Moving to Maldives from Japan

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Japan to Maldives — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Japan to Maldives, and you’d need to navigate life in Maldivian.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Japan to Maldives, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
118 ↑ 8% vs 2015

people born in Japan live in Maldives · UN DESA

Who's moving to Maldives?

Top countries of origin for Maldives's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Japan and Maldives stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
MV
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
MV
1.3

Japan generally does better on safety, though Maldives leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
MV
$2,288
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
MV
21.6

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Maldives leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

JP
12.0
MV
29.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
MV
3.6t

Japan generally does better on environment, though Maldives leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JP
37.2
MV
17.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
MV
15.7%

Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Maldives leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
MV
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
MV
$22,400

Japan performs better than Maldives across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JP
84.8 yrs
MV
76.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
MV
25.7

Japan generally does better on family life, though Maldives leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Maldives. To live, work, or study long-term in Maldives, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Maldives's immigration authority.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Maldives

Visa on Arrival
Japan passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Maldives.
Maldives passport

Maldives passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Maldives passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Maldives?

With 17.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Maldives can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Japan and Maldives.

Is Maldives safe for expats?

Japan generally does better on safety, though Maldives leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Maldives is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Maldives compared to Japan?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Maldives leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 21.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Maldives, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Maldives scores 61 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

What language do they speak in Maldives?

The official language in Maldives is Maldivian. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP MV
Population 124,214,766 390,164
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
Languages Japanese Maldivian
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +81 +960
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110