MV
Aid, poverty & equality · South Asia · Upper-middle income
Maldives: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 0.0% (2019), 145th of 151 in the world and 6th of 6 in South Asia. Poverty, $4.20/day is 0.0% (2019), 148th of 151 in the world and 6th of 6 in South Asia. Poverty, $8.30/day is 11.2% (2019), 101st of 151 in the world and 5th of 6 in South Asia.
Women in parliament
MaldivesSouth AsiaUpper-middle incomeWorld
Net ODA received
Maldives
13 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Maldives in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within South Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 0.0%2019 | 145/151 | 6/6 | 18.8%2002 | 13.1%2009 | 0.0%2019 | −13.1 ppsince 2009 | 2.6% | 2.1% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 0.0%2019 | 148/151 | 6/6 | 40.5%2002 | 25.9%2009 | 0.0%2019 | −25.9 ppsince 2009 | 15.0% | 5.4% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 11.2%2019 | 101/151 | 5/6 | 81.4%2002 | 65.0%2009 | 11.2%2019 | −53.8 ppsince 2009 | 76.9% | 26.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 5.4%2019 | 138/145 | 5/5 | · | · | 5.4%2019 | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 29.32019 | 127/151 | 4/6 | 41.32002 | 38.42009 | 29.32019 | −24%since 2009 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 23.3%2019 | 127/151 | 4/6 | 34.8%2002 | 29.9%2009 | 23.3%2019 | −6.6 ppsince 2009 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 8.9%2019 | 23/151 | 2/6 | 6.8%2002 | 6.4%2009 | 8.9%2019 | +2.5 ppsince 2009 | — | — | — | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 13.4%2022 | 102/155 | 3/4 | · | · | 13.4% | — | 36.7% | 12.6% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 79.5%2017 | — | — | · | · | · | — | 77.6% | 84.0% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 3.2%2025 | 184/190 | 6/6 | 6.0% | 6.5% | 4.6% | −2.7 ppsince 2015 | 11.2% | 27.0% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $201m2023 | 95/145 | 5/6 | $18.1m | $66.9m | $312m | +824%since 2013 | $10.7bn | $57.4bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 3.4%2023 | 61/139 | 2/6 | 3.1% | 2.9% | 9.2% | +2.7 ppsince 2013 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $3812023 | 16/145 | 1/6 | $64.3 | $185 | $621 | +603%since 2013 | $6.4 | $18.8 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−13.1 pp0.0% in 2019
- Poverty, $4.20/day−25.9 pp0.0% in 2019
- Poverty, $8.30/day−53.8 pp11.2% in 2019
- Gini index−24%29.3 in 2019
Worse than ten years ago
- Women in parliament−2.7 pp3.2% in 2025
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Maldives and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Maldives. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Maldives | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 0.0%2019 | 0.4%2021 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 0.0%2019 | 0.5%2021 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 11.2%2019 | 0.9%2021 |
| National poverty rate | 5.4%2019 | 18.6%2017 |
| Gini index | 29.32019 | 32.42021 |
| Top 10% income share | 23.3%2019 | 25.0%2021 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 8.9%2019 | 7.6%2021 |
| Food insecurity | 13.4%2022 | 7.4%2024 |
| Account ownership | 79.5%2017 | 99.3%2024 |