EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Maldives vs Sri Lanka
Side-by-side comparison of Maldives and Sri Lanka from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Maldives scores 53.3 in the NationsTree Index (75th in the world) and Sri Lanka scores 50.1 (88th), a gap of 3.2 points. Their trees are 2.3 m and 11 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sri Lanka has 41 times the population of Maldives. Sri Lanka is 219 times larger than Maldives by land area. Sri Lanka has an economy 25 times the size of Maldives (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Maldives 529,676 and Sri Lanka 21.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $28,555 in Maldives and $17,065 in Sri Lanka (2025, international dollars). People in Maldives live on average 3.6 years longer (81.3 vs 77.7 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, Maldives ranks higher in the world on 17 and Sri Lanka on 15. Maldives is clearly stronger in tourism, infrastructure & digital and trade. Sri Lanka is clearly stronger in science & innovation, main industries and military.
As a nation, Sri Lanka is the older of the two (statehood since 377 BC, 2,402 years), compared with Maldives (since 1965). Over the last five years Maldives improved faster (direction score 66 vs 48 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Maldives
4.0%
124th of 180
Sri Lankabetter
-4.8%
2nd of 180
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Maldives
1.2%
186th of 212
Sri Lankabetter
48.8%
51st of 212
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Maldivesbetter
0.6
17th of 145
Sri Lanka
3.3
85th of 145
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Maldives
57
177th of 183
Sri Lankabetter
2,380
93rd of 183
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Maldivesbetter
11.2
55th of 200
Sri Lanka
22.7
133rd of 200
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Maldives overtook Sri Lanka in the NationsTree Index in 2019 and has stayed ahead since.
Maldives overtook Sri Lanka in life expectancy in 2002 and has stayed ahead since.
Maldives has been ahead of Sri Lanka in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Sri Lanka has been ahead of Maldives in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
MaldivesSri Lanka All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Maldives | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 300200th/216 · 2024 | 65,610123rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 298199th/216 · 2024 | 61,860123rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 529,676171st/217 · 2025 | 21.8 m62nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.35%151st/217 · 2025 | -0.73%206th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 1,771.18th/216 · 2024 | 354.333rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 42.5%168th/217 · 2025 | 20.5%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 19.0%129th/217 · 2025 | 21.7%110th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 5.0%149th/217 · 2025 | 12.5%82nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $7.74 bn161st/210 · 2025 | $108.83 bn72nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $15.12 bn158th/199 · 2025 | $371.27 bn62nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $12.92 bn158th/199 · 2025 | $317.26 bn61st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $14,61591st/210 · 2025 | $5,002140th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $28,55584th/199 · 2025 | $17,065115th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $12,95085th/201 · 2025 | $4,670132nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 6.3%29th/210 · 2025 | 5.0%54th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 4.0%124th/180 · 2025 | -4.8%2nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.5%74th/187 · 2025 | 4.0%68th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 57.3%2011 | 73.5%2015 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 129.4%181st/189 · 2025 | 96.8%164th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.6%121st/192 · 2025 | -2.3%86th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 4.6%110th/197 · 2025 | 8.4%81st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 9.3%189th/200 · 2025 | 25.4%78th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 1.8%178th/192 · 2025 | 17.1%34th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 69.9%36th/200 · 2025 | 54.6%123rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $5.52 bn129th/182 · 2024 | $20.64 bn90th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $5.53 bn138th/182 · 2024 | $24.86 bn88th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 78.2%20th/183 · 2024 | 19.0%149th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 78.3%21st/183 · 2024 | 22.8%158th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 156.5%17th/183 · 2024 | 41.8%157th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.1%134th/170 · 2025 | 3.6%81st/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 0.2%171st/171 · 2025 | 63.7%49th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 97.0%3rd/171 · 2025 | 29.0%51st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.7%93rd/171 · 2025 | 0.5%153rd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.0%164th/168 · 2024 | 1.5%140th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -6.1%153rd/191 · 2025 | 1.6%61st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 11.1%14th/196 · 2025 | 1.0%146th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%176th/209 · 2021 | 0.1%159th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%161st/209 · 2021 | 0.08%117th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 13.1%82nd/206 · 2024 | 22.2%46th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 57177th/183 · 2022 | 2,38093rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 555,000118th/194 · 2020 | 540,000119th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.41 bn62nd/175 · 2020 | $1.08 bn69th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 78.9%5th/168 · 2020 | 8.2%66th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 123,0002008 | 305,00088th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 81.344th/217 · 2024 | 77.778th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 5.443rd/196 · 2024 | 5.949th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.2480th/174 · 2019 | 1.14102nd/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 4.628th/145 · 2021 | 3.941st/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 99%1st/193 · 2024 | 97%29th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 41.4%2017 | 82.7%67th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 79.4%130th/173 · 2023 | 88.0%109th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 28.6%43rd/55 · 2019 | 37.5%37th/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.5%167th/217 · 2025 | 19.0%78th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 9.2%41st/193 · 2023 | 3.7%165th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 98.2%2019 | 92.7%47th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 48.5%80th/150 · 2022 | 20.7%122nd/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.76693rd/193 · 2023 | 0.77689th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 29.32019 | 37.72019 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%2019 | 2.7%2019 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 46.9%113th/150 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 85.2%82nd/186 · 2024 | 54.6%145th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 14832nd/210 · 2024 | 13353rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 19.689th/208 · 2024 | 8.5122nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.7268th/164 · 2018 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 1,56259th/82 · 2019 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 1.4 m90th/161 · 2023 | 3.9 m67th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 3.57121st/203 · 2024 | 1.0664th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 1.2%186th/212 · 2022 | 48.8%51st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 11.255th/200 · 2023 | 22.7133rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 12.5%153rd/214 · 2024 | 34.4%98th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 9212007 | 439124th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 47.4129th/205 · 2025 | 49.7118th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 41.3118th/207 · 2025 | 42.3113th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 58.598th/207 · 2025 | 55.2112th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 67.0113th/207 · 2025 | 64.9120th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 48.7125th/205 · 2025 | 50.3120th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 49.3127th/205 · 2025 | 57.9102nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.617th/145 · 2019 | 3.385th/145 · 2019 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | — | $1.39 bn77th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | — | 1.3%98th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | — | 4.9%81st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 5,0002000 | 317,00022nd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 5.41%2000 | 3.74%11th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 11.0 m105th/163 · 2025 | 11.0 m105th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 8.0 m1998 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.11%94th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 25359th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 32164th/197 · 2023 | 2,32270th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Maldives or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has the larger population: 21.8 m (2025) compared with 529,676 for Maldives (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Maldives or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is larger: 65,610 km² (2024) compared with 300 km² for Maldives (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Maldives or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $371.27 bn intl. (2025) compared with $15.12 bn intl. for Maldives (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Maldives or Sri Lanka?
Maldives has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $28,555 intl. (2025) compared with $17,065 intl. for Sri Lanka (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Maldives or Sri Lanka?
Maldives has the higher life expectancy at birth: 81.3 years (2024) compared with 77.7 years for Sri Lanka (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Maldives or Sri Lanka?
Maldives: 53.3 points (75th in the world); Sri Lanka: 50.1 points (88th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bangladesh
Bhutan
NepalSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Maldives vs Sri Lanka — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/maldives-vs-sri-lanka. Data as of 26 October 2026.