Life stages in Maldives

The Maldives has no single national system covering every life stage. Responsibilities are distributed among the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Education, Pension Office, National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), National Disability Registry (NDR), Family and Children Service Centres, Child and Family Protection Service, Children's Ombudsperson's Office, Maldives Police Service, courts and island, atoll and city councils. Formal services, non-formal support and family-based arrangements often work together. Malé and the atolls can differ in school access, transport, specialist services, housing and the need to move between islands. Under the Protection of the Rights of Children Act 19/2019, childhood covers the period from conception until a person turns 18. Children have rights to life and development, non-discrimination, participation, care, protection, health, education and birth registration. Birth registration records details such as the child's name, sex, date and place of birth, parents and nationality. A suspected case of abuse, neglect or exploitation should be reported to the Child and Family Protection Service or Maldives Police Service. Reporting is confidential, and a person who reports in good faith receives legal protection. The Children's Ombudsperson's Office monitors children's rights and accepts complaints through the toll-free number 1656. Alternative care is considered when a child's home is unsafe because of violence, neglect, exploitation, abandonment, imprisonment of a caregiver, severe disability, domestic violence, poverty, orphanhood or a court order. The usual preference is care by a suitable family member, followed by foster care and then other alternative care as a last resort. Courts can be involved, and foster guardianship generally continues until the child turns 18. Fiyavathi is a state care facility included in the Ministry of Social and Family Development's 2026 budget. A local statistical marker for youth is ages 15 to 24. Available figures identify 53,537 resident Maldivian young people, including about 26,006 in Malé, Villimale and Hulhumale and 27,531 in the atolls. About 19%, or 10,414, were classified as NEET, meaning not in education, employment or training. The transition from school to work or training can therefore require targeted support, especially where regional access is limited. Education commonly progresses from Lower and Upper Kindergarten (LKG and UKG) at about ages 4 to 5, through Primary Grades 1 to 7 at about ages 6 to 12, Lower Secondary Grades 8 to 10 at about ages 13 to 15, and Higher Secondary Grades 11 and 12 at about ages 16 to 17. National examinations take place at the end of Grades 10 and 12. Afterward, options include technical and vocational education and training, Maldives Polytechnic, colleges, the National University, Malé Vocational High School, direct entry to work or a diploma and degree pathway. Students on outer islands may need to move to Malé or another island when higher grades are unavailable. School transfers are handled through the Ministry of Education or the school, with deadlines linked to the academic year. The reviewed primary sources do not establish one general legal adulthood date for every purpose. Voting and marriage use age 18, and child status ends at 18. The Maldives Retirement Pension Scheme (MRPS) covers employment participation within an age range of 16 to 65, but that range does not by itself define every adult right or duty. Marriage, parenthood and caregiving can mark major changes in responsibilities, while the practical support may involve family-related services as well as life-stage services. Age 65 is the main local marker for older-age pension and service planning. The 2022 census recorded 20,553 resident Maldivians aged 65 or older, about 5% of the resident Maldivian population. Around 63% of this group were aged 65 to 74 and 9% were aged 85 or older. About 36% of people aged 65 or older reported a disability, particularly difficulties with walking, seeing or remembering. The census counted 6,699 older people in Malé and 13,854 in the atolls. The Old Age Basic Pension, commonly called BP, is a tax-financed basic payment administered by the Pension Office. A claimant generally needs to be a Maldivian citizen, live in the Maldives, be at least 65 and meet the rules on other government pensions. The payment is excluded or adjusted when another government pension applies, and a person in full-time state care or prison is not eligible under the stated conditions. The standard amount is approximately MVR 5,000 per month. An application can be submitted up to six months before the 65th birthday or afterward; payment begins in the month the application is received and is not normally backdated. MRPS is contributory, whereas BP provides a basic tax-funded safety net. Elderly Social Centers also appear in the 2026 Ministry of Social and Family Development budget. The Maldives has no evidenced nationwide care insurance or standardized care-level scheme. Support for a person who needs help with daily activities is fragmented among family members or guardians, Elderly Social Centers, state care in special circumstances, NSPA disability allowances, the NDR, assistive devices, therapy, councils and Family and Children Service Centres. The Disability Act 8/2010 provides the legal basis for disability support. NDR registration is voluntary, and medical assessment for support can take place through an Aasandha-accredited medical facility. Disability support is not limited to older people. Crises involving children can require child protection measures, court orders, interim assessment, foster care or other alternative care. For adults and older people, crises more often involve loss of income, disability or the inability of a family network to provide care, leading to possible involvement of BP, NSPA, NDR or local social services. On smaller islands, transport to services, institutional capacity and the availability of relatives can determine how quickly support is reached. Education fees also vary by pathway, and no single fee rule applies to every school, training provider or higher-education option. NSPA applications may require forms, identification, medical documents, a bank account and, where relevant, guardian documents. Current requirements and service availability should be confirmed with the responsible authority before an application or move between islands.