MigrantoMaldivian Diaspora
2.8K Maldivians live abroad — the #209 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 98% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Asia is the leading destination region at 72%
2K
712
38
24
1
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from the Maldives.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 91% to 51%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
Sri Lanka is the primary destination for emigrants
Sri Lanka attracts 51% of all emigrants from the Maldives, while the second-largest destination receives just 26%.
The share of emigrants going to Asia has declined since 1990
The share of emigrants going to Asia has shifted from 91.6% to 72.1% since 1990.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1685 |
| 1995 | 1092 |
| 2000 | 824 |
| 2005 | 1432 |
| 2010 | 2624 |
| 2015 | 2694 |
| 2020 | 2703 |
| 2024 | 2773 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Maldives as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from the Maldives
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Maldivians move to?
Most Maldivians have moved to Sri Lanka, Australia and India — these three countries account for about 98% of all Maldivians living abroad.
How many Maldivians live abroad?
Around 2.8K Maldivians live abroad, making it the #209-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from the Maldives changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from the Maldives has changed from 2.7K to 2.8K people, a change of about 3%.
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