REDUCING FURTHER OVERCROWDING IN MALE’ : WAY FORWARD

Policy Brief

Photo: Traveler Helper

 Population explosion in Male’, Maldives
• Maldives comprises of about 1,192 islands of which 188 are inhabited (UNDP, n.d.).
• Currently 38% of the population lives in Male’. By 2054 it is estimated more than 64%
of the population will live there. This an increase from 167,507 people in 2014 to
Population of Male’ and Maldives
514,159 people by 2054 (UNFPA, 2018). In 1974 only 20,000 people lived in the area.
(in ‘1000)
• Male’ is 5.8km2, with a population density of almost 30,000 per square kilometer
974 (Zahir, 2011). If no further land reclamation is done, the population density will
2054
514 increase to 85,693 by 2054.
2014
438 • The biggest contributing factor for the population growth is migration from Atolls to
168 the capital. Migration is mainly driven by a search for better education opportunities
129 (40%), and employment opportunities (13%) (National Bureau of Statistics, 2015).
1974
20
• Although different initiatives have been run by stakeholders including the
0 500 1000 implementation of the Decentralization Act in 2010, due to lack of political will,
Maldives Male' geographic dispersant and lack of funding the results have been insignificant.
(UNFPA, 2018) • The overcrowding is both a cause and effect of different social and economic issues. A
multidimensional approach needs to be taken to solve this wicked problem.

Photo: Seefromthesky
 The implications of overcrowding in Male’
• The exponential increase in the population, and steady flow of migration from other
parts of the Maldives to Male’ has created major issues in the society.
Rise in crime
• Gang development in Male’ is relatively new, but it is becoming increasingly
commonplace with 20 to 30 different gangs operating in Male’ (Naaz, 2012).
• The population explosion has lead to an increase in domestic violence with 1 in 3
women reporting being physically or sexually abused (UNFPA, 2018).
Housing Crisis
• Male’ has become a concrete jungle. Average household in Male’ spends 34% of
total household income on rent, with 63% of population living in rented housing.
These households have an average 5.4 people living in them, and are usually no
bigger than 300 square feet (NBS, 2016).
Increase in income gap
• Gap between the average per capital income (per month) between Male’ and
Atolls has increased to USD 453 and USD 222 respectively (NBS, 2016).
• Gap within Male’ has increased too, richest 20% households receive 72% of per
capita household income vs 1% received by the poorest 20% (NBS, 2016).
• Also, centralization is leading to reduction of funding to develop and build other areas
of Maldives. As more people migrate it will become less economically feasible to
provide basic services in other islands, further fueling the migration.
Photo: AFP Photos
 What has been done so far and why has it not worked?
• Due to a lack of national planning strategy since 2008, different administrations have
taken centralisation and decentralisation approaches to development.
• 1978-2008 : different population consolidation plans were launched.
• The 1980’s ‘Selected Islands Development Project’ to relocate people in smaller
islands to bigger regional islands with more resources.
• In 2001, ‘National Population Consolidation Strategy and Programme’, launched with
two regional growth centres and 85 focus islands identified.
• 2008-2012 : decentralisation and providing basic services in the Atolls
• In 2010 the Act on Decentralization of the Administrative Divisions of the Maldives
was passed.
• 2013-2018 : Centralisation
• The new administration had a centralisation appraoch.
• In 2017 housing for 80,000 people in Male’ was launched and in 2018 a new project
to house further 315,000 people in the area was launched
• Handing management of regional hospitals to third parties in 2017 was another
failure.

Photo: NeilWalton
 Recommendations
Incremental change is necessary to reduce further overcrowding in Male’ due to the
range of stakeholders involved and the required levels of funding and resources.
Short term (under 2 years)
• Develop a long-term national plan on population consolidation, decentralization
and development.
• Amend Decentralization Act to give more power for councils to develop the Atolls.
Medium term (2 to 5 years)
• Introduce a tax regime including income tax to finance development projects.
• Identify 7 potential islands (regional centers) and build regional hospitals to
provide extensive health care services.
• Improve the 20 atoll schools to provide quality education from primary education
to higher secondary education.
• Build tertiary education campuses on the 7 regional centers, offering a range of
university degrees and vocational training.
Long term (5 to 10 years)
• Run an incentive scheme for people based in Male’ and in smaller islands (under
1,000 population) to move to the 7 regional centers.
• Move some government agencies to Atolls, to create further employment
Photo: Bandos Maldives
opportunities in regional centers.
 Summary
• Since 1974 the population of Male’ has increased from 20,000 people to 168,000
people people in 2014. This number is expected to increase to 514,000 by 2054.
• The mass migration from the Atolls to Male’ has put strains on the capital to provide
services to all, and has resulted in an increase in crime, increase in cost of rent and a
widening income inequality (both between Male’ and atolls as well as within Male’).
• Due to a lack of long-term national strategy, limited action has been taken.
• Past action to resolve the issue has been unsuccessful due to lack of funding,
differences in political approaches and centralisation policies.
• It is proposed to take an incremental approach to resolve the issue.
• In the short term, national policies need to be put in place and legislations amended
to give authorities the power to push for changes.
• In the medium term, the key factors driving migration (education, health and job
opportunities) need to be tackled by building the necessary infrastructures in the
atolls to provide services and job opportunities.
• In the long term, government needs incentivise people to move through direct and
indirect approaches.
• Unless the migration can be slowed, or reversed, the societal issues will continue to
increase, and will limit funding for growth and development in the Atolls.
Photo: Two Thousand Isles
 Bibliography
• Bertaud, A., 2002. A rare case of land scarcity: The issue of Urban Land in the Maldives. [Online]
Available at: http://alainbertaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/AB_Maldives_Land.pdf
[Accessed 25 November 2018].
• Ibrahim, N., 2018. Govt seeks to join Male, Villimale under new mega housing project, Male': The Edition.
• Lubna, H., 2012. Vice President pushes for population consolidation plan, Male': Minivan News.
• Maldives Independent , 2018. Atoll healthcare a government priority, says minister, Male': Maldives
Independent.
• MDP, 2008. MDP Coalition Manifesto 2008, Male': MDP.
• Naaz, A. A., 2012. Rapid Situation Assessment of Gangs in Male, Colombo: The Asia Foundation.
• Naish, A., 2010. Minivan News. [Online]
Available at: https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/president-ratifies-decentralisation-act-7208
[Accessed 25 November 2018].
• National Bureau of Statistics, 2015. Population & Housing Census 2014 - Statistical Release II: Migration,
Male': NBS.
• National Bureau of Statistics, 2016. Household Income & Expenditure Survey 2016, Male': National Bureau
of Statistics.
• PPM, 2013. Yameen Jameel 2013 Manifesto, Male': PPM.
• Shaahunaz, F., 2017. Maldives pres kicks off mega housing project in Hulhumale second phase, Male': The
Edition.
• UNDP, n.d. UNDP in Maldives. [Online]
Available at: http://www.mv.undp.org/content/maldives/en/home/countryinfo.html
[Accessed 24 November 2018].
• UNFPA, 2018. 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Male': UNFPA.
• UNFPA, 2018. Maldives Population Projections 2014-2054. Male': UNFPA.
• Zahir, M. M., 2011. Ecocare Maldives. [Online]
Available at: http://ecocare.mv/population-explosion-a-major-environmental-issue-in-male%E2%80%99/
[Accessed 24 November 2018].
Photo: Mohamed Muha