Urban and rural population in Maldives
Maldives: Urban and rural population was 225,145 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
225,145
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
180th
of 236 countries
All-time high
225,145
in 2025
All-time low
7,998
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Maldives, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Maldives is 225,145, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 36.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Maldives peaked at 225,145 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7,998, in 1950.
That places Maldives 180th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Maldives, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7,998 | — |
| 1951 | 8,194 | +2.5% |
| 1952 | 8,399 | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 8,613 | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 8,834 | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 9,065 | +2.6% |
| 1956 | 9,306 | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 9,557 | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 9,818 | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 10,086 | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 10,364 | +2.8% |
| 1961 | 10,652 | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 10,946 | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 11,241 | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 11,533 | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 11,931 | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 12,361 | +3.6% |
| 1967 | 12,749 | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 13,251 | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 13,901 | +4.9% |
| 1970 | 14,676 | +5.6% |
| 1971 | 15,859 | +8.1% |
| 1972 | 17,644 | +11.3% |
| 1973 | 19,898 | +12.8% |
| 1974 | 22,483 | +13.0% |
| 1975 | 25,264 | +12.4% |
| 1976 | 28,075 | +11.1% |
| 1977 | 30,650 | +9.2% |
| 1978 | 32,945 | +7.5% |
| 1979 | 35,224 | +6.9% |
| 1980 | 37,619 | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 40,052 | +6.5% |
| 1982 | 42,424 | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 44,622 | +5.2% |
| 1984 | 46,625 | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 48,517 | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 50,470 | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 52,472 | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 54,415 | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 56,279 | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 58,106 | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 59,812 | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 61,346 | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 62,751 | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 64,099 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 65,568 | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 67,427 | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 69,673 | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 72,200 | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 74,904 | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 77,848 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 81,872 | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 87,159 | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 93,072 | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 99,027 | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 104,405 | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 109,433 | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 114,976 | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 120,798 | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 126,674 | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 132,644 | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 138,736 | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 144,964 | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 151,329 | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 157,976 | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 165,170 | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 172,695 | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 180,235 | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 187,784 | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 195,333 | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 202,848 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 210,280 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 215,220 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 218,338 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 221,666 | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 225,145 | +1.6% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 225,145 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.47 million, 5% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 225,145 is below the median for South Asia, which is 12.30 million, 2% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8,987 | 7,998 | 10,086 | 10 |
| 1960s | 11,893 | 10,364 | 13,901 | 10 |
| 1970s | 24,272 | 14,676 | 35,224 | 10 |
| 1980s | 47,350 | 37,619 | 56,279 | 10 |
| 1990s | 65,589 | 58,106 | 74,904 | 10 |
| 2000s | 101,526 | 77,848 | 126,674 | 10 |
| 2010s | 162,687 | 132,644 | 195,333 | 10 |
| 2020s | 215,583 | 202,848 | 225,145 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
- 177 Comoros 299,652 compare
- 178 French Guiana 271,684 compare
- 179 Solomon Islands 262,574 compare
- 181 Guyana 221,464 compare
- 182 New Caledonia 201,334 compare
- 183 Belize 175,776 compare
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)
- Population growth rate -0.305 (2100)
- Population density 1,583 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 21,159 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Maldives?
- Urban and rural population in Maldives was 225,145 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 225,145 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,998 in 1950.
- How does Maldives rank for urban and rural population?
- Maldives ranks 180th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Maldives data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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