As of 2024, the top 1% in Maldives earned 13.08% of total national income, while the bottom 50% received just 18.08%. Maldives’s income inequality has decreased since 1980, when the top 1% share was 35.61%.
Key Income Distribution Metrics for Maldives in 2024
In 2024, income in Maldives was distributed as follows: the wealthiest 1% of the population captured 13.08% of total national income, which is slightly lower than the global average of 16.17%. Meanwhile, the bottom half of earners received 18.08% of income, notably higher than the global average of 14.97%.
| Metric | Maldives | Global Average |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1% Income Share | 13.08% | 16.17% |
| Top 10% Income Share | 39.51% | 45.21% |
| Bottom 50% Income Share | 18.08% | 14.97% |
How Has Income Inequality Changed in Maldives?
Top 1% Income Share Trend (1980-2024)
The share of income going to Maldives’s top 1% has decreased over the past 44 years. In 1980, the top 1% captured 35.61% of national income. By 2024, this figure had fallen by 22.53 percentage points to 13.08%.
Top 10% vs Bottom 50% Income Gap Over Time
The income gap between the top 10% and bottom 50% in Maldives has narrowed over this period. In 1980, the top 10% earned 57.72% while the bottom 50% received 11.37%. By 2024, these figures shifted to 39.51% and 18.08% respectively.
| Year | Top 1% | Top 10% | Bottom 50% | Gap (Top 10 – Bottom 50) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% | 46.35 pp |
| 1986 | 35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% | 46.35 pp |
| 1992 | 35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% | 46.35 pp |
| 1998 | 35.61% | 57.72% | 11.37% | 46.35 pp |
| 2004 | 31.01% | 54.70% | 11.98% | 42.72 pp |
| 2010 | 18.08% | 45.63% | 14.41% | 31.22 pp |
| 2016 | 13.07% | 39.49% | 18.09% | 21.40 pp |
| 2022 | 13.08% | 39.51% | 18.08% | 21.43 pp |
How Maldives Compares Globally
Maldives vs Asia Average
Compared to other countries in Asia, Maldives’s top 1% income share of 13.08% is notably lower than the regional average of 16.42%. The bottom 50% in Maldives receives 18.08% of income, compared to the Asia average of 15.41%.
Where Maldives Ranks Among All Countries
- Top 1% income concentration: Maldives ranks 128th out of 184 countries (higher rank = more concentrated wealth at the top)
- Bottom 50% income share: Maldives ranks 41st out of 184 countries (higher rank = larger share for the bottom half)
Countries with similar income inequality levels to Maldives include United Kingdom, Senegal, Malaysia's income inequality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income share of the top 1% in Maldives?
As of 2024, the top 1% in Maldives earned 13.08% of total national income. This level of concentration is considered moderate by international standards.
Is income inequality increasing or decreasing in Maldives?
Income inequality in Maldives has decreased since 1980. The top 1% income share moved from 35.61% in 1980 to 13.08% in 2024.
What percentage of income goes to the bottom 50% in Maldives?
In 2024, the bottom 50% of earners in Maldives received 18.08% of total national income. This compares with the top 10% who captured 39.51%.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Data source: World Inequality Database (WID). This dataset covers income distribution metrics for 199 countries from 1980 to 2024.