MigrantoImmigrants in the Maldives
70.2K foreign-born residents — the #147 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 95% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 43282 |
| India | 15642 |
| Sri Lanka | 7912 |
| Philippines | 1062 |
| Pakistan | 353 |
| Thailand | 348 |
| Germany | 290 |
| Italy | 190 |
| Switzerland | 137 |
| France | 133 |
| Japan | 126 |
| United Kingdom | 118 |
| Malaysia | 116 |
| Canada | 108 |
| Australia | 90 |
| Singapore | 88 |
| USA | 49 |
| Egypt | 41 |
| Sweden | 40 |
| Austria | 25 |
| New Zealand | 18 |
| Lebanon | 10 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 98%
68.9K
933
157
108
41
10
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat, with real migration data
Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in the Maldives.
Bangladesh is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Bangladesh accounts for 62% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 22%.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
20% of the population growth of the Maldives since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
Immigration has become more concentrated over time
The top source's share rose from 51% to 62%, with Bangladesh increasingly the primary origin.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 8 residents of the Maldives is foreign-born — 70.2K out of 527.8K, representing 13.3% of the population.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 8435 |
| 1995 | 17826 |
| 2000 | 26021 |
| 2005 | 42763 |
| 2010 | 51407 |
| 2015 | 60058 |
| 2020 | 65487 |
| 2024 | 70178 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Bangladesh | India | Sri Lanka | Philippines | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1623 | 951 | 4289 | 303 | 79 |
| 1995 | 3574 | 6418 | 6212 | 237 | 92 |
| 2000 | 5286 | 11427 | 7720 | 156 | 100 |
| 2005 | 20163 | 13773 | 6929 | 525 | 104 |
| 2010 | 28598 | 13568 | 6850 | 717 | 203 |
| 2015 | 37034 | 13364 | 6772 | 910 | 303 |
| 2020 | 40390 | 14596 | 7383 | 991 | 329 |
| 2024 | 43282 | 15642 | 7912 | 1062 | 353 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Maldives as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in the Maldives
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in the Maldives?
Around 70.2K foreign-born residents live in the Maldives, making it the #147-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in the Maldives come from?
Most immigrants in the Maldives come from Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka — these three countries account for about 95% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of the Maldives are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 13% of the population of the Maldives — that's 70.2K out of a total population of 527.8K.
How has immigration to the Maldives changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in the Maldives has grown from 60.1K to 70.2K people, a growth of about 17%.
Where to live?
Match a country to your priorities
Explore other countries
See where people move around the world