Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Maldives instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

be 63.7% less likely to be obese

In French Polynesia, 49.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Maldives, that number is 17.9% of people as of 2024.

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live 2.9 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In Maldives, that number is 81 years (80 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 61.3% less likely to be unemployed

In French Polynesia, 11.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Maldives, that number is 4.5% as of 2025.

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make 34.9% less money

French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $22,440 as of 2024, while in Maldives, the GDP per capita is $14,615 as of 2025.

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Basic Needs

be 17.2% more likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Maldives, about 85.2% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 74.5% less coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In Maldives, that number is 644 km.

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Infrastructure

find 44.7% less home broadband

French Polynesia has 35.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Maldives has 19.6 as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), The World Factbook (2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: French Polynesia vs. Maldives

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Maldives is 28.3% cheaper than French Polynesia overall
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Size Comparison · See true size
French Polynesia is about 14 times bigger than Maldives.
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Moving from French Polynesia to Maldives · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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Maldives: At a glance

Maldives is a sovereign country in South Asia, with a total land area of approximately 298 sq km. A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, the president and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. President NASHEED faced a number of challenges including strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. In early February 2012, after several weeks of street protests following his sacking of a top judge, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. In mid-2012, a Commission of National Inquiry was set by the government to probe events leading up to NASHEED's resignation. Though the commission found no evidence of a coup, the report recommended the need to strengthen the country's democratic institutions to avert similar events in the future, and to further investigate alleged police misconduct during the crisis. Maldivian officials have played a prominent role in international climate change discussions (due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) on the UN Human Rights Council and in other international forums, as well as in encouraging regional cooperation, especially between India and Pakistan.
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How big is Maldives compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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