The Public Ledger

Loading data…

Balance of payments

The Maldives' balance of payments, published statistics from MMA, in millions of USD, 2026. Published annually. A goods-trade deficit is largely offset by a tourism-driven services surplus; the overall balance is what actually adds to or draws down reserves.

Current account balance i
−USD 628 m
2026
Current account, % of GDP
-7.8%
2026
Overall balance i
USD 55 m
2026
Travel receipts (tourism)
USD 5.64 bn
2026 · see the Tourism page

What makes up the current account

USD millions, 2026. Goods and services combine into the trade balance; income flows add investment and remittance activity.

Balance on goods −USD 3.06 bn
Balance on services USD 3.90 bn
Primary income (investment income, wages) −USD 800 m
Secondary income (remittances, transfers) −USD 672 m

Money crossing the border: receipts vs. payments abroad

USD millions, 2026, from the current account detail (table 13.2). Tourism dominates what the country earns abroad; remittances and investment income are the largest outflows.

Travel receipts (tourism) USD 5.64 bn
Transportation receipts USD 165 m
Travel spending abroad USD 603 m
Investment income paid abroad USD 840 m
Workers' remittances sent abroad USD 690 m

Financial account: capital flowing in and out

USD millions, 2026. A negative figure means the country received more foreign investment than its residents sent abroad: net capital flowing in.

Direct investment −USD 895 m
Portfolio investment USD 4 m
Other investment USD 207 m
Foreign direct investment into the Maldives
USD 895 m
2026 · gross inflow
Government foreign borrowing i
−USD 81 m
2026 · net flow, see External debt

Current, financial & overall balance, over time

Annual, millions of USD. The overall balance is what actually moves reserves: current account plus capital account, minus the financial account, plus net errors and omissions.

-1.40 bn-968 m-537 m-106 m326 m2020202120222023202420252026
Current accountFinancial accountOverall balance

Reconciling to the overall balance

USD millions, 2026. Current account plus capital account, minus the financial account, plus net errors and omissions, equals the overall balance.

Current account −USD 628 m
Capital account USD 0 m
Less: financial account USD 683 m
Net errors and omissions USD 0 m