Inequality of Opportunity: Who are those left behind in Maldives and other Asia Pacific SIDS?

The ESCAP Inequality of Opportunity analysis uses two new methodological tools to measure inequality in the distribution of basic services and to identify the furthest behind in the same development areas. In both methods, population groups are defined by common circumstances over which the individual has little or no direct control.

The analysis in the Maldives explores inequality in 10 areas affecting a person’s life prospects (6 opportunities and 4 barriers): bank account ownership, internet use, completion of secondary and higher education, women’s demand for family planning satisfied with modern methods, ability to protect from COVID-19, prevalence of sexual or physical violence against women, and prevalence of stunting, wasting and overweight in children under 5 years of age.

This report starts by reviewing overall inequality of opportunity levels, situating Maldives among other Small Island Developing States. It then zooms into Maldives to identify the shared circumstances of population groups that are left furthest behind in areas with significant inequality