Maldives

Most immigrants to the Maldives arrive from neighboring South Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. They are primarily drawn by close geographic proximity, shared cultural ties, and abundant economic opportunities in the island nation. Today, tens of thousands of foreign workers from these nearby countries form the backbone of the local tourism and construction sectors.

In the late twentieth century, Sri Lankan and Indian nationals made up the majority of a very small expatriate community. As the Maldives experienced a rapid economic boom driven by massive luxury resort expansion, the demand for manual labor shifted dramatically. Over the last two decades, Bangladeshi workers began arriving in huge numbers to build new infrastructure and fill essential service roles.

Just as the Maldives draws workers from nearby South Asian nations, Maldivian emigrants primarily head to Sri Lanka and India. They are motivated by close geographic ties, affordable living, and access to specialized medical care and higher education. A growing community of nearly three thousand Maldivians now lives abroad, with many also choosing Australia for its English-speaking universities and broader career paths.

In the late twentieth century, India served as the most popular destination for a very small group of Maldivian expatriates. As the local middle class grew and sought international schooling, Sri Lanka quickly transformed into the preferred regional hub. Over the last two decades, Australia has steadily attracted more Maldivian students and professionals looking to build long-term lives outside the Indian Ocean.