Maldives Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 137th
MPR SCORE: 227
MPR Index: 0.0582 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.8925 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.587 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Maldives ranks 137th globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) is a compact, multifunctional security force focused on internal stability, maritime domain awareness, and disaster response. As a small island nation spread across the central Indian Ocean, the Maldives faces no significant external military threats but remains geopolitically relevant due to its strategic sea lanes, attracting regional military attention from powers like India, China, and the United States.
The MNDF is structured around coast guard operations, rapid-response ground units, air surveillance, and public service assistance, with specialized units trained in environmental protection, firefighting, and disaster relief. Despite its modest size and equipment base, the force is highly responsive and plays a central role in national governance, particularly during weather-related emergencies, civil unrest, and maritime enforcement tasks. Maldives maintains defense cooperation agreements with India, Sri Lanka, and the United States, focused on training, capacity building, and maritime domain security.
Strengths
1. Highly Mobile, Multifunctional Security Force
The MNDF combines military, police, firefighting, and disaster relief capabilities under one structure, enabling rapid internal deployment and multi-role crisis response across its dispersed island territory.
2. Effective Maritime Surveillance and Coastal Security
The Maldivian Coast Guard, the MNDF’s largest operational wing, conducts regular patrols, search-and-rescue missions, and counter-narcotics enforcement, helping secure key transit lanes and exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
3. Strong Bilateral Defense Partnerships
Maldives benefits from Indian military support, including coastal radar installations, maritime patrol aircraft, training programs, and joint exercises such as DOSTI with India and Sri Lanka, enhancing regional defense integration.
Why Maldives Is Still Ranked 137th
1. No Conventional Military Assets
The MNDF does not field tanks, fighter aircraft, artillery, or offensive naval platforms. Its assets are limited to patrol boats, utility helicopters, and light infantry, with no capability for conventional warfare.
2. Extremely Small Force Size
With only around 4,000 personnel, the MNDF lacks reserve depth, strategic logistics, and warfighting sustainment, making it dependent on foreign military assistance in any serious security scenario.
3. Entirely Defensive and Civil-Support Oriented
The MNDF is designed for internal and maritime defense, with no expeditionary doctrine, no regional projection capabilities, and no offensive posture, limiting its global military relevance despite local efficiency.
Conclusion
Maldives operates a lean, disciplined, and multifunctional defense force focused on maritime security, crisis response, and internal stability, reflecting the needs of a strategically positioned but physically vulnerable island state. While lacking conventional military capabilities, the MNDF is well-suited to the nation’s defense needs and plays a key role in regional maritime cooperation and disaster resilience. Its global ranking reflects force size and hardware limitations, not the effectiveness of its internal mission scope.
Military Strength and Force Projection
Active Military Personnel: 4,500 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 500 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 2,000 (National Police Service)
Army Personnel: 3,000
Navy Personnel: 1,000
Air Force Personnel: 500
Ground Forces
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): None
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 10+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 10+
Air Force
Combat Aircraft: None
Helicopters: 5+ (primarily for transport and medical evacuation)
Transport Aircraft: None
Aircraft Breakdown:
Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH): 2 (for maritime surveillance and transport)
Naval Forces
Maldives places significant emphasis on its naval capabilities to protect its vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and ensure maritime security. The coast guard forms the backbone of the MNDF's maritime operations.
Patrol Boats: 10+
Fast Attack Craft: 5+
Landing Craft: 2
Missile Capabilities
Maldives does not possess advanced missile systems or nuclear capabilities. Its military is geared toward coastal defense, internal security, and disaster response operations.
Strategic Partnerships
Maldives maintains close defense ties with India, which provides military aid, training, and equipment to the MNDF. The Maldives also cooperates with the United States and other international partners in regional maritime security and counterterrorism efforts in the Indian Ocean. The country is a participant in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) security framework.
Military History & Combat Experience
The Maldives has no history of conventional war, with its military experience centered on internal security crises, foreign mercenary interventions, and its evolving role in regional maritime cooperation.
1988 Coup Attempt and Operation Cactus:
In November 1988, a group of Tamil mercenaries, supported by a Maldivian political faction, attempted to overthrow the government. The MNDF, overwhelmed at the time, was rescued by Indian Armed Forces during Operation Cactus, a rapid airborne and naval intervention that restored the Maldivian government within hours. This event solidified India’s role as Maldives’ primary security guarantor and remains the only instance of external military crisis in the country’s modern history.Post-1988 Military Reforms and Expansion:
Following the failed coup, Maldives restructured the MNDF, expanding its coast guard, enhancing intelligence, and establishing a presidential guard unit. The military’s focus shifted firmly to internal protection and regime stability.Disaster Relief and National Service (2004–present):
The MNDF played a leading role in responding to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which devastated many atolls. Since then, its civil-support function has grown significantly, with roles in infrastructure repair, emergency evacuation, and disease outbreak response.Joint Maritime Patrols and Exercises:
Maldives participates in Exercise DOSTI and bilateral naval drills with India, Sri Lanka, and the U.S., focusing on counter-piracy, maritime domain awareness, and search-and-rescue in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Maldives’ military experience is centered on internal crisis response, maritime law enforcement, and strategic defense partnerships, rather than conventional warfare—making the MNDF a low-ranked force globally, but a critical component of South Asia’s maritime security landscape.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~540,000 (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~200,000
Geographic Area: 298 km²
Land Boundaries: 0 km (island nation)
Bordering Countries: None
Coastline: 644 km
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; monsoon season
Terrain: Flat coral islands; few natural resources
Natural Resources: Fish, salt, arable land (very limited)
Proven Oil Reserves: None
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: None
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$110 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~2.3%
GDP (PPP): ~$9.2 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$17,100
External Debt: ~$5.4 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Steady growth for maritime and internal security
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Maritime defense, anti-piracy, internal security
Military Industry Base: None
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Limited
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Divided into Northern, Central, and Southern Area Commands under MNDF
Missile Inventory Highlights: None (light arms and naval defense only)
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate; 30–60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~6,000
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: MNDF Intelligence Directorate
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: India, Sri Lanka
Airports (Total): ~18
Major Military Airports: Malé (Velana International), Gan
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: ~20 vessels
Major Ports: Malé
Naval Infrastructure: Coastal patrol craft, fast attack boats
Naval Replenishment Capability: Coastal and inter-island only
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: None
Roadways: ~500 km (spread across islands)
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: None
Energy Imports: High dependency
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Maintains emergency stocks
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: None
Military Installations (Domestic): Malé, Addu, Maafushi
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Indian coastal radar and aviation support
Defense Alliances: Bilateral cooperation with India and Sri Lanka
Strategic Airlift Capability: Small rotary wing and patrol aircraft
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Very low
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Minimal
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Fisheries, port logistics, emergency services
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Malé
Founding Date: July 26, 1965 (independence from UK)
System of Government: Unitary presidential republic
