Thousands Flock to Male’

According to a new survey, twenty five thousand Maldivians have immigrated to Male’ from the outer atolls over the last five years.

The study, which was based on the 2000 and 2005 censuses, revealed that people who chose to move to Male’ did so for a variety of reasons.

The main reason was that the capital offered many more services that were simply not available in the atolls. These include everything from health and education facilities to trade and occupation outlets and even entertainment.

Despite the fact that services are improving throughout the atolls, the recent study shows that the number of people flocking to Male’ has not decreased as a result. Analysts have also predicted that the trend will continue in the future.

According to the latest census, more than 100 thousand people are currently living in Male’- a 25,000 person increase since 2000. The new data makes Male’ the most densely populated capital in the world when compared to available land.

As a result, in addition to Male’, Maldivians have also begun moving to Vili-Male’ and Hulhu-Male’, which are both a short boat ride away from the capital.

The influx has sparked significant development.

Hulhu-Male’ will reportedly house 50,000 people by the completion of its first stage of development, which is estimated to finish in 2020.

Planners have also estimated that over the next 15 years, about 15 per cent of the country’s inhabitants will migrate to Hulhu-Male, and by the time development is finished, approximately in 2044, over half of the current population of the country will be able to live there.

According to Miadhu News, a large number of people have already begun spending “hard earned” money to buy flats in houses in Hulhu-Male’ because of the island’s ideal location.

One such person, who was interviewed by the publication, was Mohamed Ali. Ali, who is originally from an island in the north, said he was one of many Maldivians who were eager to obtain land near the capital.

He was quoted as saying: “I gain a lot of money from my carpentry work. I saved a lot of it to buy a small house or a flat in Hulhu-Male’. I am really grateful for it.”

Ali went on to say that two other people from his island received land in Hulhu-Male’ and that many more were looking to move there.

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