UNFPA has released a documentary titled “Tides of Tomorrow” which brings in to focus the social, economic and structural realities faced by the nation even as its demographic landscape experiences a radical shift.

The documentary features with various stakeholders, each presenting a unique perspective on the everyday challenges of living in the Maldives.

The Maldives may be small, but the disparity between life in the islands and in the service-rich but space-starved capital is portrayed in this documentary through the perspectives of several different voices.

The nearly 18-minute video tackles key areas such as the escalating cost of living, emerging workforce gaps, and critical policy interventions.

Male’: A blessing and a curse

Doubtless, capital Male’ City is the place to be to get the best education, the best healthcare, and the best employment opportunities available in the country. But it comes at a heavy cost.

Tides of Tomorrow rightly points out that this tiny island, barely 2 square kilometres in size, is home to nearly half the population of the entire country. The city is a microcosm of urban life, paired with all the social, economic and other challenges that come hand in hand with the high congestion and overpopulation.

Families are reduced to renting tiny spaces at inflated rates, barely able to make ends meet month to month even with their combined salaries.

In stark contrast, islands scattered across the islands have been reduced to nearly ghost towns with many drawn to Male’ to achieve a ‘better life’.

Many interviewees hailing from islands expressed belief that more people will continue to choose to move to the capital, or at best, to urban centres within the atolls.

People appear to believe it is not viable to build lives in their islands of origin as all services and opportunities are centralized in the capital, such as health, education and employment.

One student who recently completed school shared that many of her peers wish to continue their studies and ultimately go on to rewarding career paths, which, she said, is an impossible dream if their lives are based in remote islands instead of the capital.

Babies: Burps, Bathes, and Bundles of Bills

We often hear people complain that the new generation of youth do not want kids. But they have their reasons.

Babies may be a bundle of joy that comes into your lives as a blessing, but it is one that brings with it a whole lot of responsibility in care and cost.

In the not too distant past, families were significantly larger. Many families had eight to twelve children, with the mother playing the role of primary caregiver, the father being the sole breadwinner, and the extended family stepping in to help with the day to day care of children.

Times, and situations, have changed. Families now limit themselves to one or two children, that is, if they even choose to have children.

Mental Health and Social Advocate Leesh Wisham pointed out that having to live in small apartments with high rents and other necessary expenses make it doubly challenging for young couples to start families.

“The current economic climate, combined with social issues and housing challenges is likely to reduce the marriage rate and increase the number of people choosing not to have children. If these trends continue, the birth rate will certainly decline,” she said.

According to her, the main factors contributing to declining fertility and birth rates is the economic situation, congestion, centralization and housing difficulties.

Head of Office at UNFPA Maldives, Shadhiya Ibrahim, said that in 2026, Maldives is considered as an ‘aging nation’. This will move to an ‘aged nation’ by 2045, and a ‘super-aged nation’ by 2052, she said.

“This is a very rapid shift in our population,” Shadhiya said.

“Women make up a significant part of the community. Supporting them in starting families, raising children, and participating in the economy, and creating an enabling environment is a priority that UNFPA strongly advocates.”

Former midwife, Sameema, pointed out that most people now have official jobs while earlier women were more inclined to stay home and rear children with only husbands working.

Asha Hussain, Founder of Fertility Support Community weighed in that in the past, couples had help from extended families in caring for children.

According to her, factors contributing to low fertility rates include lifestyle, chemicals in food, stressful living conditions, and minimal exposure to fresh air.

“I believe that a decentralization approach in national planning could help address infertility challenges more effectively."

Policy changes the Maldives is in dire need of

One interviewee talked about how development often comes to areas which already have large populations living in it. This, he said, simply contributes to further congestion, and further centralization of services.

Radio presenter and producer Aishath Naeema also spoke of how the situation needs to radically improve. She expressed concerns about the high cost of health services, education and even housing, leading to other social issues such as high divorce rates, all ultimately culminating in people avoiding having children.

The cost of living necessitates both partners to work, she said, increasing challenges in building a family.

Several youth featured in the documentary appealed for better living standards, raising concerns that the cost of living continues to rise, despite which salaries remain stagnant.

“Hard enough to take care of myself, how can I take care of a child?”

Leesh Wisham is of the opinion that social issues cannot be addressed as separate problems, but rather advocates for a holistic approach.

“Social issues are tackled separately. As in, the drug problem is addressed separately, so is education gaps, and divorce rates, and so on. Yet, housing Is frequently a root cause for all these issues,” she said, “So there are things we can do at policy level, the resources also exist.”

Shadhiya emphasized the importance of creating a family-friendly work environment, even in sectors such as tourism.

“A key demographic shift is the declining working age population, alongside an increase in number of elderly persons and children. This raises the dependency ratio, with more non-working individuals relying on the workforce,” Shadhiya said.

“As a result, the Maldives is increasingly dependent on expatriate labour, shaping the future workforce around this reliance.”

Noorain Jana, Founder of Kandoofa Foundation, stated, “As we plan for the future, adaptability and holistic thinking, core aspects of Maldivian identity, must guide us. Looking towards 2050, it is essential to explore ways, through research and innovation, to actively implement these cultural experiences and perspectives.”

Watch the full documentary here: