Maldives Income Share Top 10%
Income share held by highest 10% SI.DST.10TH.10
Maldives's income share top 10% was 23.30% in 2019, ranked 18th globally. This represents a 7.5% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 2002–2019.
Overview
Maldives's income share top 10% stood at 23.30% in 2019, a decline of +1.90pp from 2016. Maldives ranked 18th globally.
Maldives’ share of income accruing to the top 10 percent of earners fell from an all‑time peak of 34.80 % in 2002 to a trough of 23.30 % in 2019, placing the nation at 18th in the world in the latest year. The decline, recorded over a four‑year coverage window, signals a substantial redistribution of earnings toward the broader population, mirroring the 23.30 % share recorded by Estonia and the 23.50 % share observed in Denmark during the same period. While the Maldives has narrowed the gap with high‑income peers, the persistence of a top‑decile share above 20 % suggests that inequality remains pronounced relative to many advanced economies. Continued reforms in taxation, social protection and labour market regulation could further compress the top‑10 % share, reinforcing the downward trajectory and moving the country closer to the lower‑inequality profiles of its European counterparts.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Top 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 23.30% | −1.90pp | #18 |
| 2016 | 25.20% | −4.70pp | #31 |
| 2009 | 29.90% | −4.90pp | #53 |
| 2002 | 34.80% | – | #51 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Maldives matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2011. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw income share top 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Maldives's income share top 10% was 23.30% in 2019. Ranked 18th globally. This represents a 7.5% decrease from the previous year.
Maldives's income share top 10% peaked at 34.80% in 2002.
The lowest income share top 10% in Maldives was 23.30% in 2019.
Maldives ranks 18th globally in income share top 10% as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.10TH.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
The income share top 10% of Maldives in 2019 was 23.30%. This ranks 18th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_maldives_income-top-10,
title = {Maldives Income Share Top 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/maldives/income-top-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}