Maldives Records 5,625 Births Amid Warnings of Declining Population Growth Rates

The Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare, in partnership with the Maldives Bureau of Statistics, has reported 5,625 births and 1,399 deaths across the archipelago over the past year. According to the latest Quarterly Vital Statistics report, male newborns slightly outnumbered females, with 2,835 boys and 2,789 girls recorded. The data highlights a significant aging trend within the population, as 858 deaths—approximately 61 percent of the total—occurred among individuals aged 65 and older. Other recorded fatalities included 451 people between the ages of 18 and 64, 14 children aged 5 to 17, and 75 infants under the age of four. Additionally, the report noted that 28 Maldivians passed away while residing abroad. While the current figures provide a snapshot of the year, health and demographic experts are raising alarms over a steady decline in the national birth rate. Historical data underscores a sharp downward trajectory; the average number of children per woman peaked at 6.4 in 1995, plummeting to just 1.7 by 2022. Analysts attribute this demographic shift to a combination of socio-economic pressures. Severe housing shortages, the rising cost of living, and increasing divorce rates are cited as primary factors deterring couples from starting or expanding their families. Experts warn that if this trend persists, the Maldives faces a looming demographic crisis. A shrinking working-age population could place unsustainable pressure on the national pension system and healthcare infrastructure, while potentially stifling overall economic growth in the coming decades.