The Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare in collaboration with the Maldives Bureau of Statistics, has released a report revealing that 5,625 children were born and 1,399 people died across the archipelago during the past year.
According to the Quarterly Vital Statistics report, male newborns outnumbered females, with 2,835 boys and 2,789 girls recorded.
The data show a pronounced aging trend—858 deaths—about 61 percent of the total—were among people aged 65 and older. Additional fatalities included 451 people aged 18‑64, 14 children aged 5‑17, and 75 infants under four years old. Twenty‑eight Maldivians passed away while residing abroad.
Experts warn that the country’s birth rate is on a steady decline. Historical figures indicate that the average number of children per woman peaked at 6.4 in 1995 but fell to just 1.7 by 2022.
The decline has been attributed by experts to housing shortages, rising living costs, and increasing divorce rates deterring couples from having larger families. If the trend continues, experts have warned that the working‑age population will shrink, placing pressure on pensions, health care and overall economic growth.