Maldives Births, Deaths and the Changing Geography of Life in 2025

Nearly seven in every ten babies born in Maldives during 2025 were delivered in Malé, while no live births were recorded as occurring in Vaavu Atoll throughout the year.

The latest vital-statistics bulletin from the Maldives Bureau of Statistics shows how births remain concentrated in the capital and a relatively small number of atolls. It also reveals important patterns in maternal and infant health, the age profile of deaths and the months in which the most children were born.

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The figures cover births and deaths registered through the national Vital Registration system.

Seven in ten births occurred in Malé

A total of 5,625 live births occurred inside Maldives during 2025. Of these, 3,927—or 69.8%—took place in Malé. The remaining 1,698 births occurred across the atolls.

The concentration was evident throughout the year. Malé accounted for between 68% and 72% of births in each quarter, recording 1,025 births in Q1, 941 in Q2, 946 in Q3 and 1,015 in Q4.

The data also indicate significant movement for maternity care. Of the 1,698 births occurring in the atolls, 1,025—around 60%—were recorded in a location different from the mother’s usual place of residence.

Only 673 births occurring in the atolls were recorded in the mother’s usual place of residence. The proportion occurring elsewhere rose to 64% during the fourth quarter.

Although the figures do not explain why mothers delivered away from home, they raise questions about the availability of maternity services, specialist care and transport between islands.

Vaavu recorded no births within the atoll

No live births were recorded as occurring in Vaavu Atoll in any quarter of 2025.

The finding does not mean that no Vaavu residents had children. Mothers usually resident in Vaavu may have travelled to Malé or another atoll for delivery. The bulletin’s atoll table measures the place where the birth occurred, not the mother’s complete residential origin.

Haa Dhaalu recorded the largest number of births outside Malé, with 385 during the year. It was followed by Seenu with 241, Raa with 215, Laamu with 172 and Gaafu Dhaalu with 152.

At the other end of the distribution, only one birth occurred in Kaafu Atoll outside the Malé area defined by the bulletin. Meemu recorded 17 births, Gaafu Alifu 20 and Alifu Alifu 21.

The wide differences between atolls reflect where deliveries took place, rather than differences in the number of residents who became parents.

December recorded the most births

December was the busiest birth month of 2025, with 545 live births occurring in Maldives. This was 124 more than September, which recorded the year’s lowest monthly total of 421.

The increase from September to December was approximately 29%.

July recorded the second-highest monthly figure at 506, followed by March at 504. Monthly totals remained between 447 and 468 for most of the rest of the year.

At the quarterly level, Q4 recorded the most births, at 1,444. Q3 had the fewest, at 1,374.

A total of 2,835 male and 2,789 female live births occurred inside the country. One Q2 birth did not have the child’s sex stated. This produced an overall sex ratio of approximately 102 boys for every 100 girls.

Most mothers were between 25 and 34

Women aged 30–34 recorded the largest number of births, with 1,794 during the year. Mothers aged 25–29 accounted for another 1,561.

Together, mothers aged 25–34 accounted for 3,355 births, or almost 60% of all births occurring in Maldives.

There were 1,146 births among mothers aged 35–39 and 774 among those aged 20–24. The bulletin recorded 65 births among mothers aged 15–19.

At the older end of the distribution, 274 births were recorded among women aged 40–44 and 11 among women aged 45–49.

Around 12% of babies were classified as having low birth weight in each quarter. The quarterly proportion ranged from 11.7% in Q4 to 12.7% in Q3. Average birth weight ranged from approximately 2,998 grams in Q3 to 3,031 grams in Q4.

Birth registrations exceeded deaths four to one

When births inside Maldives and births to Maldivians abroad are combined, the bulletin reports 5,818 live births registered during 2025.

It also records 1,427 deaths, including deaths inside Maldives and deaths of Maldivians abroad. This amounts to approximately 4.1 registered births for every registered death—a difference of 4,391 events.

However, this difference should not be treated as a direct measure of population growth. The registration totals include births and deaths involving foreign residents in Maldives, as well as events involving Maldivians abroad. Migration is also not reflected in the comparison.

Of the registered deaths, 1,266 were Maldivians and 161 were foreign nationals. Foreign deaths reached 59 in Q4, nearly double the 30 recorded in Q3.

Six in ten deaths were among people aged 65 or older

A total of 1,399 deaths occurred inside Maldives during the year. Of these, 858—or 61.3%—were among people aged 65 or older.

People aged 18–64 accounted for 451 deaths, while 75 deaths were recorded among children under five. Fourteen deaths involved children and adolescents aged 5–17, and one person’s age was not stated.

Men accounted for 858 deaths, compared with 540 women. One death did not have sex stated. Male deaths were therefore approximately 59% higher than female deaths.

The geographic data show that almost half of deaths occurred outside the deceased person’s usual place of residence. Of the 1,399 deaths inside Maldives, 673 occurred in the person’s usual place of residence, 672 occurred elsewhere and 54 did not have residence status stated.

In Malé, 457 of the 830 deaths were of people whose usual residence differed from the place where they died. This may reflect the concentration of hospitals and specialist treatment in the capital, although the bulletin does not provide causes or referral histories.

Seventy infants and five mothers died

The bulletin records 70 infant deaths—deaths occurring before the first birthday—during 2025.

A total of 75 children died before reaching age five. This means infant deaths accounted for more than 93% of all under-five deaths.

Infant deaths were highest in Q1, when 20 were recorded. There were 18 in Q2, 15 in Q3 and 17 in Q4.

Five maternal deaths were also recorded: three in Q1, none in Q2, one in Q3 and one in Q4.

The bulletin does not provide the medical causes, circumstances or preventability of these deaths. Further information would be required from health authorities to understand whether the cases shared common risk factors or gaps in care.

The figures nevertheless underline a clear pattern: childbirth remains highly concentrated in Malé, many people receive maternity or end-of-life care away from their usual residence, and the country continues to record preventable-health indicators that warrant closer public scrutiny.