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Economy of Maldives vs Malta compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Maldives has a GDP of $7.06B compared to $25B for Malta, ranking 159/197 and 119/197 by economy size, respectively.

Maldives has $9.46B in government debt (144.1% of GDP), compared to $12.1B (50% of GDP) in Malta.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Maldives
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Malta
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Maldives Malta
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1970 $19,328,038 $187,964,777 $250,728,796 $948,276,539
1971 $21,566,404 $197,752,528 $264,578,485 $971,547,185
1972 $25,177,138 $202,546,529 $295,106,628 $1,028,269,286
1973 $30,862,042 $205,742,529 $345,616,106 $1,070,902,754
1974 $39,120,171 $217,527,781 $376,081,124 $1,178,382,880
1975 $24,540,878 $200,149,528 $474,618,321 $1,408,875,524
1976 $22,399,467 $201,348,028 $527,936,989 $1,648,625,134
1977 $20,853,789 $224,004,421 $625,563,171 $1,849,496,420
1978 $24,369,109 $256,898,850 $793,673,402 $2,055,921,641
1979 $38,523,364 $284,295,074 $1,001,288,847 $2,271,603,717
1980 $42,463,576 $337,096,793 $1,250,198,601 $2,431,745,219
1981 $44,781,457 $376,755,240 $1,243,509,394 $2,512,278,835
1982 $47,911,340 $365,406,574 $1,234,474,404 $2,569,670,647
1983 $57,829,787 $424,808,147 $1,165,729,707 $2,553,934,238
1984 $109,503,546 $539,317,202 $1,101,807,023 $2,578,001,772
1985 $127,190,758 $622,458,577 $1,117,797,439 $2,644,650,327
1986 $141,882,254 $680,724,367 $1,435,038,441 $2,747,400,018
1987 $141,223,029 $740,826,581 $1,751,293,461 $2,860,332,292
1988 $168,514,513 $805,503,273 $2,019,503,068 $3,101,007,410
1989 $189,514,434 $880,631,020 $2,118,655,677 $3,354,642,080
1990 $215,043,970 $1,029,918,210 $2,547,328,748 $3,565,695,729
1991 $244,396,762 $1,044,776,799 $2,750,216,747 $3,788,783,235
1992 $284,875,809 $1,114,472,036 $3,021,942,759 $3,966,512,487
1993 $322,417,837 $1,176,400,673 $2,709,193,538 $4,144,241,960
1994 $356,014,932 $1,267,565,681 $2,998,505,428 $4,378,437,387
1995 $398,988,955 $1,432,169,027 $3,709,396,045 $4,656,139,454
1996 $450,382,328 $1,544,718,135 $3,822,547,197 $4,832,017,470
1997 $508,223,602 $1,674,442,652 $3,787,023,707 $5,086,035,707
1998 $540,096,398 $1,799,936,820 $4,010,111,688 $5,346,725,602
1999 $589,239,754 $1,911,094,725 $4,111,857,809 $5,599,089,765
2000 $624,337,145 $1,984,591,805 $4,036,809,815 $6,701,061,697
2001 $870,031,677 $1,906,326,757 $4,070,867,133 $6,650,321,052
2002 $897,031,250 $2,044,885,955 $4,455,127,414 $6,832,615,340
2003 $1,052,121,055 $2,326,058,789 $5,418,315,224 $7,084,965,037
2004 $1,226,829,563 $2,463,875,272 $6,104,141,520 $7,113,825,959
2005 $1,163,362,438 $2,188,480,302 $6,393,234,993 $7,318,792,019
2006 $1,575,200,391 $2,705,624,150 $6,749,838,806 $7,489,772,866
2007 $1,868,383,461 $2,898,626,608 $7,908,412,306 $7,866,987,912
2008 $2,271,646,188 $3,158,820,509 $9,135,419,465 $8,213,969,014
2009 $2,345,294,875 $2,895,352,811 $8,734,745,698 $8,099,363,633
2010 $2,588,176,055 $3,091,816,044 $9,097,044,159 $8,601,309,579
2011 $2,774,350,240 $3,365,238,508 $9,789,361,703 $8,686,651,937
2012 $2,886,163,997 $3,445,643,748 $9,609,532,089 $9,042,950,074
2013 $3,295,009,238 $3,685,976,099 $10,796,782,636 $9,611,962,674
2014 $3,697,353,039 $3,975,719,122 $11,888,032,874 $10,345,486,496
2015 $4,129,505,319 $4,129,505,319 $11,340,795,042 $11,340,795,042
2016 $4,409,942,624 $4,392,772,972 $12,025,782,834 $11,803,273,068
2017 $4,816,426,257 $4,703,536,561 $14,161,366,724 $13,334,316,043
2018 $5,404,344,163 $5,106,580,520 $16,153,779,511 $14,292,948,665
2019 $5,726,094,799 $5,460,112,148 $16,337,793,531 $14,876,823,596
2020 $3,712,604,583 $3,663,253,190 $16,404,663,226 $14,362,489,738
2021 $5,252,457,370 $5,037,261,439 $19,739,875,611 $16,288,744,391
2022 $6,177,123,352 $5,733,717,715 $18,928,276,162 $16,693,210,193
2023 $6,621,008,704 $6,017,127,527 $22,610,561,526 $18,466,282,603
2024 $7,061,608,267 $6,227,390,286 $24,971,574,502 $19,721,971,908

Economic indicators

Maldives Malta
Gross domestic product
$7.06B
2024
$25B
2024
GDP rank
159/197
2024
119/197
2024
GDP growth
6.65%
2023-2024
10.4%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$13,379
2024
$43,899
2024
GDP per capita rank
75/197
2024
28/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$26,183
2024
$69,832
2024
Government debt
$9.46B
2024
$12.1B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
144.1%
2026
50%
2026
Government debt per person
$17,922
2024
$21,328
2024
Government debt per person rank
35/185
2024
30/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,769
2026
$21,451
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$4.29B
2024
Income share by richest 10%
23.3%
2019
27.7%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
3.8%
2019
2.7%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.6%
2026
35.7%
2026
Consumer prices inflation
2.5%
2025-2026
1.65%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
4.56%
2019
3.12%
2024
Population
531534
578778

GDP per capita in Maldives vs Malta

Maldives' GDP per capita is $13,379, ranking 75/197, compared to $43,899 in Malta, ranking 28/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Maldives ranks 80th at $26,183, while Malta ranks 25th at $69,832.

Maldives
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Malta
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Maldives Malta
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1970 $156.9 - $828 -
1971 $169.8 - $874 -
1972 $192.2 - $976 -
1973 $228.7 - $1,144 -
1974 $281.5 - $1,245 -
1975 $171.4 - $1,560 -
1976 $151.8 - $1,727 -
1977 $137.3 - $2,038 -
1978 $156.1 - $2,559 -
1979 $240.2 - $3,196 -
1980 $257.6 - $3,948 -
1981 $264.1 - $3,898 -
1982 $274.8 - $3,788 -
1983 $323 - $3,527 -
1984 $594 - $3,333 -
1985 $669 - $3,322 -
1986 $720 - $4,195 -
1987 $692 - $5,084 -
1988 $799 - $5,814 -
1989 $870 - $6,041 -
1990 $957 $4,528 $7,192 $10,079
1991 $1,054 $4,604 $7,559 $10,777
1992 $1,194 $4,881 $8,220 $11,421
1993 $1,317 $5,138 $7,296 $12,095
1994 $1,419 $5,520 $8,000 $12,929
1995 $1,555 $6,223 $9,828 $13,940
1996 $1,717 $6,687 $10,062 $14,656
1997 $1,898 $7,226 $9,893 $15,462
1998 $1,980 $7,710 $10,408 $16,218
1999 $2,124 $8,162 $10,609 $16,898
2000 $2,214 $8,526 $10,348 $18,211
2001 $3,034 $8,236 $10,358 $18,437
2002 $3,076 $8,823 $11,251 $19,532
2003 $3,549 $10,065 $13,594 $20,815
2004 $4,070 $10,770 $15,212 $21,569
2005 $3,797 $9,704 $15,831 $22,227
2006 $5,019 $12,075 $16,654 $23,224
2007 $5,758 $12,852 $19,444 $25,013
2008 $6,757 $13,779 $22,315 $26,654
2009 $6,734 $12,266 $21,176 $26,768
2010 $7,174 $12,797 $21,947 $28,912
2011 $7,425 $13,726 $23,517 $29,426
2012 $7,461 $13,989 $22,878 $30,716
2013 $8,236 $15,264 $25,416 $33,138
2014 $8,939 $16,723 $27,425 $35,206
2015 $9,645 $17,875 $25,530 $38,379
2016 $9,948 $18,770 $26,459 $40,999
2017 $10,510 $19,768 $30,317 $45,763
2018 $11,423 $21,899 $33,382 $48,177
2019 $11,740 $23,077 $32,422 $51,392
2020 $7,394 $13,425 $31,823 $49,972
2021 $10,176 $19,053 $38,097 $56,852
2022 $11,786 $22,881 $35,639 $59,512
2023 $12,588 $24,786 $40,906 $64,220
2024 $13,379 $26,183 $43,899 $69,832

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Maldives' government spending was $3.27B, accounting for 46.6% of its GDP, while Malta's spent $9.28B, or 35.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 144.1% in Maldives and 50% in Malta, ranking 7/185 and 111/185, respectively.

Maldives
Government spending

Government debt
Malta
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Maldives Malta
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 33.3% 42.4% - -
1991 37.7% 46.7% - -
1992 36.1% 49% - -
1993 34.7% 55.7% - -
1994 30.7% 54.6% - -
1995 31.3% 52.2% - 45.3%
1996 27.3% 46.9% - 51.5%
1997 25.2% 38.1% - 60.8%
1998 25.9% 39.3% - 66.4%
1999 28% 38.9% - 69.8%
2000 29% 39% 42.9% 64.4%
2001 29.6% 41.8% 44.4% 70%
2002 29.6% 44.3% 43.6% 65.1%
2003 26.4% 37.6% 45.6% 68.6%
2004 24.1% 34.7% 42% 70.4%
2005 38.8% 43.2% 42.5% 70.2%
2006 35% 36.8% 42.5% 64.5%
2007 34.8% 35.8% 41.2% 62%
2008 35.6% 39% 42.1% 61.5%
2009 37% 48.4% 41.1% 66%
2010 33.2% 52.7% 40.1% 65%
2011 31.3% 51.9% 41.5% 68.9%
2012 29.8% 57.1% 41.7% 65.6%
2013 27% 55.9% 40.1% 64.9%
2014 29.1% 55.1% 39.6% 60.7%
2015 33.8% 54.8% 37.8% 55%
2016 37.3% 61.9% 35.5% 53.1%
2017 30.4% 63.8% 32.7% 45.6%
2018 31.9% 70.7% 34.5% 41.4%
2019 32.9% 77.2% 34.9% 39.2%
2020 50.4% 155.7% 42.1% 48.6%
2021 40.6% 123.4% 39.5% 49.6%
2022 42% 111.6% 37.7% 49.3%
2023 46.9% 123% 36.5% 47.7%
2024 46.3% 134% 37.2% 48.6%
2025 47.3% 140.8% 36.3% 49.3%
2026 46.6% 144.1% 35.7% 50%

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Maldives' government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$986M, equivalent to -14% of GDP. This compares to Malta's deficit of -$947M, or -3.79% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Maldives recorded a fiscal deficit in 25 of those years, while Malta ran a deficit in 21 years. On average, Maldives posted an annual deficit equal to -8.11% of GDP, compared to deficit of -3.24% of GDP for Malta.

Deficit/surplus
Maldives

Malta
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Maldives Malta
1990 -12.8% -
1991 -10.2% -
1992 -12.6% -
1993 -13.9% -
1994 -4.82% -
1995 -5.66% -
1996 -2.01% -
1997 -1.46% -
1998 -2.25% -
1999 -3.03% -
2000 -3.89% -5.83%
2001 -3.97% -6.5%
2002 -3.97% -5.62%
2003 -3.45% -9.04%
2004 -2.26% -4.28%
2005 -7.81% -2.83%
2006 -4.52% -2.46%
2007 -3.16% -2.05%
2008 -9.92% -4.06%
2009 -17.9% -3.11%
2010 -13.6% -2.22%
2011 -8.13% -2.99%
2012 -6.91% -3.31%
2013 -3.49% -2.19%
2014 -2.42% -1.49%
2015 -6.52% -0.84%
2016 -9.93% 1.1%
2017 -3.02% 3.4%
2018 -5.17% 1.86%
2019 -6.54% 0.72%
2020 -23.7% -8.72%
2021 -14.2% -6.96%
2022 -11.2% -5.22%
2023 -13.2% -4.58%
2024 -14% -3.79%
2025 -15.2% -3.35%
2026 -14.5% -3.2%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 28 years, Maldives has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.2%, compared with 2.21% in Malta. In 2024, inflation was 2.5% in Maldives and 1.65% in Malta.

Inflation
Maldives

Malta
Year Inflation
Maldives Malta
1997 7.6% 3.11%
1998 -1.4% 2.39%
1999 3% 2.13%
2000 -1.2% 2.37%
2001 0.7% 2.93%
2002 0.9% 2.19%
2003 -2.8% 1.3%
2004 6.3% 2.79%
2005 2.5% 3.01%
2006 3.5% 2.77%
2007 6.8% 1.25%
2008 12% 4.26%
2009 4.5% 2.08%
2010 6.1% 1.52%
2011 11.3% 2.96%
2012 10.9% 2.38%
2013 4% 1.18%
2014 2.4% 0.31%
2015 1.4% 1.1%
2016 0.8% 0.64%
2017 2.3% 1.36%
2018 1.4% 1.16%
2019 1.3% 1.64%
2020 -1.6% 0.64%
2021 0.2% 1.5%
2022 2.6% 6.15%
2023 2.6% 5.09%
2024 1.4% 1.65%
2025 3.9% -
2026 2.5% -

Top exports between countries

Maldives
Export category Export value
Malta
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $156K
Wood & paper products $139K
Machinery & equipment $89K
Raw agricultural goods $11K
Textiles & consumer goods $11K
Chemicals & pharma $8K

Balance of trade

Maldives Malta
Current account balance
-$1.32B
2024
$1.78B
2024
Current account balance ranking
130/190
2024
47/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-18.7%
2024
+7.12%
2024
Goods imports
$3.46B
2024
$7.56B
2024
Goods exports
$383M
2024
$4.58B
2024
Service imports
$1.89B
2024
$17.4B
2024
Service exports
$5.03B
2024
$25B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
78.3%
2024
99.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
78.2%
2024
118.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Maldives Malta
Economic freedom 48.3 66.8
Economic freedom ranking 171/197 54/197
Property rights 51.6 86.2
Government integrity 40.5 55
Judicial effectiveness 41 81.5
Tax burden 91.5 70
Government spending 44.4 57.5
Fiscal health 0 44.8
Business freedom 48.8 80.7
Labor freedom 58.2 65.2
Monetary freedom 75.2 70.5
Trade freedom 63.2 79.6
Investment freedom 35 60
Financial freedom 30 50

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Maldives is 48.3, ranking 171/197, compared to 66.8 for Malta, ranking 54/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Maldives
Malta
Year Economic freedom index
Maldives Malta
1995 - 56.3
1996 - 55.8
1997 - 57.9
1998 - 61.2
1999 - 59.3
2000 - 58.3
2001 - 62.9
2002 - 62.2
2003 - 61.1
2004 - 63.3
2005 - 68.9
2006 - 67.3
2007 - 66.1
2008 - 66
2009 51.3 66.1
2010 49 67.2
2011 48.3 65.7
2012 49.2 67
2013 49 67.5
2014 51 66.4
2015 53.4 66.5
2016 53.9 66.7
2017 50.3 67.7
2018 51.1 68.5
2019 53.2 68.6
2020 56.5 69.5
2021 55.2 70.2
2022 47.3 71.5
2023 46.6 67.5
2024 47.8 64.5
2025 48.3 66.8

More economic indicators

Maldives Malta
Services, % of GDP
72.1%
2024
81.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
9.2%
2024
10.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
3.84%
2024
0.23%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$6.15B
2024
$20.9B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$23,400
2024
$61,320
2024
Total reserves including gold
$674M
2024
$1.42B
2024
Total reserves ranking
150/177
2024
137/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$806M
2024
-$6.13B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$806M
2024
$42.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$36.5B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
7.95%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
15%
2020
16.7%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
30.8%
2024
19%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.