Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Maldives
Maldives: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 42.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Maldives, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Maldives stood at 42.5%. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Maldives peaked at 42.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 1950.
Maldives ranks 181st of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.1% | 10.7% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.4% | 11.3% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.9% | 11.9% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.0% | 22.8% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.9% | 25.5% | 27.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.7% | 27.6% | 36.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.4% | 36.8% | 40.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.4% | 40.4% | 42.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
More population data for Maldives
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.3% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.56 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.56 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.56 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.57 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.56 children per women (2023)
- Birth rate by women's age group 5.42 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Maldives?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Maldives was 42.5% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 1950.
- How does Maldives rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Maldives ranks 181st out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Maldives data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.