An International Monetary Fund mission team, concluding discussions in Malé for the 2026 Article IV consultation, said the Maldivian economy has remained resilient but faces a weaker near-term outlook and persistent macro-financial vulnerabilities. The team said strong tourism and fiscal consolidation in 2025 helped contain financing pressures and raise reserves, but spillovers from the Middle East conflict are expected to slow real GDP growth to about 1 percent in 2026. It also said the overall fiscal deficit and public debt are set to remain elevated, the risk of overall and external debt distress remains high, and the current account deficit is likely to widen. The statement said the authorities have continued to meet debt obligations, including sukuk and other official and private creditor repayments, and that the financial system has remained stable. Even so, it highlighted an elevated sovereign-bank nexus as a continuing macro-financial risk. The IMF team said near-term policy should focus on restoring fiscal and debt sustainability, preserving financial stability and protecting vulnerable groups. It pointed to credible reform-based fiscal consolidation through spending restraint and stronger revenue mobilization, a systematic review of subsidy schemes in light of higher oil prices, stronger oversight of state-owned enterprises, and improvements to the public financial framework. It also said the Maldives Monetary Authority should continue open market operations to tighten monetary conditions, while broader macroeconomic adjustment is needed to preserve the exchange rate peg. On the financial side, it called for stronger banking supervision and crisis management frameworks through upgrades to central bank and financial sector laws and regulations. Over the longer term, the mission said priorities include supply-side reforms to ease growth bottlenecks, strengthen human capital and improve climate resilience. It also pointed to legal and governance reforms, continued progress on trade and financial agreements with key bilateral partners, and integrating climate considerations into public financial and investment management to support climate investment and concessional financing.
International Monetary Fund2026-06-17
International Monetary Fund says Maldives must recalibrate its policy mix as 2026 growth slows to about 1 percent
An International Monetary Fund mission to the Maldives said the economy has stayed resilient but now faces slower growth, with real GDP projected at about 1 percent in 2026 as Middle East conflict spillovers weigh on tourism and energy costs. The team said fiscal deficits, public debt and debt distress risks remain high, requiring tighter fiscal and monetary policy, subsidy reform, stronger state-owned enterprise oversight and stronger banking supervision. Over time, it also called for structural, governance and climate-related reforms to support more sustainable growth.