Skip to content
Nations Inquiry — home
Velidhoo Skyline 2005.JPG

Photo: Steevie · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Maldives on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys
  1. Key 1 of 4

    Government Effectiveness

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    -0.241

    Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)

    Higher is better

    Maldives: -0.241. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.

    World median
    0.101
    Best in Southern Asia
    0.706 Bhutan
  2. Key 2 of 4

    Statistical Performance Indicators

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    64.37

    SPI overall score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    Maldives: 64.37. Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.

    World median
    69.3
    Best in Southern Asia
    74.58 Sri Lanka
  3. Key 3 of 4

    Corruption Perceptions Index

    Transparency International

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)

    39

    CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)

    Higher is better

    Ranked 91st of 181 by Transparency International

    Maldives: 39. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.

    World median
    39
    Best in Southern Asia
    71 Bhutan
  4. Key 4 of 4

    Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index

    V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    0.722

    Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)

    Higher is better

    Maldives: 0.722. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.

    World median
    0.676
    Best in Southern Asia
    0.912 Sri Lanka

03In context

Maldives beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.

Southern Asia
1st194thNot placed · 30 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on governance & institutions

Maldives and Southern Asia

Maldives has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 194; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingGovernment EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100)Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Bhutan51st0.70657.97710.802
Sri Lanka71st-0.12974.58350.912
India73rd0.50273.72390.667
Maldives105th-0.24164.37390.722
Nepal130th-0.7760.37340.764
Bangladesh135th-0.44571.64240.432
Pakistan136th-0.60668.06280.499
Iran168th-0.85763.52230.116
Afghanistan179th-1.96954.39160.143

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Across Southern Asia

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.

Placed either side on governance & institutions

The countries immediately above and below Maldives in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Maldives is ahead of the world, and behind

34 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median18

Statistics on which Maldives does better than the middle country measured.

  • Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.8100No earlier reading

    Maldives: 100 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Rigorous and Impartial Public AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3331.996▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: 1.996 · world median 0.333 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +4.0); higher = a more rigorous and impartial administration. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -3.552 to 3.99; higher is better.

    Position 27th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Meritocratic Appointment in the State AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3091.503▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: 1.503 · world median 0.309 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.6); higher = more appointments on merit. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.442 to 3.584; higher is better.

    Position 30th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Government Spending on EducationUIS · 2023 · world median 3.7095.167▲ Improved since 2013

    Maldives: 5.167 · world median 3.709 · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 16.39; higher is better.

    Position 27th of 123 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Bribery IncidenceWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 7.2692.589No earlier reading

    Maldives: 2.589 · world median 7.269 · Firms asked for a bribe at least once in six dealings with officials (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 64.26; lower is better.

    Position 133rd of 175 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Equal Protection IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6510.752▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: 0.752 · world median 0.651 · Equal protection index (0–1); higher = rights and freedoms protected more equally across social groups and classes. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.027 to 0.986; higher is better.

    Position 53rd of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.939.185No real change since 2014

    Maldives: 9.185 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.

    Position 76th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.312▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: 0.312 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.

    Position 117th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Neopatrimonial Rule IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4450.304▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: 0.304 · world median 0.445 · Neopatrimonial rule index (0–1; higher = more personalised rule). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.008 to 0.989; lower is better.

    Position 115th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.963.8No earlier reading

    Maldives: 63.8 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Agriculture Orientation IndexFAO · 2024 · world median 0.3050.39▲ Improved since 2014

    Maldives: 0.39 · world median 0.305 · Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.03 to 5.38; higher is better.

    Position 52nd of 132 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • State Fiscal Source of RevenueV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.1791.556▼ Worsened since 2015

    Maldives: 1.556 · world median 1.179 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.1); higher = broader taxation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -1.716 to 3.135; higher is better.

    Position 74th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.416▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: 0.416 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.

    Position 77th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.556▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: 0.556 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.

    Position 80th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.498.8No earlier reading

    Maldives: 98.8 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.405▼ Worsened since 2014

    Maldives: 0.405 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.

    Ranked 90th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.102-0.011▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: -0.011 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.

    Position 101st of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.395.4▼ Worsened since 2015

    Maldives: 95.4 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

Behind the world median12

Statistics on which Maldives does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.4650.18No earlier reading

    Maldives: 50.18 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 100th of 198 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.197-0.334▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: -0.334 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.

    Position 121st of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-0.397▼ Worsened since 2015

    Maldives: -0.397 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.

    Position 128th of 209 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.022-0.458▲ Improved since 2015

    Maldives: -0.458 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.

    Position 128th of 206 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public OfficialsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.40311.17No earlier reading

    Maldives: 11.17 · world median 6.403 · Firms saying firms like theirs pay officials informally to get things done (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 55.03; lower is better.

    Position 63rd of 178 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.130.1No earlier reading

    Maldives: 30.1 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 81.2573.75▼ Worsened since 2015

    Maldives: 73.75 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.125 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 131st of 190 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2462.95▼ Worsened since 2015

    Maldives: 2.95 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.

    Position 55th of 78 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.758.2No earlier reading

    Maldives: 8.2 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1926.39▼ Worsened since 2020

    Maldives: 26.39 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.

    Ranked 143rd of 195 by Oxford Insights.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.359▼ Worsened since 2022

    Maldives: 0.359 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.

    Position 148th of 196 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.9475.56▼ Worsened since 2014

    Maldives: 75.56 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.

    Position 20th of 110 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No better end4

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.0147.1No earlier reading

    Maldives: 47.1 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.

    Position 1st of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.97510.93Moved since 2012

    Maldives: 10.93 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.

    Position 37th of 168 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Senior Management Time Spent on Government RegulationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.7956.501No earlier reading

    Maldives: 6.501 · world median 6.795 · Senior management time spent dealing with government regulation (% of a typical week). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 31.33.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Central Bank Independence IndexAna Carolina Garriga, University of Essex · 2023 · world median 0.6080.544Moved since 2013

    Maldives: 0.544 · world median 0.608 · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence). Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 0.974.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

06The top of the list

Who leads on governance & institutions

The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Maldives can most readily be measured against.

All 194 countries
  1. 1

    Denmark

    Northern Europe

    1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    New Zealand

    Australia and New Zealand

    2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale

  3. 3

    Sweden

    Northern Europe

    3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Asia

    Japan=10th4/4 keys
  2. Highest in Southern Asia

    Bhutan51st4/4 keys
  3. This page

    Maldives105th4/4 keys

Positions out of 194 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

08Questions

Maldives on governance & institutions: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Maldives rank on governance & institutions?

Maldives is placed 105th of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Statistical Performance Indicators, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for Maldives?

-0.241 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.

What is the latest Statistical Performance Indicators figure for Maldives?

64.37 in 2024 (sPI overall score (0–100)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 69.3.

How have Maldives’s governance & institutions figures changed?

Government Effectiveness fell from 0.71 in 2000 to -0.241 in 2025; Statistical Performance Indicators rose from 49.8 in 2016 to 64.37 in 2024; Corruption Perceptions Index rose from 36 in 2016 to 39 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index rose from 0.043 in 2000 to 0.722 in 2025.

Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Maldives?

No current reading is published for Maldives on Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Foundational ID Ownership, General Government Consumption, Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance Score, Government Funding per Primary Student, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Open Data Inventory, State Capacity Index and Trade Union Density. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

09Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.

About governance & institutions, in full

How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.

The governance & institutions method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 34 statistics on this page come from 10 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Maldives’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Maldives: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/maldives/governance

Feedback

Feedback

How are we doing?

Two answers are required — a rating and your email. The rest is up to you.