World Bank2024-02-202024-02-202024-02-20https://hdl.handle.net/10986/41085Maldives’ past development path has led to significant improvements in physical capital (infrastructure and related services), and human capital (such as health and education). Over recent decades, the Maldives has witnessed remarkable economic growth. The nation doubled its real income per capita within a 20-year period, transitioned from low to middle-income status, and substantially reduced poverty. This economic growth path was complemented by considerable advancements in infrastructure, including developments in roads, harbors, and ports, as well as ensuring wider access to essential utilities like electricity, water, sanitation, and the internet. From 1966 to 2022, the Maldives inaugurated 17 airports and, achieved universal electricity access by 2014 (from 84 percent in 2000), showcasing its significant growth in produced capital. The country’s human capital has also seen marked progress, with notable achievements in key indicators within education and healthcare. For instance, life expectancy more than doubled from 1960 to 2020 and child mortality and maternal mortality drastically decreased. On the education side, educational attainment has significantly increased over the last decades and more than 9 in 10 people are literate in English. Maldives’ past development path has placed pressure on its blue natural capital (marine and coastal ecosystems). In addition to the cost to natural capital, there has also been a deterioration in fiscal and debt stability, due in parts to the financing of the infrastructure investments. Environmental degradation threatens key economic pillars like tourism and fishing. Moreover, natural capital is the first line of defense against disasters and climate change, especially sea level rise. Against this backdrop, the CEA of the Maldives documents the main sustainable natural resource and environmental management challenges and provides recommendations for transitioning to a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive Blue Economy.en-USECONOMIC GROWTHINFRASTRUCTUREHUMAN CAPITALBLUE ECONOMYNATURAL CAPITALCLIMATE CHANGEReportWorld Bank10.1596/41085