Maldives Records Region’s Highest Rate of Child Sexual Abuse Material Access
The Maldives has recorded the highest rate of access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in South Asia, according to the Childlight: Global Child Safety Institute 2025 report. The study found that in 2024, the Maldives reported 94 notices of CSAM per 10,000 population — the highest proportional rate in the region.
Bangladesh followed with 64.1 reports per 10,000, while Pakistan (41.3) and Bhutan (41.0) recorded mid-range figures. The lowest rates were found in Nepal (19.4) and India (15.5). The report also showed a significant year-on-year drop in CSAM rates across the region, with the Maldives decreasing from 158.4 in 2023 to 94 in 2024 — yet remaining the highest overall.
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
Childlight described the finding as “particularly alarming for a country with such a small population,” noting that “the proportionality of CSAM in the Maldives highlights a critical vulnerability that requires urgent national response.” The institute recommended stronger “cross-sector collaboration between law enforcement, digital service providers, and child protection agencies” to curb online exploitation.
The data was sourced from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which tracks the possession, creation and distribution of CSAM, rather than its hosting locations.
In the Maldives, the Ministry of Social and Family Development reported 2,854 child protection cases in 2024, including 255 incidents of sexual abuse and 250 of neglect. The Maldives Police Service has also noted an increase in cases related to online exploitation and grooming.
The Children’s Ombudsperson’s Office, a member of Childlight’s Impact and Communications Working Group, said it is working with key partners, including UNICEF and law enforcement, to implement a national impact plan. The Office stated that the data should “serve as a call to action to strengthen prevention, protection, and rehabilitation efforts for children at risk of sexual exploitation both online and offline.”
