Air passengers in Maldives

Maldives: Air passengers was 1.41 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
1.41 million
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
92nd
of 183 countries
All-time high
1.52 million
in 2022
All-time low
7,000
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2023

Air passengers in Maldives, 1975–2023

0500.0k1.0M1.5M1975199920231975: 7.0k1976: 10.0k1977: 13.0k1978: 20.0k1979: 25.0k1980: 27.0k1981: 33.8k1982: 34.0k1983: 38.0k1984: 40.0k1985: 60.0k1986: 65.0k1987: 8.4k1988: 8.4k1989: 8.4k1990: 9.4k1991: 9.4k1992: 9.4k1993: 9.4k1994: 38.5k1995: 158.6k1996: 206.9k1997: 188.9k1998: 247.2k1999: 261.1k2000: 315.1k2001: 56.2k2002: 57.9k2003: 60.2k2004: 75.9k2005: 81.9k2006: 93.4k2007: 92.5k2008: 91.1k2009: 85.4k2014: 1.0M2015: 1.3M2016: 1.4M2017: 1.5M2018: 1.2M2019: 1.2M2020: 292.9k2021: 277.9k2022: 1.5M2023: 1.4M

Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Maldives recorded 1.41 million for air passengers in 2023.

The figure is down 6.7% on the previous year and up 38.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, air passengers in Maldives peaked at 1.52 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 7,000, in 1975.

That places Maldives 92nd out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Air passengers in Maldives, year by year

Annual values for Air passengers in Maldives, 1975 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1975 7,000
1976 10,000 +42.9%
1977 13,000 +30.0%
1978 20,000 +53.8%
1979 25,000 +25.0%
1980 27,000 +8.0%
1981 33,800 +25.2%
1982 34,000 +0.6%
1983 38,000 +11.8%
1984 40,000 +5.3%
1985 60,000 +50.0%
1986 65,000 +8.3%
1987 8,400 -87.1%
1988 8,400 +0.0%
1989 8,400 +0.0%
1990 9,400 +11.9%
1991 9,400 +0.0%
1992 9,400 +0.0%
1993 9,400 +0.0%
1994 38,500 +309.6%
1995 158,600 +311.9%
1996 206,900 +30.5%
1997 188,900 -8.7%
1998 247,200 +30.9%
1999 261,100 +5.6%
2000 315,108 +20.7%
2001 56,216 -82.2%
2002 57,902 +3.0%
2003 60,218 +4.0%
2004 75,875 +26.0%
2005 81,945 +8.0%
2006 93,417 +14.0%
2007 92,483 -1.0%
2008 91,096 -1.5%
2009 85,448 -6.2%
2014 1.02 million +1099.2%
2015 1.31 million +28.2%
2016 1.41 million +7.3%
2017 1.49 million +5.4%
2018 1.19 million -19.8%
2019 1.22 million +2.6%
2020 292,931 -76.0%
2021 277,881 -5.1%
2022 1.52 million +445.6%
2023 1.41 million -6.7%

Maldives compared with similar countries

  • Maldives's 1.41 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.37 million, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
  • Maldives's 1.41 million is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.08 million, 35% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Air passengers in Maldives changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2014 +1099.2% 85,448 1.02 million
2022 +445.6% 277,881 1.52 million
1995 +311.9% 38,500 158,600
1994 +309.6% 9,400 38,500

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 15,000 7,000 25,000 5
1980s 32,300 8,400 65,000 10
1990s 113,880 9,400 261,100 10
2000s 100,971 56,216 315,108 10
2010s 1.27 million 1.02 million 1.49 million 6
2020s 875,256 277,881 1.52 million 4

Countries ranked near Maldives

  1. 89 Rwanda 1.54 million compare
  2. 90 Mauritius 1.50 million compare
  3. 91 Bahamas 1.47 million compare
  4. 93 Belarus 1.32 million compare
  5. 94 Angola 1.32 million compare
  6. 95 Armenia 1.31 million compare

See the full ranking of 183 places →

More reference data data for Maldives

All data for Maldives →

Frequently asked questions

What is air passengers in Maldives?
Air passengers in Maldives was 1.41 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest air passengers recorded in Maldives?
The highest recorded value was 1.52 million in 2022.
What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Maldives?
The lowest recorded value was 7,000 in 1975.
How does Maldives rank for air passengers?
Maldives ranks 92nd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
Is air passengers rising or falling in Maldives?
Over the last ten years it is up 38.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Maldives data come from?
The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Air passengers in Maldives. Statizoid, drawing on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/air-passengers-carried/maldives/

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About this data

Indicator
Air passengers
Source
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
183 places, 7,925 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.