Maldives regresses as progress on sustainable development goals stalls
The Maldives has achieved significant progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in poverty eradication and the provision of clean water and sanitation, while life expectancy has risen to 81.5 years. However, a recent report highlights substantial challenges in achieving gender equality, environmental protection, and the elimination of corruption. Furthermore, the report emphasizes that increasing the share of renewable energy, ensuring media freedom, and strengthening institutional frameworks must remain top priorities for the nation.
This scene, captured on December 5, 2023, depicts the everyday atmosphere in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. | getty images
The Maldives achieved its highest-ever score in the United Nations Sustainable Development Report in 2020; however, recent data indicates that the country has been unable to maintain that momentum, with scores currently on a downward trend.
In the United Nations' Sustainable Development Report 2026, the Maldives achieved a score of 73.3 out of 100 for the year 2025, ranking 63rd out of 169 countries globally. This performance surpasses the East and South Asia regional average of 70.5. However, it is notable that the Maldives' overall score showed no improvement in 2025 compared to 2024. The country's highest recorded score remains 74.19, which was achieved in 2020. The report further highlighted that while there are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sufficient data and statistics were unavailable from the Maldives to accurately assess progress in several of these areas.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) report reveals that the Maldives has officially achieved two key targets: the eradication of poverty and the provision of clean water and sanitation. The country is currently making significant strides to sustain progress in these areas. Notably, the proportion of the population living on less than $3.00 to $4.20 a day has fallen to near zero, while approximately 100 percent of the population now has access to clean water and sanitation services. Furthermore, the Maldives continues to make progress toward goals related to good health and well-being. The average life expectancy in the country has risen to 81.5 years, while the maternal mortality rate stands at 31.8 per 100,000 live births.
Despite these advancements, the report highlights that the Maldives continues to face significant challenges in achieving gender equality. In terms of representation, women hold only 3.2 percent of seats in the People’s Majlis. Furthermore, female participation in the labor market remains on the decline compared to that of men.
The Maldives' economic and infrastructure development landscape reflects a period of stabilization characterized by marginal growth. While the national unemployment rate remains steady at 4.7 percent and universal electricity coverage has been achieved across the country, renewable energy accounts for a mere 0.7 percent of total energy consumption. In terms of industry, innovation, and infrastructure goals, the nation is making moderate progress. This is evidenced by an internet penetration rate of 85.2 percent and a high score of 0.6 on the E-Government Online Services Index, indicating a steady advancement in digital integration.
According to the report, the Maldives has made significant strides in the field of data management and statistics over the past eight years. Notably, the country’s Statistical Performance Index (SPI) score rose from 49.8 in 2016 to 64.4 in 2024. While this represents substantial national progress, the Maldives still trails behind the East and South Asia regional average of 68.5. Furthermore, the country remains significantly behind the OECD average of 89.2. This index serves as a benchmark for assessing a nation's capacity to provide the reliable data necessary for monitoring development initiatives.
The Maldives faces significant challenges in institutional building, with progress in this sector currently stalled. In the Corruption Perceptions Index, which monitors global corruption levels, the Maldives received a low score of 39 out of 100. Furthermore, the country's standing in the World Press Freedom Index continues to decline, currently holding a score of 49.2.
Furthermore, government revenue excluding grants declined to 24.8 percent of GDP in 2021.
The report's findings reveal that while the Maldives has achieved significant milestones in addressing basic human needs and poverty alleviation, several critical areas require prioritized policy focus to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. These include strengthening institutional frameworks, ensuring environmental sustainability, upholding media freedom, and intensifying efforts to eradicate corruption.
