The Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS) has reported that 74.8 per cent of the working-age population in Malé were employed in the first quarter of 2025.

According to the findings published on Tuesday, the total working population stood at 187,380, of which 68 per cent were Maldivians and 32 per cent were foreigners. Employment rates were significantly higher among foreigners, with 97.1 per cent in work compared to 64.4 per cent of Maldivians.

The survey highlights that the Maldivian economy is heavily dominated by the services sector. In Malé City, around 80 per cent of employed persons were engaged in services during Q1 2025, followed by 19 per cent in the secondary sector. Employment in the primary sector remained minimal, as such activities are mainly concentrated in the atolls.

The report also found that more than one third of Maldivians of working age, equivalent to 44,959 individuals, were outside the labour force in Q1 2025. Of this group, 7,622 people (17 per cent) were classified as being in the potential labour force, while 37,337 people (83 per cent) were categorised as “others outside the labour force.” This category includes students, homemakers, the elderly, and those unable or unwilling to work.

MBS stated that the main objectives of the Labour Force Survey are to determine the economically active population, measure employment levels, assess job creation, update migration rates and population projections, and provide data to track the Maldives’ progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).