Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Maldives
Maldives: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 78.3% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Maldives, 1985–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population who live in the largest city in Maldives is 78.3%, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Maldives peaked at 81.0% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 64.4%, in 1995.
That places Maldives 4th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Maldives, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 81.0% | — |
| 1990 | 68.6% | -15.3% |
| 1995 | 64.4% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 66.2% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 74.5% | +12.6% |
| 2010 | 73.5% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 70.5% | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 78.3% | +11.0% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 78.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9%, 3.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 78.3% is above the median for South Asia, which is 23.0%, 3.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 81.0% | 81.0% | 81.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 66.5% | 64.4% | 68.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 70.3% | 66.2% | 74.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 72.0% | 70.5% | 73.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 78.3% | 78.3% | 78.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
More population data for Maldives
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.378 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.3006 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.44 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.3006 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 21,159 people (2100)
- Population density 1,583 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2781 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1872 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Maldives?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Maldives was 78.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 81.0% in 1985.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.4% in 1995.
- How does Maldives rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Maldives ranks 4th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Maldives data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.