From 1905 to 1960, the population remained around 100,000 before starting to climb after independence. The population doubled by 1978, and its growth rate peaked at 3.4% in 1985. Maldives reached a population of 299,000 at the 2006 census.
The Maldive Islands has very little room for more growth, as it is already the 11th most densely populated country on the world and has less than 300 square kilometers of land. The country's fertility rate has fallen from 6.4 births per woman in 1990 to just 2.8 in 2000, while the share of older people has grown. Maldives is expected to continue its modest growth rate of 2% for the near future.
| Maldives Population (as of 10/15/2024) | 528,356 |
| Last UN Estimate (July 1, 2024) | 527,799 |
| Births per Day | 15 |
| Deaths per Day | 3 |
| Migrations per Day | -7 |
| Net Change per Day | 5 |
| Population Change Since Jan. 1 | 1,440 |
Net increase of 1 person every 288 minutes
Population estimates based on interpolation of data from World Population Prospects
| One birth every 96 minutes | |
| One death every 480 minutes | |
| One emigrant every 205.72 minutes | |
| Net gain of one person every 288 minutes |
City | 2024 Pop. |
|---|---|
| Male | 103,693 |
| Fuvahmulah | 11,140 |
| Hithadhoo | 9,927 |
| Kulhudhuffushi | 9,500 |
| Thinadhoo | 6,376 |
| Naifaru | 5,044 |
| Dhidhdhoo | 3,039 |
| Viligili | 2,925 |
| Funadhoo | 2,900 |
| Eydhafushi | 2,808 |
Year | Population | Change | Density (/km²) | Population Rank | Density Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 527,799 | 1.59% | 1,759 | 174 | 7 |
| 2023 | 525,994 | 2.14% | 1,753 | 174 | 7 |
| 2020 | 502,118 | 2.95% | 1,674 | 175 | 7 |
| 2019 | 487,731 | 3.09% | 1,626 | 175 | 7 |
| 2018 | 473,099 | 3.23% | 1,577 | 175 | 7 |
| 2017 | 458,287 | 3.38% | 1,528 | 175 | 7 |
| 2015 | 428,154 | 3.48% | 1,427 | 175 | 7 |
| 2010 | 360,792 | 3.32% | 1,203 | 179 | 9 |
| 2005 | 306,429 | 1.67% | 1,021 | 179 | 10 |
| 2000 | 282,019 | 1.9% | 940 | 178 | 9 |
| 1995 | 256,649 | 2.69% | 855 | 180 | 10 |
| 1990 | 224,762 | 3.4% | 749 | 180 | 10 |
| 1985 | 190,169 | 2.9% | 634 | 180 | 9 |
| 1980 | 164,835 | 2.86% | 549 | 180 | 10 |
| 1975 | 143,158 | 3.04% | 477 | 182 | 10 |
| 1970 | 123,219 | 3.43% | 411 | 181 | 11 |
| 1965 | 104,102 | 2.68% | 347 | 182 | 13 |
| 1960 | 91,189 | 2.25% | 304 | 182 | 14 |
| 1955 | 81,602 | 1.85% | 272 | 181 | 13 |
Year | Population | Change | Density (/km²) | Population Rank | Density Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 527,799 | 1.59% | 1,759 | 174 | 7 |
| 2025 | 529,676 | 1.07% | 1,766 | 174 | 7 |
| 2030 | 539,667 | 0.37% | 1,799 | 174 | 7 |
| 2035 | 551,594 | 0.44% | 1,839 | 174 | 7 |
| 2040 | 564,798 | 0.47% | 1,883 | 173 | 7 |
| 2045 | 578,453 | 0.48% | 1,928 | 172 | 7 |
| 2050 | 589,962 | 0.4% | 1,967 | 173 | 7 |
| 2055 | 595,918 | 0.2% | 1,986 | 173 | 7 |
| 2060 | 595,687 | -0.01% | 1,986 | 174 | 8 |
| 2065 | 588,440 | -0.24% | 1,961 | 173 | 8 |
| 2070 | 575,169 | -0.46% | 1,917 | 174 | 8 |
| 2075 | 557,014 | -0.64% | 1,857 | 174 | 8 |
| 2080 | 535,373 | -0.79% | 1,785 | 174 | 9 |
| 2085 | 513,876 | -0.82% | 1,713 | 174 | 9 |
| 2090 | 495,579 | -0.72% | 1,652 | 175 | 10 |
| 2095 | 483,070 | -0.51% | 1,610 | 175 | 10 |
The Maldives, officially the Republic of the Maldives and referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean-Arabian Sea region. The country is made up of 27 atolls between the Chagos Archipelago and Minicoy Island, 250 miles southwest of India. The largest city and capital in the Maldives is Male, with an estimated population of 63,000. This is followed by Addu City (32,000) and Fuvahmulah (12,000). These are the only cities with a population surpassing 10,000.
The people of the Maldives have an identity that is a blend of the cultures of people who settled on the islands. It is believed the earliest inhabitants were from Sri Lanka and southern India. The Maldives people are ethnically related to those of the Indian subcontinent and are ethnically known as Dhivehi.
There are about 70,000 foreign workers in the Maldives, as well as 33,000 illegal immigrants, who make up about one-third of the total population. Most workers and immigrants are from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.