Land Reclamation in the Maldives: Trends and Impacts from 2000 to 2024

Abstract

Land reclamation has become a dominant spatial development strategy in the Maldives, yet no comprehensive national dataset has previously documented its scale or patterns across inhabited islands. This study analyses land reclamation projects undertaken between 2000 and 2024 for community use across all 189 inhabited islands. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research compiles a spatially explicit database of 109 projects through satellite imagery analysis, desktop review of Environmental Impact Assessments, government records, and Geographic Information Systems mapping. The findings reveal extensive reclamation, with more than 4,000 hectares added during the study period. This scale is exceptional, exceeding the combined total reclaimed across Africa and Europe since 2000 when compared with global reclamation data [1]. Spatial analysis shows a strong concentration of projects in the Central Region, fragmented development patterns, duplication of major infrastructure within atolls, and a pronounced surge in reclamation following the transition to a multi-party governance system after 2008 [2]. The study further identifies a misalignment between reclamation allocation, demographic trends, and long-standing national decentralization policies. These findings raise  critical questions regarding the adequacy of regulatory frameworks, the absence of coherent national planning, and the long-term environmental and social consequences of standardized reclamation practices [3, 4]. The paper concludes by calling for a recalibration of land reclamation policy to better align development objectives with demographic realities, environmental resilience, and community benefit.