Maldives records lowest cancer registrations in six years
National Cancer Registry data indicates sharp decline in new cases in 2025, even as total registered patients continue to rise
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — Maldives recorded its lowest number of newly registered cancer cases in at least six years in 2025, according to official data, marking a notable shift in national health trends despite a growing cumulative patient registry.
Figures released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that 111 people were newly added to the National Cancer Registry last year, the smallest annual increase since records began in 2020. The data suggests a steady decline from a peak of 244 new registrations in 2022, followed by consecutive drops in subsequent years.
According to the registry’s six-year breakdown, 137 people were registered in 2020, rising sharply to 208 in 2021 and 244 in 2022. Registrations then fell to 211 in 2023, declined further to 195 in 2024, and dropped to 111 in 2025, representing a reduction of more than 50% from the 2022 peak.
While the latest figures point to a decline in newly identified cases, the overall number of people listed in the Cancer Registry continues to grow. The HPA said a total of 1,106 individuals were registered between 2020 and the end of last year, while cumulative registry figures now stand at 1,964 people. This reflects an increase of 347 registered patients over the past year, underscoring the long-term burden of cancer within the population.
Health officials have not yet attributed the decline in new registrations to a specific cause. Public health analysts note that lower annual figures can reflect a range of factors, including changes in screening coverage, diagnostic capacity, reporting practices, population size, and health-seeking behavior, rather than a definitive reduction in cancer incidence.
The registry data also highlights gender disparities in cancer patterns. Women account for 57% of registered cases, with breast cancer listed as the most common diagnosis, followed by colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancers. Among men, lung cancer is the most prevalent, followed by prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancers.
The Maldives, a small island developing state with limited domestic oncology services, relies heavily on overseas treatment for complex cancer care. As a result, national health data plays a critical role in shaping screening policies, referral systems and long-term planning for cancer prevention and treatment.
Health authorities have indicated that continued monitoring of registry trends will be necessary to determine whether the decline in new registrations represents a sustained shift or a temporary fluctuation linked to reporting and access factors.
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