More than a quarter of the children born in the Maldives last year had mothers over the age of 35, according to statistics from the Maldives Bureau of Statistics' "Vital Statistics Bulletin."
The statistics show that 25.44 percent of children born in the Maldives last year were born to mothers aged 35 and older. Looking at this figure, out of the 5,625 children registered across the entire country last year, 1,431 children were born to older mothers.
The statistics also reveal that 14.92 percent, or 839 children, were born to mothers under 25 years of age. These figures indicate that the age at which Maldivian women have children is being delayed.
When reaching over 35 years of age, obstacles to becoming pregnant arise, and health risks such as high blood pressure and diabetes increase. If becoming pregnant at this age, the likelihood of the child facing chromosomal issues such as Down syndrome increases, making specialized screenings and close monitoring essential.
Details of children born to older mothers in the year 2025
- 35–39 years: 1,146 children (20.37 percent)
- 40–44 years: 274 children (4.87 percent)
- 45–49 years: 11 children (0.20 percent)
- Total number of children born to individuals over 35 years of age: 1,431 (25.44 percent)
By quarters, the proportion of older mothers remains steady
Statistics show that, taking the year as a whole, the number of children born to mothers over 35 years of age remained nearly equal. Although changes occurred in the total number of births across different quarters of the year, there was no major shift in the proportion of mothers in this age group:
- Quarter 1: 368 children (25.79 percent of the Quarter 1 total)
- Quarter 2: 368 children (26.67 percent of the Quarter 2 total)
- Quarter 3: 346 children (25.18 percent of the Quarter 3 total)
- Quarter 4: 349 children (24.17 percent of the Quarter 4 total)
Even though the total number of children born decreased in the second and third quarters of the year before increasing in the fourth quarter, the proportion of mothers over 35 years of age remained above 24 percent in every quarter.
How mothers' age groups are distributed in the Maldives
Looking at last year's statistics, the distribution of main age groups having children was as follows:
- Most common age group for having children (25–34 years): This accounts for 59.64 percent of all births in the Maldives (3,355 children). Looking at individual age groups, the highest number of children was born to mothers between 30–34 years old (1,794 children or 31.89 percent), while the second highest was the 25–29 age group, accounting for 1,561 children or 27.75 percent.
- Older mothers (35 years and above): Making up 25.44 percent of the total population or (1,431 children), this constitutes the second largest age group.
- Younger mothers (under 25 years): This represents 14.92 percent of total births (839 births). This includes 774 children born to mothers aged 20–24 (13.76 percent) and 65 births in the 15–19 age group (1.16 percent).
The rise in the proportion of mothers between the ages of 25–34 and 35–39 is linked to shifting social and economic conditions in the Maldives. These include women pursuing higher education, entering workforce opportunities, and relocating to urban areas.
As the childbearing age increases in the Maldives, concerns are mounting over declining population growth rates and the emergence of an aging population.
According to the latest report released by the Statistics Bureau, a large portion of the Maldivian population is represented by people between 36–64 years of age. The number of elderly individuals aged 65 and above stood at 26,825, representing seven percent of the total population. Furthermore, it is projected that by the year 2050, the average age of the Maldivian population will reach 50.
