Photo: Steevie · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Maldives: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Maldives is placed joint 64th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 60.63 (2025); Labour Income Share 42.68 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint64th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Maldives on work & labour — 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.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
60.63
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Maldives: 60.63. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Southern Asia
- 62.73 Bhutan
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
4.514
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Maldives: 4.514. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Southern Asia
- 3.227 Bhutan
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
16.91
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Maldives: 16.91. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Southern Asia
- 16.91 Maldives
02Over time
Which way Maldives is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
MaldivesWorld median
Maldives rose from 53.72 in 2000 to 60.63 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Maldives World median 2025 60.634 57.720 2024 60.501 57.694 2023 60.782 58.158 2022 60.695 57.688 2021 56.785 56.066 2020 55.144 55.691 2019 60.729 57.871 2018 58.383 56.911 2017 55.999 56.738 2016 53.610 56.845 2015 52.497 56.788 2014 51.389 56.774 2013 50.299 56.229 2012 49.217 56.289 2011 48.106 56.297 2010 47.048 56.212 2009 46.005 56.255 2008 46.971 57.308 2007 47.736 56.933 2006 48.579 56.685 2005 49.404 56.129 2004 50.305 55.465 2003 51.139 55.630 2002 51.983 55.843 2001 52.845 56.018 2000 53.720 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
MaldivesWorld median
Maldives fell from 43.27 in 2004 to 42.68 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Maldives World median 2025 42.682 46.230 2024 42.749 46.060 2023 42.662 45.900 2022 42.209 45.615 2021 42.287 45.433 2020 44.511 47.267 2019 42.334 46.277 2018 42.495 46.187 2017 42.792 46.467 2016 43.056 46.798 2015 43.164 46.876 2014 42.993 47.281 2013 43.072 46.887 2012 43.310 46.231 2011 43.074 45.679 2010 43.203 46.024 2009 43.892 47.071 2008 43.149 45.312 2007 43.230 45.246 2006 42.520 45.670 2005 44.012 46.265 2004 43.268 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
MaldivesWorld median
Maldives rose from 1.97 in 2000 to 4.514 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Maldives World median 2025 4.51 5.08 2024 4.28 5.15 2023 4.02 5.21 2022 4.30 5.34 2021 5.02 6.04 2020 5.42 6.38 2019 4.56 5.36 2018 4.96 5.35 2017 5.38 5.59 2016 5.77 5.90 2015 6.61 6.41 2014 7.46 6.58 2013 8.30 6.71 2012 9.13 6.79 2011 10.04 6.90 2010 10.88 7.04 2009 11.70 6.67 2008 10.36 5.79 2007 9.42 6.00 2006 8.35 6.50 2005 7.31 7.09 2004 6.15 6.80 2003 5.13 6.95 2002 4.09 6.91 2001 3.04 6.96 2000 1.97 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
MaldivesWorld median
Maldives fell from 31.46 in 2000 to 16.91 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Maldives World median 2025 16.9 28.67 2024 17.2 29.04 2023 17.5 29.33 2022 17.7 29.67 2021 17.9 30.01 2020 18.3 30.54 2019 18.7 29.98 2018 19.1 30.15 2017 19.5 29.93 2016 19.9 29.91 2015 20.2 30.26 2014 20.4 30.47 2013 22.2 31.14 2012 24.0 31.00 2011 25.7 31.41 2010 27.4 32.37 2009 28.9 32.59 2008 29.3 31.76 2007 29.7 33.47 2006 30.1 34.27 2005 30.4 34.66 2004 30.5 35.51 2003 30.8 35.90 2002 31.1 35.96 2001 31.3 35.27 2000 31.5 35.67
03In context
Maldives beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Maldives and Southern Asia
Maldives has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maldives | =64th | 60.63 | 42.68 | 4.514 | 16.91 |
 Bhutan | =72nd | 62.73 | 48.31 | 3.227 | 69.03 |
 India | =99th | 53.31 | 61.83 | 4.219 | 71.58 |
 Bangladesh | =103rd | 56.57 | 49.03 | 3.778 | 57.35 |
 Pakistan | 136th | 49.5 | 49.83 | 5.42 | 55.51 |
 Sri Lanka | 160th | 46.57 | 28.15 | 4.005 | 39.24 |
 Nepal | 171st | 35.14 | 48.94 | 10.46 | 76.98 |
 Iran | 175th | 37.56 | 34.95 | 8.301 | 39.52 |
 Afghanistan | 182nd | 32.46 | 40.77 | 13.35 | 81.77 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Maldives in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Maldives is ahead of the world, and behind
22 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Maldives does better than the middle country measured.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.14.885▲ Improved since 2015
Maldives: 0.1 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0742.4332.07No earlier reading
Maldives: 42.43 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23078,12725,230▲ Improved since 2010
Maldives: 78,127 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 44th of 151 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8133.6641.81No earlier reading
Maldives: 33.66 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 116th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6663.561.66▲ Improved since 2015
Maldives: 63.5 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 78th of 182 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7428,6726,742▼ Worsened since 2015
Maldives: 8,672 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 69th of 151 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38449,70647,384No real change since 2015
Maldives: 49,706 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 77th of 168 · derived.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Maldives does worse than the middle country measured.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1620.5322.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Maldives: 20.53 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 96th of 182 · derived.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7643.9436.76No earlier reading
Maldives: 43.94 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 45th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8315.6912.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Maldives: 15.69 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 71st of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1611.2519.16No earlier reading
Maldives: 11.25 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 136th of 179 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.614.61.61No real change since 2015
Maldives: 4.6 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3640.7353.36▲ Improved since 2015
Maldives: 40.73 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 148th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 986098▼ Worsened since 2015
Maldives: 60 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 333▼ Worsened since 2015
Maldives: 3 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Maldives: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
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 15.0147.115.01No 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.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8945.7838.89Moved since 2015
Maldives: 45.78 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 15th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5171.7759.51Moved since 2015
Maldives: 71.77 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 52nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3811.3114.38Moved since 2015
Maldives: 11.31 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 103rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8816.9318.88Moved since 2015
Maldives: 16.93 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 115th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8420.0531.84No real change since 2015
Maldives: 20.05 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 122nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Maldives
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2019), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2019), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2019), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2019), Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2019), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2019), Statutory Minimum Wage (last 2022), Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2019). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“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
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Maldives’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Maldives’s 4th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Poverty & Inequality13th of 1593/3 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 56th of 1933/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing62nd of 2003/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 64th of 1824/4 keys
- Peace & Security68th of 1773/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge79th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation79th of 1762/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties97th of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture92nd of 1843/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital103rd of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions105th of 1944/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability128th of 1862/4 keys
- Gender & Equality149th of 1833/4 keys
- Digital & Technology162nd of 1984/4 keys
- Energy136th of 1652/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade169th of 1772/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Maldives can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysHighest in Southern Asia
Maldives=64th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 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.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Maldives and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Maldives on work & labour: 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 work & labour?
Maldives is placed joint 64th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Maldives?
60.63 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Maldives?
42.68 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Maldives’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 53.72 in 2000 to 60.63 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 43.27 in 2004 to 42.68 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 1.97 in 2000 to 4.514 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 31.46 in 2000 to 16.91 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Maldives?
No current reading is published for Maldives on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. 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
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour 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 work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 22 statistics on this page come from 2 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.
- Maldives (banner) — Steevie, CC0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Maldives: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/maldives/work