Expatriate workers in the Maldives remitted USD 660.8 million abroad in 2025, according to the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), marking a significant contribution to outward flows recorded in the country's secondary income account.

Figures published in the central bank's 2025 Annual Report show that outflows under the secondary income account exceeded inflows by USD 653.2 million during the year. MMA attributed the gap largely to remittances sent overseas by foreign workers employed in the Maldives.

The report noted that workers' remittances accounted for USD 660.8 million in outward transfers. Meanwhile, grant assistance remained the main source of inflows under the secondary income account, with the government receiving USD 27.3 million in grants during the year, a decline of USD 15 million compared with 2024.

Additionally, three companies were authorised to provide remittance services in the Maldives in 2025. Through these operators, USD 167.6 million was transferred abroad through more than 139,000 transactions, representing an increase of eight percent compared with the previous year.

The central bank said expatriate workers accounted for 94 percent of remittance transactions conducted through licensed operators, while Maldivians accounted for the remaining six percent. The number of remittance transactions carried out by expatriates increased by 89 percent during the year.