Maldives Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Maldives's labor force participation was 63.50% in 2025, ranked 77th globally. This represents a 0.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Maldives's labor force participation stood at 63.50% in 2025, a rise of +0.30pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 64.81% by 2026. Maldives ranked 77th globally.
Maldives’ labor force participation rose from a trough of 49.52 % in 1990 to an all‑time peak of 63.63 % in 2019, stabilising at 63.50 % in 2025, which places the island nation at 77th in the world. The gradual ascent reflects expanding tourism‑related employment, increased female labour market entry and government programmes that have broadened vocational training. Compared with peers, Maldives’ 2025 rate is marginally lower than Rwanda’s 63.68 % and Japan’s 63.45 %, suggesting similar structural constraints despite divergent economic contexts. The modest decline of 0.13 percentage points from the 2019 peak indicates that the post‑pandemic recovery has largely been sustained, although the slowdown may signal saturation in low‑skill sectors and a need for higher‑value job creation. Continued investment in education, digital infrastructure and renewable‑energy industries could reverse the slight dip and push participation higher, reinforcing the Maldives’ trajectory toward broader labour market inclusion.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 66.26% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 65.53% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 64.81% | - | - |
| 2025 | 63.50% | +0.30pp | #77 |
| 2024 | 63.20% | −0.12pp | #82 |
| 2023 | 63.33% | −0.10pp | #81 |
| 2022 | 63.42% | +3.64pp | #76 |
| 2021 | 59.78% | +1.48pp | #102 |
| 2020 | 58.30% | −5.33pp | #108 |
| 2019 | 63.63% | +2.20pp | #73 |
| 2018 | 61.43% | +2.25pp | #90 |
| 2017 | 59.18% | +2.29pp | #109 |
| 2016 | 56.89% | +0.68pp | #128 |
| 2015 | 56.21% | +0.68pp | #131 |
| 2014 | 55.53% | +0.68pp | #136 |
| 2013 | 54.85% | +0.68pp | #139 |
| 2012 | 54.16% | +0.69pp | #141 |
| 2011 | 53.48% | +0.69pp | #141 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Maldives matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2011. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Maldives's labor force participation was 63.50% in 2025. Ranked 77th globally. This represents a 0.5% increase from the previous year.
Maldives's labor force participation peaked at 63.63% in 2019.
The lowest labor force participation in Maldives was 49.52% in 1990.
Maldives ranks 77th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Maldives's labor force participation is projected to reach 64.81% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Maldives in 2025 was 63.50%. This ranks 77th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_maldives_labor-force-participation,
title = {Maldives Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/maldives/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}