	Maldives	1.68
48=	Suriname	2.32
48=	Cambodia	2.32
50	Azerbaijan	1.67
51	USA	1.67
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		Total %₃₈
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
118	Armenia	25.0%
119	Switzerland	25.6%
120	Portugal	25.7%
121	Maldives	26.4%
122	Belgium	26.8%
123	Madagascar	26.9%
124	Cook Islands	27.0%
125	Laos	27.2%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate₃₁
Pos.		2013 Per 100k₃₁
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
4	Jordan	0.2
5	Maldives	0.7
6	Azerbaijan	1.3
7	S. Africa	1.8
8	Bahamas	2.5
9	Peru	2.9
10	Kuwait	3.6
11	Armenia	3.9
12	Dominican Rep.	4.6
	Asia Avg	19.50
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		1976 %₃₂
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
9=	Afghanistan	6.3
10	Indonesia	6.6
11	Burkina Faso	6.8
12	Maldives	7.2
13=	Sri Lanka	7.5
13=	Ethiopia	7.5
15	Myanmar	7.6
16	Burundi	7.7
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2022 %₃₉
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
66	Austria	17.0%
67	Equatorial Guinea	17.2%
68	Botswana	17.5%
69	Maldives	17.6%
70	Afghanistan	17.6%
71	Spain	19.2%
72	Lesotho	19.3%
73	Kazakhstan	19.3%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₄
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
24	Spain	6.3
25	Canada	6.6
26	Tunisia	6.6
27	Maldives	6.8
28	Cyprus	6.8
29	Qatar	6.9
30	Monaco	6.9
31	Libya	7.0
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₃
Pos.		Total Avg %₃₃
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
25	Tokelau	98.0
26=	Greece	98.0
26=	Bangladesh	98.0
26=	Maldives	98.0
26=	Turkey	98.0
30=	Belgium	97.9
30=	Bahrain	97.9
30=	S. Korea	97.9
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₅
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₅
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
43	Libya	96.4
44	St Kitts & Nevis	96.3
45	Bahamas	96.2
46	Maldives	96.2
47	Tajikistan	96.1
48	Rwanda	96.1
49	Sao Tome & Principe	96.0
50	Malaysia	96.0
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		Total Per 1000₃₇
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
60	Ukraine	9.82
61	Brunei	9.90
62	Macedonia	9.95
63	Maldives	10.37
64	Albania	10.41
65	Antigua & Barbuda	11.08
66	Georgia	11.17
67	Oman	11.23
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

In the 2000s, the Maldives improved its adolescent birth rate by more than any other country, making incredible improvements in the quality of family and social life for future generations.

6. Maldives's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
10	Hong Kong	64.6
11	Cyprus	64.8
12	Bangladesh	69.7
13	Maldives	70.5
14	Yemen	71.9
15	Pakistan	72.0
16	Turkey	75.0
17	China	75.2
18	Afghanistan	75.7
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
53	El Salvador	67.4
54	Bangladesh	69.7
55	Brazil	70.2
56	Maldives	70.5
57	Ivory Coast	70.8
58	Colombia	70.9
59	Togo	71.1
60	Netherlands	71.1
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₁. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

With respect to its responsibility towards the environment, the Maldives comes 56th in the world. This is calculated from 21 data sets. The Maldives does better than average when it comes to reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₂, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₃. The Maldives still has work to do. The Maldives does worse than average in its environmental performance₄₄.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₃
Pos.		Total₄₃
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
124=	Lesotho	0.0%
124=	Anguilla	0.0%
124=	Jersey	0.0%
124=	Maldives	0.0%
124=	St Vincent & Grenadines	0.0%
124=	Isle of Man	0.0%
124=	Tokelau	0.0%
124=	St Martin	0.0%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₄
Pos.		2018₄₄
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
108	Turkey	53.0
109	Ukraine	52.9
110	Guatemala	52.3
111	Maldives	52.1
112	Moldova	52.0
113	Botswana	51.7
114	Honduras	51.5
115	Sudan	51.5
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
85	Thailand	61%
86	Zambia	61%
87	Indonesia	61%
88	Maldives	61%
89	Bahamas	60%
90	Malawi	60%
91	Monaco	60%
92	Burkina Faso	59%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

The Maldives are vulnerable to the antics of rich corporations and countries; it was one of the 31 countries that signed the Basel Convention during its first year, one of the 30 who signed the Convention on Biological Diversity on its first day, one of only 5 countries to accept the Kyoto Protocol in its first few months and then one of 19 countries that signed its replacement, the Paris Agreement, within the first few months in Q2 2016.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₂
Pos.		2021 kg₄₂
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
50	Malawi	27.4
51	Tunisia	27.8
52	Sao Tome & Principe	28.3
53	Maldives	28.8
54	Egypt	29.1
55	Laos	29.8
56	Botswana	30.1
57	Nicaragua	31.5
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Maldives's Modernity and Learning

#education #it_security #metric #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₅
1	Taiwan	25.4
2	S. Korea	25.5
3	Japan	26.8
	...
35	Saudi Arabia	95.8
36	Indonesia	96.3
37	Oman	99.4
38	Maldives	109.6
39	Palestine	113.2
40	Syria	114.3
41	Iraq	114.3
42	Pakistan	116.8
43	Nepal	117.4
	Asia Avg	83.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₅
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
132	Nigeria	106.3
133	Uganda	107.1
134	Cameroon	107.9
135	Maldives	109.6
136	Marshall Islands	111.1
137	Togo	112.9
138	Guyana	113.1
139	Palestine	113.2
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₄₆. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₆. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₇.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₄₈

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₆, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₆.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#metric

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₄₉
Pos.		2025 %₄₉
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
106=	Haiti	90
106=	Mali	90
106=	Bahrain	90
106=	Maldives	90
106=	Guyana	90
106=	Gambia	90
106=	Guinea-Bissau	90
106=	Guinea	90
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Adopted metric in 1959. Progression:

1960 (40%): Traditional units dominant; metric limited in administration.
1970 (60%): Standardization grows in commerce/education.
1980 (80%): Metric in official sectors; everyday legacy persists.
2000 (90%): Metric dominant officially.
2025 (90%).

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₀
Pos.		2018₅₀
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
115	Iraq	48.0%
116	Paraguay	47.8%
117	Nicaragua	47.5%
118	Maldives	47.1%
119	Bangladesh	46.7%
120	St Lucia	46.0%
121	Thailand	44.8%
122	Zambia	44.3%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₁
Pos.		2021 Years₅₁
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
121	El Salvador	12.7
122	Nicaragua	12.6
123	Qatar	12.6
124	Maldives	12.6
125	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	12.6
126	Cape Verde	12.6
127	Guyana	12.5
128	Uzbekistan	12.5
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better₅₂
Pos.		2016₅₂
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
89	Kazakhstan	56%
90=	US Virgin Islands	54%
90=	Serbia	54%
92	Maldives	54%
93	Georgia	53%
94	China	52%
95=	Vietnam	52%
95=	S. Africa	52%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IT Security Lower is better₅₃
Pos.		2013₅₃
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
68	Netherlands	1.47
69	Rwanda	1.50
70	Tanzania	1.50
71	Maldives	1.57
72	China	1.59
73	Angola	1.61
74	Sri Lanka	1.67
75	Oman	1.72
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₅₄
Pos.		2017 Ratio₅₄
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
114=	Venezuela	0.0
114=	Kazakhstan	0.0
114=	New Caledonia	0.0
114=	Maldives	0.0
118=	Tunisia	0.0
118=	Tuvalu	0.0
118=	Marshall Islands	0.0
118=	Georgia	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Maldives's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #corruption #economics #health #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #politics #poverty #social_development

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #internationalism #politics

On the Corruption Index, Maldives scored on average 36 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 4 points.

Corruption Higher is better₅₅
Pos.		2022 Points₅₅
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
85=	Tunisia	40.0
85=	Suriname	40.0
85=	Macedonia	40.0
85=	Maldives	40.0
85=	India	40.0
85=	Guyana	40.0
91=	Belarus	39.0
91=	Moldova	39.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₅₆
Pos.		Total Q₅₆
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
97	Kuwait	97.2
98	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	94.5
99	Ecuador	92.3
100	Maldives	89.7
101	Nauru	89.3
102	Guyana	88.7
103	Fiji	88.5
104=	Botswana	86.8
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

8.2. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₅₇
Pos.		2019₅₇
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
44=	Bahrain	5.50
45	Qatar	5.70
46	Kuwait	5.90
47	Maldives	6.00
48=	Malaysia	6.10
48=	Bulgaria	6.10
50=	Chile	6.30
50=	USA	6.30
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₅₈
Pos.		2023 %₅₈
1	Slovakia	24.1%₅₉
2	Slovenia	24.3%₅₉
3	Belarus	24.4%₆₀
	...
25	Kosovo	29.0%₆₁
26=	Hungary	29.2%₅₉
26=	Kazakhstan	29.2%₅₉
28	Maldives	29.3%₆₂
29	Albania	29.4%₆₀
30	Iraq	29.5%₆₃
31=	Pakistan	29.6%₆₄
31=	Guinea	29.6%₆₄
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Maldives - only for 4 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₆₅
Pos.		2018 Severity₆₅
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
4	Turkmenistan	.001
5	Jordan	.002
6	Kazakhstan	.002
7	Montenegro	.002
8	Trinidad & Tobago	.002
9	Maldives	.003
10	Albania	.003
11	Thailand	.003
12	Moldova	.004
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Buddhism (and then Islam) have both arrived at the Maldives at various points₁₀, but Islam has come to dominate, and permits no dissent and no alternatives. Swarna Rajagopalan is very generous when he says that "Maldivian Islam is moderate" although it "has not been immune to the waves of radical Islamic movements that are sweeping the globe"₁₀. In reality, there is no religious freedom in The Maldives, except for tourists in private, and very small numbers of others who cannot integrate politically or socially, and who must keep quiet on the topic of religion. It is illegal to bring Bibles or any non-Islamic religious text into the country, and the President must always specifically be a Sunni Muslim, as should citizens.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₆₆:

	2010	2020
Muslim	94.1%	94.1%
Hindu	2.51%	2.54%
Christian	1.61%	1.65%
Buddhist	1.35%	1.32%
Other	0.332%	0.349%
Unaffiliated	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	None	None

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Sunni Muslim (official)₆₇.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₆₈, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for The Maldives states:

“The constitution and other laws do not permit freedom of religion or belief. The constitution designates Islam as the official state religion, and the government and many citizens at all levels interpret this provision to impose a requirement that all citizens must be Muslims. The constitution also stipulates that the president must be Sunni. The constitutional language on the fundamental rights and duties of citizens does not provide for the right to freedom of religion or belief. Furthermore, the constitution precludes non-Muslims from voting and holding public positions.
The constitution does not prohibit discrimination based on religious preference. It excludes religion from a list of attributes for which people should not be discriminated against. Several articles in the constitution make the practice of Islam mandatory. Article 36 states that it is imperative for parents and the state to provide children with primary and secondary education. Section (c) of that article states education shall strive to inculcate obedience to Islam and instill love for Islam.
Cases of Discrimination
In 2008 the Ministry of Islamic Affairs replaced the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. The ministry mandates Islamic instructions in schools, funds salaries of religious instructors, and certifies imams, who are responsible for presenting government-approved sermons. By law no one may publicly discuss Islam unless invited to do so by the government.
In June 2010, Muhammad Nazim asked a Muslim preacher, at a large public event, how Islam viewed people such as himself who had tried to believe in Islam but could not. The preacher replied that Islam requires the death penalty for those who leave Islam. Several members of the enraged crowd attempted to attack Nazim and he was hustled away by the police. The Islamic Ministry arranged for Nazim to receive "religious counseling" before determining if he should be executed for apostasy. During this prison counseling, Muhammad saved his life by embracing Islam.
One month later, Ismail Mohamed Didi faced the same choice as Mohamamed Nazim: believe or die. He chose death. On July 13 2010, the 25 year-old air traffic controller was found hanged from the control tower of the Maldives international airport, after killing himself to escape persecution for his rejection of religion. Shortly before his death, Ismail Mohamed Didi wrote that he had "foolishly admitted my stance on religion" to work colleagues and the news had "spread like wildfire." He added that "A lot of my close friends and girlfriend have been prohibited from seeing me by their parents. I have even received a couple of anonymous phone calls threatening violence if I do not repent and start practicing Islam... Maldivians are proud of their religious homogeneity and I am learning the hard way that there is no place for non-Muslim Maldivians in this society."
”
"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₆₉

Links:

A List of All Religions and Belief Systems