What is the population of Maldives in 2026?
Maldives has a population of 529,676 people (2025 estimate), which is 174th in the world and about 0.01% of the global total.
Officially Republic of the Maldives
Population 2025
529,676
0.01% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+0.36%
+1,880 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
1,765/km²
298 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
32.7 years
Life expectancy 81.3 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Maldives
With a population of 529,676, the Republic of the Maldives ranks 172nd globally and occupies just 298 km² across Asia. The country gained independence in 1965 and uses the Maldivian rufiyaa as its currency, with Malé as its capital. Population density reaches 1,765 people per km², reflecting the concentrated settlement patterns across limited land area.
The population is relatively mature, with a median age of 32.7 years and life expectancy of 81.3 years. Annual growth stands at 0.4%, while the fertility rate is 1.6 births per woman. Urban areas account for 43% of the population. GDP per capita is $14,615, and the primary language spoken is Maldivian.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Malé
- Continent
- Asia
- ISO codes
- MV · MDV
- Demonym
- Maldivan
- Currency
- Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR .ރ)
- State inception
- 1965
- Time zone
- UTC+05:00
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +960
- Internet TLD
- .mv
- Land neighbours
- No land borders
Languages
- Maldivian
Demographics
Economy
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Military
None of our sources publish these indicators for Maldives.
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 19.6%
- Age 15–64
- 75.8%
- Age 65+
- 4.6%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 1 | 4 |
| 95-99 | 27 | 47 |
| 90-94 | 176 | 214 |
| 85-89 | 586 | 618 |
| 80-84 | 1,393 | 1,262 |
| 75-79 | 2,084 | 1,881 |
| 70-74 | 2,958 | 2,732 |
| 65-69 | 5,595 | 4,916 |
| 60-64 | 8,026 | 6,975 |
| 55-59 | 10,434 | 8,319 |
| 50-54 | 14,755 | 10,201 |
| 45-49 | 21,437 | 12,071 |
| 40-44 | 33,854 | 16,622 |
| 35-39 | 45,803 | 21,250 |
| 30-34 | 49,596 | 20,660 |
| 25-29 | 38,709 | 16,838 |
| 20-24 | 19,136 | 12,864 |
| 15-19 | 17,302 | 15,052 |
| 10-14 | 21,179 | 17,958 |
| 5-9 | 18,375 | 16,215 |
| 0-4 | 15,383 | 14,296 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 74,448 |
| 1960 | 91,189 |
| 1970 | 123,219 |
| 1980 | 164,835 |
| 1990 | 224,762 |
| 2000 | 282,019 |
| 2010 | 360,792 |
| 2020 | 502,118 |
| 2030 | 539,667 |
| 2040 | 564,798 |
| 2050 | 589,962 |
| 2060 | 595,687 |
| 2070 | 575,169 |
| 2080 | 535,373 |
| 2090 | 495,579 |
| 2100 | 474,919 |
How Maldives Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Maldives | 530K |
Maldives Population FAQ
Is the population of Maldives growing or shrinking?
Maldives's population is growing at +0.36% per year, a change of roughly 1,880 people annually.
What is the capital of Maldives?
The capital of Maldives is Malé.
How densely populated is Maldives?
Maldives has 1,765/km² across 298 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Maldives?
Life expectancy at birth in Maldives is 81.3 years (2024).
What is the median age in Maldives?
The median age in Maldives is 32.7 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Maldives in?
Maldives is in Asia.