President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that every citizen registered as a Maldivian is valuable to the country. He made this statement in commemoration of World Population Day. The President noted that every Maldivian plays a role in the hope for a better future for the country.
As World Population Day is being celebrated, the Maldivian government is holding discussions at the national level on the changes in the country’s population. The latest census data shows that the birth rate of Maldives has declined to an alarming level, raising concerns that the working-age population will decline significantly in the near future, which would have negative effects on the country’s economic growth.
The latest census report shows that the country’s population was 338,434 in 2014 and increased to 382,751 in 2022, an increase of just 44,317 in eight years, averaging 5,500 births every year. This trend also leads to a growth in the country’s elderly population. If this continues, the country’s retiring population would increase, leading to a decreased working population.
World Population Day is celebrated annually on July 11, since 1989.