Editing Maldives (section)

==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of the Maldives}}

[[File:Male-total.jpg|thumb|Malé, the capital of the Maldives]]

{{Bar chart
|title= Maldives population
|label_type= Year
|data_type= Population<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census Population by Sex and Sex - Ratio, and Inter-Censal Variation of Population, 1911 - 2014 |url=http://statisticsmaldives.gov.mv/yearbook/statisticalarchive/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/02/table2.1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164341/http://statisticsmaldives.gov.mv/yearbook/statisticalarchive/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/02/table2.1.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=24 May 2020 |website=National Bureau of Statistics (Maldives)}}</ref><ref name="Maldives Population Projections 2014-2054">{{Cite web |title=Maldives Population Projections 2014–2054 |url=http://statisticsmaldives.gov.mv/nbs/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Projected-Mid-Year-population-of-Maldives.xlsx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164344/http://statisticsmaldives.gov.mv/nbs/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Projected-Mid-Year-population-of-Maldives.xlsx |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=24 May 2020 |website=statisticsmaldives.gov.mv |publisher=National Bureau of Statistics}}</ref>
|data_max= 560,000
|label1= 1911 |data1= 72,237
|label2= 1966 |data2= 100,883
|label3= 2000 |data3= 270,101
|label4= 2020 est. |data4= 557,426
}}

The largest ethnic group is [[Maldivians|Dhivehin]], i.e. the Maldivians, native to the historic region of the Maldive Islands comprising today's Republic of Maldives and the island of [[Minicoy]] in [[Lakshadweep|Union territory of Lakshadweep]], India. They share the same culture and speak the [[Dhivehi language]]. They are principally an [[Indo-Aryan peoples|Indo-Aryan]] people, having traces of Middle Eastern, South Asian, [[Austronesian peoples|Austronesian]] and African genes in the population.

In the past, there was also a small [[Tamils|Tamil]] population known as the [[Giraavaru people]]. This group has now been almost completely absorbed into the larger Maldivian society but was once native to the island of [[Giraavaru (Kaafu Atoll)|Giraavaru]], which was evacuated in 1968 due to heavy erosion of the island.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jaleel |first1=Jana |title=An Untold Story - The Lost People of Giraavaru |url=https://maldivesvoice.mv/480 |access-date=20 July 2023 |agency=Maldives Voice |date=20 July 2023 |archive-date=16 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416190912/https://maldivesvoice.mv/480 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Some social stratification exists on the islands. It is not rigid, since rank is based on varied factors, including occupation, wealth, Islamic virtue, and family ties. Instead of a complex [[caste]] system, there was merely a distinction between noble (bēfulhu) and common people in the Maldives. Members of the social elite are concentrated in Malé.

[[File:Life expectancy by WBG -Maldives.png|thumb|Life expectancy in the Maldives]]
The population doubled by 1978, and the [[population growth]] rate peaked at 3.4% in 1985. By the 2006 census, the population had reached 298,968,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Islands by Population Size and Percentage Share of Total Population |url=http://www.planning.gov.mv/publications/census2006_island_level_tables/population/population/PP_05.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919044405/http://www.planning.gov.mv/publications/census2006_island_level_tables/population/population/PP_05.htm |archive-date=19 September 2013 |access-date=8 February 2012 |website=Maldives: Population and Housing Census 2006 |publisher=Ministry of Planning and National Development}}</ref> although the census in 2000 showed that the population growth rate had declined to 1.9%. [[Life expectancy|Life expectancy at birth]] stood at 46 years in 1978, and later rose to 72. Infant mortality has declined from 12.7% in 1977 to 1.2% today, and adult literacy reached 99%. Combined school enrolment reached the high 90s. The population was projected to have reached 317,280 in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census Analysis 2006. Population Projection 2006 – 2050 |url=http://planning.gov.mv/en/images/stories/publications/analysiscd/pdf/13.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224031/http://planning.gov.mv/en/images/stories/publications/analysiscd/pdf/13.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=5 July 2014 |website=Ministry of Planning and National Development |page=273}}</ref>

The 2014 Population and Housing Census listed the total population in the Maldives as 437,535: 339,761 resident Maldivians and 97,774 resident foreigners, approximately 16% of the total population. However, it is believed that foreigners have been undercounted.<ref name="Maldives Population Projections 2014-2054" /><ref name="prb-maldives">{{Cite web |last1=May |first1=John F. |last2=Riyaza |first2=Fathimath |date=July 2017 |title=Maldives' Population Dynamics |url=https://www.prb.org/maldives-population-dynamics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164442/https://www.prb.org/maldives-population-dynamics/ |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=1 February 2019 |website=[[Population Reference Bureau]]}}</ref> {{as of |May 2021}}, there were 281,000 expatriate workers, an estimated 63,000 of whom are undocumented in the Maldives: 3,506 Chinese, 5,029 Nepalese, 15,670 Sri Lankans, 28,840 Indians, and (the largest group of foreigners working in the country) 112,588 [[Bangladeshis in the Maldives|Bangladeshis]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2021 |title=International Labour Day 2021 |url=https://statisticsmaldives.gov.mv/international-labour-day-2021/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502081211/https://statisticsmaldives.gov.mv/international-labour-day-2021/ |archive-date=2 May 2021 |access-date=2 May 2021 |website=National Bureau of Statistics |publisher=Ministry of Housing, Land & Urban Development}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Anti-Human Trafficking Action Plan 2020–2022 |url=https://www.gov.mv/en/files/maldives-national-anti-human-trafficking-action-plan-2020-2022.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164343/https://www.gov.mv/en/files/maldives-national-anti-human-trafficking-action-plan-2020-2022.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=18 May 2020 |website=Government of the Maldives |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Maldives)|Ministry of Defence]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 September 2021 |title=Over 281,000 expats in the Maldives |url=https://avas.mv/en/106783 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913095035/https://avas.mv/en/106783 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |access-date=19 May 2024 |work=Avas}}</ref> Other immigrants include [[Filipinos in the Maldives|Filipinos]] as well as various Western foreign workers.

===Religion===
{{See also|Religion in the Maldives}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in the Maldives<ref name="religion"/>
|label1= Islam
|value1 = 98.69
|color1 = Green
|label2 = Christianity
|value2 = 0.29
|color2 = Purple
|label3 = [[Agnostics]]
|value3 = 0.29
|color3 = Red
|label4 = [[Hindu]]
|value4 = 0.29
|color4 = Lightblue
|label5 = Others
|value5 = 0.74
|color5 = White
}}
After the long [[Buddhism in the Maldives|Buddhist period of Maldivian history]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conversion of the Maldives to Islam |url=http://www.maldivesstory.com.mv:80/site%20files/after%20islam/latest/conversion-frames.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030509021536/http://www.maldivesstory.com.mv/site%20files/after%20islam/latest/conversion-frames.htm |archive-date=9 May 2003 |website=Maldives Story}}</ref> Muslim traders introduced Islam. Maldivians converted to Islam by the mid-12th century. The islands have had a long history of [[Sufism|Sufic]] orders, as can be seen in the history of the country such as the building of tombs. They were used until as recently as the 1980s for seeking the help of buried [[saint]]s. They can be seen next to some old mosques and are considered a part of the Maldives's [[cultural heritage]].

Other aspects of [[tassawuf]], such as ritualised [[dhikr]] ceremonies called Maulūdu ([[Mawlid]]) – the [[liturgy]] of which included recitations and certain supplications in a melodic tone – existed until very recent times. These Maulūdu festivals were held in ornate tents specially built for the occasion. At present Islam is the official religion of the entire population, as adherence to it is required for citizenship.

According to Arab traveller [[Ibn Battuta]], the person responsible for this conversion was a Sunni Muslim visitor named Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari, sailing from what is today [[Morocco]]. He is also referred to as [[Tabrizugefaanu]]. His venerated tomb now stands on the grounds of Medhu Ziyaaraiy, across the street from the Friday Mosque, or [[Malé Friday Mosque|Hukuru Miskiy]], in Malé. Originally built in 1153 and re-built in 1658,<ref name="Yoosuf"/> this is one of the country's oldest surviving mosques.

In 2013, scholar Felix Wilfred of [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]] estimated the number of Christians in Maldives as 1,400 or 0.4% of the country's population.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Oxford Handbook of Christianity in Asia| first=Felix |last=Wilfred|year= 2014| isbn= 9780199329069|page=45|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>

Since the adoption of the [[Constitution of the Maldives#2008 Constitution|2008 constitution]] citizens and anyone wishing to become citizens is required by law to nominally follow [[Sunni Islam]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Maldives |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/maldives/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304134513/https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/maldives/ |archive-date=4 March 2024 |access-date=18 February 2024 |website=[[United States Department of State]] |publisher=Office of International Religious Freedom}}</ref> which would make Maldives a 100% Muslim country in theory. But residents, tourists, and guest workers are free to be of any religion and practise them in private. However, in 2020, studies found that 0.29% of the population is Christian (roughly split between [[Catholic]] and [[Protestant]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Profiles &#124; World Religion |url=https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?REGION=0&u=146c&u=140c&u=23r |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814204149/https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?REGION=0&u=146c&u=140c&u=23r |archive-date=14 August 2023 |accessdate=1 September 2023 |website=[[Association of Religion Data Archives]]}}</ref>

===Languages===
{{See also|Maldivian language}}
[[File:Dhivehiscript.svg|thumb|right|Thaana script]]

The official and national language is [[Maldivian language|Dhivehi]], an [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan language]] closely related to the [[Sinhala language]] of Sri Lanka. The first known script used to write Dhivehi is the ''[[eveyla akuru]]'' script, which is found in the historical recording of kings (''raadhavalhi''). Later a script called ''[[Dhives Akuru|Dhives akuru]]'' was used for a long period. The present-day script is called [[Thaana]] and is written from right to left. [[Thaana]] is derived from a mix of the old indigenous script of [[Dhives Akuru|Dhives akuru]] and [[Arabic script|Arabic abjad]]. Thaana is said to have been introduced during the reign of [[Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam|Mohamed Thakurufaanu]].

English is widely spoken by the locals of the Maldives:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maldives Languages - Languages of Maldives - Language Spoken In Maldives |url=http://maldives.tourism-srilanka.com/travel-tips/language.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111021720/http://maldives.tourism-srilanka.com/travel-tips/language.html |archive-date=11 November 2018 |access-date=12 June 2017 |website=Maldives Tourism}}</ref> "Following the nation's opening to the outside world, the introduction of English as a medium of instruction at the secondary and tertiary levels of education, and its government's recognition of the opportunities offered through tourism, English has now firmly established itself in the country. As such, the Maldives are quite similar to the countries in the Gulf region... The nation is undergoing vast societal change, and English is part of this."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meierkord |first=Christiane |date=March 2018 |title=English in paradise: the Maldives: English is rapidly establishing itself as a second language in a society transforming from fishing to tourism and trade |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/english-today/article/english-in-paradise-the-maldives/84E0B35287213D3E1A7645FFD32BC16D |url-status=live |journal=English Today |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=2–11 |doi=10.1017/S0266078417000475 |issn=0266-0784 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164430/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/english-today/article/abs/english-in-paradise-the-maldives/84E0B35287213D3E1A7645FFD32BC16D |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=31 March 2019 |s2cid=148650495}}</ref>

Otherwise, [[Arabic]] is taught in schools and mosques, as [[Sunni Islam]] is the [[state religion]]. The Maldivian population has formal or informal education in the reading, writing, and pronunciation of the Arabic language, as part of the compulsory religious education for all primary and secondary school students.<ref name=":0" />

'''''Thikijehi Thaana'''''

These additional letters were added to the Thaana alphabet by adding dots ([[Nuqta|{{transliteration|dv|nukuthaa}}]]) to existing letters, to allow for transliteration of Arabic loanwords, as previously Arabic loanwords were written using the Arabic script. Their usage is inconsistent, and becoming less frequent as the spelling changes to reflect pronunciation by Maldivians, rather than the original Arabic pronunciation, as the words get absorbed into the Maldivian language.

===Population by locality===
{{Largest cities of the Maldives|class=info}}

===Health===
{{main|Health in the Maldives}}
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative reports that Maldives is meeting 5.1 out of 10 of the expected fulfillment for the right to health considering its income level.<ref name="Hrm">{{Cite web |title=Maldives |url=https://rightstracker.org/country/MDV |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519180326/https://rightstracker.org/country/MDV |archive-date=19 May 2024 |access-date=19 May 2024 |website=Human Rights Measurement Initiative }}</ref> Specifically for children's health rights, Maldives attains 98.0% of the anticipated level based on its current income.<ref name="Hrm"/> Regarding adult health rights, the country achieves 99.7% of the expected fulfillment considering its income level. However, in terms of reproductive health rights, Maldives falls into the "very bad" category, as it fulfills only 18.2% of the expected achievement based on its available resources.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maldives - HRMI Rights Tracker |url=https://rightstracker.org/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=rightstracker.org |language=en |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519142734/https://rightstracker.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Life expectancy at birth]] in Maldives was 77 years in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |date=2018 |title=Maldives |url=http://www.commonwealthhealth.org/asia/maldives/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120140446/http://www.commonwealthhealth.org/asia/maldives/ |archive-date=20 November 2018 |accessdate=20 November 2018 |publisher=Commonwealth Health online}}</ref> Infant mortality fell from 34 per 1,000 in 1990 to 15 in 2004. There is an increasing disparity between health in the capital and on the other islands. There is also a problem of [[malnutrition]]. Imported food is expensive.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010 |title=At a Glance: Health and Nutrition in the Maldives |url=https://www.unicef.org/maldives/media_3334.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120140006/https://www.unicef.org/maldives/media_3334.htm |archive-date=20 November 2018 |accessdate=20 November 2018 |work=[[UNICEF]]}}</ref>

On 24 May 2021, the Maldives had the world's fastest-growing [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 outbreak]], with the highest number of infections per million people over the prior 7 and 14 days, according to data compiled by [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhuckory |first=Kamlesh |date=24 May 2021 |title=With Highest Covid Rate, Maldives Imposes 16-Hour Curfew |url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/maldives-tightens-restrictions-as-virus-cases-deaths-climb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524215208/https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/maldives-tightens-restrictions-as-virus-cases-deaths-climb |archive-date=24 May 2021 |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=BloombergQuint}}</ref> Doctors warned that increasing demand for COVID-19 care could hinder their ability to handle other health emergencies in the Maldives.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rasheed |first=Aishath Hanaan Hussain |date=24 May 2021 |title=Maldives reports 61st Covid-19 death in ongoing month of May |url=https://raajje.mv/100460 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524215216/https://raajje.mv/100460 |archive-date=24 May 2021 |access-date=19 May 2024 |work=[[Raajje TV]]}}</ref> The reason for the outbreak was the [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant|Delta variant]].<!-- it became dominant almost worldwide within some weeks-->

===Transportation===
{{main|Transport in the Maldives|List of airports in the Maldives}}

[[File:Velana International Airport.png|thumb|Velana International Airport]]

[[File:Seaplane Terminal.png|thumb|Seaplane Terminal]]

[[Velana International Airport]] is the principal gateway to the Maldives; it is adjacent to the capital city Malé and is connected by a bridge. International travel is available on government-owned [[Island Aviation Services]] (branded as Maldivian), which operates [[DHC-6 Twin Otter]] seaplanes and to nearly all Maldivian domestic airports with several [[Bombardier Dash 8]] aircraft, and one [[Airbus A320]] with international service to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Thailand.

In the Maldives, there are three main ways to travel between islands: by domestic flight, by [[seaplane]], or by boat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maldives |url=http://www.elitedivingagency.com/maldives/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218100252/http://www.elitedivingagency.com/maldives/ |archive-date=18 December 2013 |website=Elite Diving Agency}}</ref> For several years two seaplane companies were operating: TMA ([[Trans Maldivian Airways]]) and [[Maldivian Air Taxi]], but these merged in 2013 under the name TMA. The seaplane fleet is entirely made up of DHC-6 Twin Otters. There is also another airline, [[Flyme (Villa Air)|Villa Air]], which operates using [[ATR (aircraft manufacturer)|ATR]] planes to domestic airports, principally [[Villa International Airport Maamigili|Villa-Maamigili]], [[Dharavandhoo Airport|Dharavandhoo]] and some others. [[Manta Air]] began its first scheduled seaplane service in 2019. Its seaplane fleet is made up of DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. In addition to the seaplane service, [[Manta Air]] utilises [[ATR (aircraft manufacturer)|ATR 72–600]] aircraft to operate domestic flights to [[Dhaalu Airport]], [[Dharavandhoo Airport]] and [[Kooddoo Airport]] from the main [[Velana International Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 November 2019 |title=Manta Air begins its first scheduled seaplane service |url=https://corporatemaldives.com/manta-air-begins-its-first-scheduled-seaplane-service/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164448/https://corporatemaldives.com/manta-air-begins-its-first-scheduled-seaplane-service/ |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=14 December 2019 |website=Corporate Maldives}}</ref> Depending on the distance of the destination island from the airport, resorts organise [[speedboat]] transfers or [[seaplane]] flights directly to the resort island jetty for their guests. Several daily flights operate from [[Velana International Airport]] to the 18 domestic and international airports in the country. Scheduled ferries also operate from Malé to many of the atolls. The traditional Maldivian boat is called a [[Dhoni (fishing vessel)|dhoni]], one of the oldest known sea vessels in the Maldives.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Richard |title=The Commonwealth Yearbook 2005 |date=2005 |publisher=Nexus Strategic Partnerships |isbn=9780954962906 |page=209 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-NITbEo2-UC&dq=The+traditional+Maldivian+boat+is+called+a+dhoni.&pg=PA209}}</ref> Speedboats and seaplanes tend to be more expensive, while travel by dhoni, although slower, is relatively cheaper and convenient.

===Education===
{{main|Education in the Maldives}}
The Maldives National University is one of the country's institutions of higher education.{{efn|There are 209 registered Higher Education Institutes as of May 2022.}}<ref>{{citation |title=Registered Higher Education Institute as of 19.05.2022 |url=https://mohe.gov.mv/images/resources/resources/Registered%20Higher%20Education%20Institutes%20as%20of%2019.05.2022.pdf |website=Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development |access-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617135106/https://mohe.gov.mv/images/resources/resources/Registered%20Higher%20Education%20Institutes%20as%20of%2019.05.2022.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1973, the Allied Health Services Training Centre (the forerunner of the Faculty of Health Sciences) was established by the [[Ministry of Health (Maldives)|Ministry of Health]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://mnu.edu.mv/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223004912/https://mnu.edu.mv/history/ |archive-date=23 February 2024 |access-date=18 May 2024 |website=Maldives National University |quote=1st September 1973 Allied Health Services Training Centre was established – Forerunner to the Faculty of Health Sciences established by the Ministry of Health}}</ref> The Vocational Training Centre was established in 1974, providing training for mechanical and electrical trades.<ref>{{cite web |title=Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology |url=https://courses.mnu.edu.mv/FEST |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224113056/https://courses.mnu.edu.mv/fest |archive-date=24 February 2024 |access-date=18 May 2024 |website=Maldives National University |quote=The Vocational Training Center (VTC) was established on 14 October 1975 under the Department of Electricity to train a large number of workers required for the growing industrial and economic activities}}</ref> In 1984, the Institute for Teacher Education was created and the School of Hotel and Catering Services was established in 1987 to provide trained personnel for the tourist industry.<ref>{{cite journal |date=February 2019 |title=Education Sector Analysis Maldives – 6.1 Quick Historical Development Of Higher Education |url=https://support.moe.gov.mv/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/EDUCATION-SECTOR-ANALYSIS_ESA.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Ministry of Education |language=En |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (Maldives)]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428080715/https://support.moe.gov.mv/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/EDUCATION-SECTOR-ANALYSIS_ESA.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2021 |access-date=1 February 2019 |quote=The Vocational Training Center, the Institute for Teacher Education and the School of Hotel and Catering Services were also established before the amalgamation of such post-secondary institutions to form the Maldives College of Higher Education in 1998.}}</ref> In 1991, the Institute of Management and Administration was created to train staff for public and private services. In 1998, the Maldives College of Higher Education was founded. The Institute of Shar'ah and Law was founded in January 1999. In 2000 the college launched its first-degree programme, Bachelor of Arts. On 17 January 2011, the Maldives National University Act was passed by the President of the Maldives; The Maldives National University was named on 15 February 2011. In 2015 under a Presidential decree the College of Islamic Studies was changed into the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Profile & History |url=https://www.ium.edu.mv/about-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519175208/https://www.ium.edu.mv/about-us |archive-date=19 May 2024 |access-date=19 May 2024 |website=Islamic University of Maldives |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Maldivian government now offers 3 different scholarships to students who have completed their higher secondary education with results above a certain threshold, with ranks of the scholarship received depending on the merits achieved by students on their year 12 examinations.<ref>{{cite web |title=A new scholarship scheme called Merit Scholarship is being launched this year |url=https://mohe.gov.mv/news/a-new-scholarship-scheme-called-merit-scholarship-is-being-launched-this-year |website=Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development |access-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702020052/https://mohe.gov.mv/news/a-new-scholarship-scheme-called-merit-scholarship-is-being-launched-this-year |archive-date=2 July 2023 |date=16 May 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>