MigrantoImmigrants in the Maldives
70.2K foreigners live in the Maldives — 13% of the country's population
Immigrants in the Maldives by country
The 3 largest groups make up 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
98% of immigrants come from Asia
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat, with real migration data
Key facts
Immigrants in the Maldives in numbers
Bangladeshis are the largest group by a wide margin
62% of all immigrants were born in Bangladesh, while the next group accounts for just 22%.
Immigration drives population growth
20% of the population growth of the Maldives since 1990 came from immigrants.
More immigrants come from a single country than in 1990
The largest group's share rose from 51% to 62%, and today that group is people born in Bangladesh.
1 in 8 residents of the Maldives was born abroad
70.2K of 527.8K residents were born abroad — 13.3% of the population.
Immigrant population in the Maldives over time
Foreigners living in the Maldives, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 8435 |
| 1995 | 17826 |
| 2000 | 26021 |
| 2005 | 42763 |
| 2010 | 51407 |
| 2015 | 60058 |
| 2020 | 65487 |
| 2024 | 70178 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in the Maldives, by year
| Year | Bangladeshis | Indians | Sri Lankans | Filipinos | Pakistanis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in the Maldives
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in the Maldives
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in the Maldives?
Around 70.2K immigrants live in the Maldives — the world's #147 largest immigrant population.
What percentage 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.
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 immigrants.
How many Bangladeshis live in the Maldives?
Around 43.3K Bangladeshis live in the Maldives — about 62% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in the Maldives growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in the Maldives has grown from 60.1K to 70.2K, about 17%.
Where does the data on immigrants in the Maldives come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in the Maldives. Their children born in the Maldives are not included.
Where to live?
Score countries, regions and cities by what matters to you
Living in the Maldives
See the full country overview