Maldives Systematic Country Diagnostic Update - Report number 157675-MV - Analytical report

Jul 19, 2026

Maldives Systematic Country Diagnostic Update presents an analytical assessment of the country’s development context, focusing on emerging issues and opportunities for the near term. It examines pathways for creating jobs for an expanding working-age population and enabling private sector–led growth, while identifying key constraints to unlock that agenda. The update also reviews sustainability challenges across fiscal, social, spatial, and environmental dimensions, and concludes with prioritization guidance supported by annexes and references.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages70

Reading Time2 h 56 min

1 Introduction

2 Emerging Issues and Opportunities Ahead

2.1 Jobs for an Expanding Working-Age Population

2.2 Unlocking Private Sector–led Growth

2.3 Key Constraints to Unlocking the Private Sector

3 Sustainability Challenges under the Current Model

3.1 Fiscal and External Sustainability

3.2 Social Sustainability and Spatial Disparities

3.3 Environmental Sustainability

4 Prioritization

Annex 1: Poverty, Inequality, and Socioeconomic Outcomes in Maldives

Annex 2: Labor Market Outcomes in Maldives

Annex 3: Comparability between the 2016 HIES and Previous Survey Rounds

Annex 4: SCD Consultations

Annex 5: SCD Team Composition

Annex 6: Knowledge Gaps

References

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Maldives Systematic Country Diagnostic Update Report number: 157675-MV Table of Contents Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................................ 4 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 5 2 Emerging Issues and Opportunities Ahead.......................................................................................... 10 2.1 Jobs for an Expanding Working-Age Population.......................................................................... 11 2.2 Unlocking Private Sector–led Growth.......................................................................................... 15 2.3 Key Constraints to Unlocking the Private Sector ......................................................................... 19 3 Sustainability Challenges under the Current Model ............................................................................ 29 3.1 Fiscal and External Sustainability ................................................................................................. 29 3.2 Social Sustainability and Spatial Disparities ................................................................................. 33 3.3 Environmental Sustainability ....................................................................................................... 38 4 Prioritization ........................................................................................................................................ 42 Annex 1: Poverty, Inequality, and Socioeconomic Outcomes in Maldives ..................................................46 Annex 2: Labor Market Outcomes in Maldives............................................................................................ 49 Annex 3: Comparability between the 2016 HIES and Previous Survey Rounds ........................................... 58 Annex 4: SCD Consultations ........................................................................................................................ 59 Annex 5: SCD Team Composition ................................................................................................................ 62 Annex 6: Knowledge Gaps ........................................................................................................................... 63 References................................................................................................................................................... 65 List of Figures Figure 1. GDP per capita trajectory ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2. Real GDP growth .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 3. Poverty headcount rates at different poverty lines ............................................................................................. 6 Figure 4. Poverty rates of small island states at the poverty line of US$5.5 per person per day in PPP ......................... 6 Figure 5. Increase in working-age population over time .................................................................................................. 12 Figure 6. Unemployment rates, adults and youth (percent) ............................................................................................ 12 Figure 7. Educational attainment, by sex........................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 8. Percentage of population age 15 and above with completed secondary schooling, 2010............................. 14 Fig

FAQs

What are the main opportunities and emerging issues identified for Maldives?

The report highlights opportunities around jobs for a growing working-age population and growth led by the private sector. It also outlines the constraints that must be addressed to enable this shift.

How does the report evaluate sustainability under the current development model?

It assesses fiscal and external sustainability, social sustainability including spatial disparities, and environmental sustainability. These dimensions are used to explain pressures on the current model.

What support materials does the report include beyond the main chapters?

The report includes multiple annexes covering poverty, inequality, labor market outcomes, survey comparability, consultations, team composition, and knowledge gaps, followed by references.

Jul 19, 2026

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