The number of government employees has increased by 6,530 over the past three years under the current administration, according to details in the 2027 budget proposal submitted by the Ministry of Finance to the People's Majlis.
At the end of 2023, the final year of the previous administration, the government employed 48,936 people. That figure has now reached 55,466. Recruitment has accelerated compared with the preceding period, with an average annual increase of 2,177 employees versus 1,603 between 2020 and 2023.
The growth has contributed to a projected national wage bill of MVR 14.4 billion. The budget documents note the expansion of the public sector workforce alongside ongoing discussions about rightsizing state-owned enterprises.
Earlier this year, Finance Minister Hassan Zareer reported that SOEs had also seen significant hiring, with the overall public sector accounting for a large share of employment in the country. The figures form part of broader fiscal discussions as the government manages debt and expenditure priorities.
The increase reflects recruitment across various government institutions as the administration implements its programmes.
