Maldives, an archipelago nation of spectacular natural beauty is expected to see the fastest economic growth in South Asia in 2023.The island nation comprises of nearly 1,200 islands, a population of about 521,457, and a gross domestic product of US$11,010 in 2021. More than 35 percent (female 36 percent; male 35 percent) of Maldives’ population are young people aged 15-35 preparing to enter the workforce.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden reduction in tourism, the main revenue generating sector, plunging economic growth by 30 percent.
The Government of Maldives is now seeking to diversify its economy by accelerating human capital accumulation, increasing employment opportunities for young people, and promoting equitable economic and social progress in the country. The Maldives: Enhancing Employability and Resilience of Youth (MEERY) Project is supporting this initiative.
The World Bank and the Government of Maldives collaborated on developing the MEERY Project in 2019. The Project aims to improve technical and vocational skills of Maldivian youth and foster entrepreneurship to promote employment in tourism, tourism-related construction, information and communications technology (ICT), and agriculture.