Population in Maldives
Maldives: Population was 526,009 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
526,009 people
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
173rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
526,009 people
in 2023
All-time low
74,461 people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Maldives, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Maldives stood at 526,009 people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Maldives peaked at 526,009 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 74,461 people, in 1950.
Maldives ranks 173rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Maldives, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 74,461 people | — |
| 1951 | 75,730 people | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 77,077 people | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 78,509 people | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 80,010 people | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 81,619 people | +2.0% |
| 1956 | 83,317 people | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 85,136 people | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 87,054 people | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 89,075 people | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 91,203 people | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 93,464 people | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 95,817 people | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 98,236 people | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 100,673 people | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 104,116 people | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 108,528 people | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 112,543 people | +3.7% |
| 1968 | 116,092 people | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 119,581 people | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 123,240 people | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 127,052 people | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 130,979 people | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 134,971 people | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 138,994 people | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 143,169 people | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 147,539 people | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 151,943 people | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 156,169 people | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 160,372 people | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 164,844 people | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 169,544 people | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 174,341 people | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 179,141 people | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 184,212 people | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 190,182 people | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 196,949 people | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 203,961 people | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 210,899 people | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 217,749 people | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 224,772 people | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 231,810 people | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 238,559 people | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 244,893 people | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 250,831 people | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 256,660 people | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 262,354 people | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 267,711 people | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 272,734 people | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 277,423 people | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 282,025 people | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 286,778 people | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 291,631 people | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 296,497 people | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 301,416 people | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 306,429 people | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 313,866 people | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 324,489 people | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 336,178 people | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 348,282 people | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 360,802 people | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 373,683 people | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 386,821 people | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 400,077 people | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 413,623 people | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 428,165 people | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 443,316 people | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 458,297 people | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 473,106 people | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 487,737 people | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 502,127 people | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 516,163 people | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 524,116 people | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 526,009 people | +0.4% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 526,009 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million people, 8% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 526,009 people is below the median for South Asia, which is 26.33 million people, 2% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 81,199 people | 74,461 people | 89,075 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 104,025 people | 91,203 people | 119,581 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 141,443 people | 123,240 people | 160,372 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 189,182 people | 164,844 people | 217,749 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 252,775 people | 224,772 people | 277,423 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 308,759 people | 282,025 people | 348,282 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 422,563 people | 360,802 people | 487,737 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 517,104 people | 502,127 people | 526,009 people | 4 |
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 population in Maldives?
- Population in Maldives was 526,009 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 526,009 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 74,461 people in 1950.
- How does Maldives rank for population?
- Maldives ranks 173rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Maldives data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.