Economic aid to the Maldives

In 1992, Maldives received approximately US$11.6 million in foreign aid from international agencies such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and individual countries, particularly Japan. Other than humanitarian aid, loans and grants went for such purposes as education, health, transport, fisheries, and harbour development. The Maldives currently owes more than 35% of its debt to Chinese investors. The challenge with the Maldives' outlook is that it is developing too much too quickly, and the small island nation is vulnerable to China's formidable financial power. There is lack of economic capacity to compete.

The United Nations Development Programme is providing support to the Maldives for environmental projects.

Debt growth

Debt - external: estimated percent of GDP

2014 - 56.2%

2015 - 55.1%

2016 - 60.3%

2017 - 64.4%

2018 - 66.2%

2019 - 66.9%