Moving to Maldives from Sweden

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Sweden to Maldives — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Sweden to Maldives, and you’d need to navigate life in Maldivian. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Sweden to Maldives, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
37 ↑ 3% vs 2015

people born in Sweden 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Sweden to Maldives.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SE
1.1
MV
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SE
2.1
MV
1.3

Maldives performs significantly better than Sweden across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SE
$7,770
MV
$2,288
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SE
71.5
MV
21.6

Sweden 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

SE
8.0
MV
29.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SE
3.6t
MV
3.6t

Sweden performs better than Maldives across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SE
40.4
MV
17.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SE
3.6%
MV
15.7%

Sweden performs better than Maldives across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SE
7.6%
MV
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SE
$64,200
MV
$22,400

Sweden generally does better on employment & economy, though Maldives leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SE
82.7 yrs
MV
76.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SE
2.3
MV
25.7

Sweden performs better than Maldives across all family life metrics.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden 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.

Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Maldives

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

Maldives passport holder visiting Sweden

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Maldives has 17.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Maldives safe for expats?

Maldives performs significantly better than Sweden across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Maldives is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden.

How is healthcare in Maldives compared to Sweden?

Sweden 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 71.5 in Sweden. Maldives scores 61 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).

What language do they speak in Maldives?

The official language in Maldives is Maldivian. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.

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At a Glance

SE MV
Population 10,483,647 390,164
Currency Swedish Krona (SEK) Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
Languages Swedish Maldivian
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +46 +960
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112