MigrantoMaldivian Diaspora
2.8K Maldivians live abroad — 1% of the population of the Maldives
Maldivian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 98% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 1424 |
| Australia | 712 |
| India | 574 |
| Seychelles | 38 |
| Denmark | 14 |
| Norway | 4 |
| Slovenia | 3 |
| Slovakia | 1 |
| Lithuania | 1 |
| Liechtenstein | 1 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Bulgaria | 0 |
| Finland | 0 |
| Greece | 0 |
By region
72% of the diaspora lives in Asia
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Key facts
The Maldivian diaspora in numbers
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 91% to 51%.
Most Maldivians abroad live in Sri Lanka
51% of the diaspora lives in Sri Lanka, while the next country accounts for just 26%.
The share of the diaspora living in Asia has declined since 1990
91.6% of the diaspora lived in Asia in 1990, compared with 72.1% today.
Maldivian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1685 |
| 1995 | 1092 |
| 2000 | 824 |
| 2005 | 1432 |
| 2010 | 2624 |
| 2015 | 2694 |
| 2020 | 2703 |
| 2024 | 2773 |
Largest communities over time
Maldivians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Sri Lanka | Australia | India | Seychelles | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 17 | 128 | 1527 | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 | 193 | 180 | 708 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 | 370 | 165 | 277 | 1 | 3 |
| 2005 | 731 | 280 | 387 | 17 | 7 |
| 2010 | 1474 | 423 | 670 | 34 | 8 |
| 2015 | 1390 | 599 | 645 | 38 | 7 |
| 2020 | 1408 | 636 | 602 | 37 | 9 |
| 2024 | 1424 | 712 | 574 | 38 | 14 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Maldivians in each country has changed since the selected year
Maldivians among immigrants in other countries
Where Maldivians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Maldivians live outside Maldives?
Around 2.8K Maldivians live abroad, the world's #209 largest diaspora.
Where do most Maldivians abroad live?
Most Maldivians live in Sri Lanka, Australia and India — these three countries account for about 98% of all Maldivians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Maldivian population outside Maldives?
Sri Lanka is home to the largest Maldivian community abroad — 1.4K people, about 51% of all Maldivians living abroad.
What share of the population of the Maldives lives abroad?
About 1% of the population of the Maldives lives abroad — that's 2.8K out of a total population of 527.8K.
Is the Maldivian diaspora growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of Maldivians living abroad has changed from 2.7K to 2.8K, about 3%.
Where does the data on the Maldivian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in the Maldives who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
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Living in the Maldives
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