Over 14,000 Individuals Recorded in Disability Registry, New NSPA Data Shows
A man assists an elderly person in a wheelchair along a shaded, tree-lined path. | Photo credit: MV+
The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) of the Maldives has revealed that a total of 14,308 individuals were officially registered under various disability categories as of May 2025.
According to the statistics, physical disability accounted for the highest number of registered cases, with 4,091 individuals, comprising 1,800 females and 2,291 males.
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Those recorded under multiple disabilities followed closely, with 3,194 individuals (1,126 females and 2,068 males), while 1,892 people were registered with cognitive impairments (821 females and 1,071 males). Mental disability was reported in 1,753 cases, including 704 females and 1,049 males.
Registrations for hearing and speech impairment totalled 1,740, consisting of 920 females and 820 males. Visual impairment was recorded among 999 individuals, 470 females and 529 males.
The figures also showed 584 individuals registered with autism, the majority of whom were male (461) compared to 123 females. Learning disability represented the smallest category, with 55 registrations (19 females and 36 males).
The NSPA’s latest data provides a snapshot of the prevalence and distribution of various disabilities across the country, offering insight into gender disparities and informing future policy development.
