Population of the Maldives

As of July 2026, the population of the Maldives is 531.5 thousand. The number of inhabitants has increased by 2 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.35%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 27 years in 2016 to 33.4 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 81.7 years and population density is 1.8 thousand inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of the Maldives peaked in 1965, reaching around 4.27% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.35% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 15.24 thousand in 2015 to nearly 1.84 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In the Maldives, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 75.3 years in 2006 to 81.7 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 6 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in the Maldives

The cities of the Maldives are small, with the 5 most populated adding up to around 140.6 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Male, Kaafu Atoll, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 103.7 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Fuvahmulah, Gnyaviyani Atoll with 11.1 thousand and Hithadhoo, Seenu with 9.9 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in the Maldives: