Statistics have shown that most children facing abuse in the Maldives were subjected to sexual abuse.

According to data released by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics on Saturday, 264 children were sexually abused in 2023.

Statistics show that the most reported cases of abuse against children were sexual abuse cases while the second most reported cases were physical abuse cases.

In 2023, 191 children were physically abused. Neglect, verbal or psychological abuse, bullying, cyberbullying, exploitation and self-harm cases were also reported in 2023.

Sexual crime is one of the biggest problems in the Maldives. So far this year, 76 such cases have been reported to the police.

Research by UNICEF shows that one in three girls in the Maldives experiences sexual abuse at least once in her lifetime. About 15 percent of children in the Maldives have been victims of sexual abuse.