Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Maldives
Maldives: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 44.2% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Maldives, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Maldives recorded 44.2% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Maldives peaked at 44.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Maldives 85th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Maldives, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 26.7% | — |
| 1990 | 27.6% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 26.6% | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 28.1% | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 33.4% | +18.9% |
| 2010 | 35.1% | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 35.8% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 44.2% | +23.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 13.4% | 0.0% | 26.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 27.1% | 26.6% | 27.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 30.7% | 28.1% | 33.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 35.5% | 35.1% | 35.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 44.2% | 44.2% | 44.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
More population data for Maldives
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.3006 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.378 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 569.91 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1872 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2781 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.3% (2100)
- Population density 1,583 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 21,159 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Maldives?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Maldives was 44.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 44.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Maldives rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Maldives ranks 85th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Maldives data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.