Maldives
The Maldives is a unique island nation located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka, comprising a stunning archipelago of 26 coral atolls. Consisting of approximately 1,190 coral islands, of which only about 200 are inhabited, the co...
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With a safety index of 48/100, Maldives offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
The Maldives welcomes international tourists from all nationalities with a streamlined visa-on-arrival program, making it one of the most accessible destinations globally. All visitors—including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most other countries—receive a complimentary 30-day tourist visa upon arrival at Velana International Airport, provided they meet entry requirements[1][4]. The only exception is Israeli passport holders, who have been denied entry effective April 15, 2025[4]. To qualify for visa-on-arrival, travelers must present a valid passport with...
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Near EU average
27% below EU avg
33% below EU avg
37% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Malé
Timezone
UTC+05:00
Area
300 km²
Population
540,542
Maldives shows a purchasing power index of 44/100, indicating moderate economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$6.19B
HDI
0.7
Quality of Life
45/100
+2 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
18/100
-24 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Maldives. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Affordable costs (CPI: 48.5). Groceries (52.9), restaurants (42.3), and rent (23.4) are low compared to NYC baseline of 100, though imports may raise prices on islands.
Housing Market
Property prices average 10.8 years of household income. Rent index of 23.4 offers affordability, with variations between Male and atolls.
Average Income Levels
Low purchasing power index of 48.4 limits buying power. GDP per capita around USD 12,000 nominal in 2024, with tourism-driven employment.
Tax System
No personal income tax for residents; Goods and Services Tax (GST) at 6-12% with recent cautious increases to 8% on some items. Low property taxes and simple structure favor expats.
Business Environment
Moderate ease of doing business hampered by high bureaucracy, tourism reliance, and fiscal challenges like 120% debt-to-GDP. 5.2% GDP growth projected for 2024 from tourism recovery.
Social Security
Public healthcare free for citizens with Aasandha scheme covering expats variably; pension via Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme. Limited unemployment benefits, low 4.2% rate in 2023.
The Maldives features a uniform hot tropical climate across its 298 km² archipelago of low-lying coral atolls, classified under Köppen as **Af** (tropical rainforest) with no dry season and temperatures consistently above 26°C year-round. Daytime highs range from 30-32°C, with nights at 26-27°C, creating a perpetually warm, humid environment ideal for beach living but challenging due to heat and sudden showers.
3 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
77.3
Population
540,542
Religions
Currently under research
Ethnic Composition
Currently under research
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Maldives. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
The Maldives operates as a presidential republic under President Mohamed Muizzu since November 2023, with his People's National Congress holding a majority in the unicameral People's Majlis following the 2024 elections. Recent constitutional amendments ratified in late 2024 aim to enhance political accountability and national sovereignty amid concerns over democratic freedoms.
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Population
540,542
Currency
MVR
Timezone
UTC+05:00
Calling Code
+960
Week starts on
Sunday
Gini Coefficient
31.3 (2016)
Traffic side
left side
Map coordinates not available for this location
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.