Maldives

Country profile

CO2 emissions per person
4.37
t CO2/person/year · 2024
80th of 213 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
10.7
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
158th of 241 countries

Climate

CO2 emissions

2.31 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+1065% since 1994154th highest of 215 · 2024
01219801990200020102020

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

4.37 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+454% since 199480th highest of 213 · 2024
02419801990200020102020low 1974

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

0.17 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+317% since 1994172nd highest of 199 · 2024
00.050.10.151850190019502000

Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

2.54 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+915% since 1994166th highest of 199 · 2024
0121850190019502000

Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

0.06 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+408% since 1994170th highest of 201 · 2024
00.020.040.061850190019502000

N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Aviation emissions per person

1,734 kg CO2/person/year · 2024
+21% since 20136th highest of 119 · 2024
05001k1.5k201420162018202020222024World

Each person's share of the CO2 from flights taking off in their country, including passengers and freight. ICCT / Graver et al. via Our World in Data

Energy

Energy use per person

14,913 kWh/person/year · 2023
+640% since 1993108th highest of 216 · 2023
010k20k19801990200020102020high 2014low 1983

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

7.06 % of electricity · 2024
+7.1 pp since 200065th highest of 195 · 2024
024620002005201020152020high 2022

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2000106th highest of 193 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 200081st highest of 194 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

92.9 % of electricity · 2024
-7.1 pp since 200015th highest of 195 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020low 2022

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2000117th highest of 192 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

18.8 ha/year · 2024
+391% since 2001162nd highest of 197 · 2024
010202005201020152020low 2015

Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

12.4 % of land · 2025
+0.0 pp since 1995154th highest of 212 · 2025
01020301990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

0.00 deaths/year · 2021
89th highest of 194 · 2021
05010020002005201020152020high 2004

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.84 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-13% since 1994134th highest of 244 · 2024
00.51200020102020low 2022

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

3.00 % of land area · 2024
+2.3 pp since 2014193rd highest of 213 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

29.6 kg/person/year · 2023
+209% since 1993128th highest of 176 · 2023
02040198020002020Worldhigh 2022low 1981

Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

48.6 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
+5822% since 200285th highest of 198 · 2023
0502005201020152020high 2018

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

0.10 % of territorial waters · 2024
+0.1 pp since 2014134th highest of 174 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

42.5 % living in cities · 2025
+17 pp since 1995181st highest of 236 · 2025
02040601960198020002020World

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Water stress

15.7 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
-2.0 pp since 200076th highest of 179 · 2022
05101520002005201020152020Worldlow 2010

How much of a country's renewable freshwater is withdrawn each year. Above 25% counts as stressed; above 100% means drawing down reserves. FAO AQUASTAT (SDG 6.4.2) via Our World in Data

Renewable water per person

57.2 m³/person/year · 2022
-54% since 1992175th highest of 181 · 2022
05k10k198020002020World

Each person's share of the country's renewable freshwater. Below 1,700 m³ is water stress; below 1,000 m³ is scarcity. FAO AQUASTAT via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

10.7 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
-2.7% since 1998158th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2007

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

Ozone-depleting substances

0.09 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
-98% since 1991127th highest of 168 · 2021
010201990200020102020high 1994low 1996

Consumption of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Watch the map fade towards zero: the Montreal Protocol is the world's most successful environmental treaty. UN Environment Programme via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.