Labor force, total in Maldives
Maldives: Labor force, total was 272,320 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Maldives, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Maldives is 272,320, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 47.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Maldives peaked at 272,320 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 59,026, in 1990.
Maldives ranks 168th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Maldives, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59,026 | — |
| 1991 | 61,190 | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 63,457 | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 65,860 | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 68,435 | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 71,310 | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 75,004 | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 78,948 | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 83,135 | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 87,596 | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 92,425 | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 95,869 | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 99,366 | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 102,849 | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 106,350 | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 109,859 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 114,475 | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 120,535 | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 126,861 | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 133,007 | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 141,579 | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 150,145 | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 158,657 | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 167,096 | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 175,647 | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 184,820 | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 194,588 | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 210,295 | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 226,484 | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 243,098 | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 230,564 | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 244,493 | +6.0% |
| 2022 | 264,656 | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 266,313 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 268,233 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 272,320 | +1.5% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 272,320 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 8% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 272,320 is below the median for South Asia, which is 8.31 million, 3% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71,396 | 59,026 | 87,596 | 10 |
| 2000s | 110,160 | 92,425 | 133,007 | 10 |
| 2010s | 185,241 | 141,579 | 243,098 | 10 |
| 2020s | 257,763 | 230,564 | 272,320 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
More education data for Maldives
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3,474 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 8,838 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,920 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 33,002 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 44,013 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0834 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Maldives?
- Labor force, total in Maldives was 272,320 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 272,320 in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 59,026 in 1990.
- How does Maldives rank for labor force, total?
- Maldives ranks 168th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Maldives data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.