Total population (thousands) in Maldives
Maldives: Total population (thousands) was 528.75 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
528.75 thousands
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
172nd
of 233 countries
All-time high
528.75 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
121.34 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Maldives, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in Maldives is 528.75 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Maldives peaked at 528.75 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 121.34 thousands, in 1970.
That places Maldives 172nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Maldives, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 121.34 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 125.09 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 128.98 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 132.96 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 136.95 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 141.01 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 145.31 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 149.75 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 154.12 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 158.2 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 162.52 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 167.15 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 171.91 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 176.75 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 181.5 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 186.89 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 193.45 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 200.43 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 207.46 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 214.31 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 221.17 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 228.35 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 235.25 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 241.84 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 247.93 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 253.71 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 259.59 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 265.11 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 270.31 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 275.14 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 279.69 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 284.35 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 289.18 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 294.05 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 298.93 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 303.89 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 308.97 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 318.74 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 330.22 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 342.12 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 354.43 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 367.15 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 380.2 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 393.44 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 406.7 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 420.53 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 435.78 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 450.84 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 465.73 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 480.46 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 495 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 509.24 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 523.07 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 525.14 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 526.84 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 528.75 thousands | +0.4% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 528.75 thousands is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,843 thousands, 8% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 528.75 thousands is below the median for South Asia, which is 26,398 thousands, 2% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 139.37 thousands | 121.34 thousands | 158.2 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 186.24 thousands | 162.52 thousands | 214.31 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 249.84 thousands | 221.17 thousands | 275.14 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 305.01 thousands | 279.69 thousands | 342.12 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 415.53 thousands | 354.43 thousands | 480.46 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 518.01 thousands | 495 thousands | 528.75 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Maldives?
- Total population in Maldives was 528.75 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 528.75 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 121.34 thousands in 1970.
- How does Maldives rank for total population?
- Maldives ranks 172nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Maldives data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release