Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Maldives instead of Thailand, you would:

Health

live 4.7 years longer

In Thailand, the average life expectancy is 77 years (72 years for men, 81 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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see 2.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Thailand spends $1,067 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Maldives spends $2,288 as of 2023.

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have 4.1 times more doctors per person

Thailand has 5.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. Maldives has 22.4 as of 2019.

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be 91.1% less likely to die by suicide

Thailand has a suicide rate of 16.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Maldives, it is 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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have 25.6% less access to essential health services

Thailand scores 82 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Maldives scores 61 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 81.4% more money

Thailand has a GDP per capita of $8,057 as of 2025, while in Maldives, the GDP per capita is $14,615 as of 2025.

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be 5.8 times more likely to be unemployed

In Thailand, 0.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Maldives, that number is 4.5% as of 2025.

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Life

be 39.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Thailand, approximately 7.7 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Maldives, on the other hand, 4.7 children do as of 2024.

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have 30.4% more children

In Thailand, there are approximately 8.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Maldives, there are 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 2.1 times more on education

Thailand spends 2.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Maldives spends 5.2% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 2.0 times more on healthcare

Thailand spends 4.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Maldives, that number is 9.2% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 80.0% less coastline

Thailand has a total of 3,219 km of coastline. In Maldives, that number is 644 km.

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Safety

be 94.9% less likely to die in a road accident

In Thailand, road accidents kill 25.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Maldives, they kill 1.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 32.0% more home broadband

Thailand has 14.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Maldives has 19.6 as of 2024.

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live with 31.9% less strain on fresh water

Thailand withdraws 23% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Maldives withdraws 16% as of 2022.

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Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Compare further: Thailand vs. Maldives

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Maldives is 47.5% more expensive than Thailand overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Thailand is about 1,722 times bigger than Maldives.
→
Moving from Thailand to Maldives · UN DESA 2020
325 people born in Thailand live in Maldives.
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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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