Maldives Sees Import of Over 16,000 Vehicles in 2023

The Maldives Customs Service has revealed that in 2023, the country imported a total of 15,551 motorcycles and 1,347 cars. 

This information was shared on social media platform X in connection with the annual Statistics Day. The Customs Service did not disclose how many of these vehicles are registered in the capital, Malé, which experiences the highest levels of traffic congestion in the nation.

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In the year 2023, a total of 15,551 motorcycles & 1,347 cars were imported into the Maldives.#StatisticsDay2024 pic.twitter.com/Bu4Lw9zfwZ— Maldives Customs Service (@CustomsMv) October 20, 2024

The Maldives registers over 10,000 road vehicles annually, with motorcycles accounting for 90% of these imports, particularly in Malé. Despite government efforts to manage the increasing number of vehicles, effective solutions remain elusive.

Over the past five years, 69,780 vehicles have been registered, with more than 42,000 in Malé, making it the most congested area in the country. This influx, including many unused vehicles, has worsened traffic conditions.

Key challenges include registrations outstripping garage capacities and cases of fraudulent documentation. In response, the current government has introduced measures to tackle these issues.

Under the Road Traffic Act, local councils can now impose limits on vehicle registrations and usage periods in designated areas. A recent amendment further allows councils to classify vehicles into public transport, private, commercial, and industrial categories, with the option to create sub-categories.