Urban population growth (annual %) in Maldives
Maldives: Urban population growth (annual %) was 1.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Maldives, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population growth in Maldives is 1.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and down 65.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Maldives peaked at 12.2% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2023.
That places Maldives 90th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth (annual %) in Maldives, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.7% | — |
| 1962 | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| 1963 | 2.7% | -2.3% |
| 1964 | 2.6% | -3.6% |
| 1965 | 3.4% | +32.3% |
| 1966 | 3.5% | +4.4% |
| 1967 | 3.1% | -12.7% |
| 1968 | 3.9% | +25.0% |
| 1969 | 4.8% | +24.0% |
| 1970 | 5.4% | +13.3% |
| 1971 | 7.8% | +42.9% |
| 1972 | 10.7% | +37.6% |
| 1973 | 12.0% | +12.7% |
| 1974 | 12.2% | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 11.7% | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 10.5% | -9.5% |
| 1977 | 8.8% | -16.8% |
| 1978 | 7.2% | -17.7% |
| 1979 | 6.7% | -7.4% |
| 1980 | 6.6% | -1.7% |
| 1981 | 6.3% | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 5.8% | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 5.1% | -12.2% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | -13.1% |
| 1985 | 4.0% | -9.4% |
| 1986 | 3.9% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 3.9% | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 3.6% | -6.5% |
| 1989 | 3.4% | -7.4% |
| 1990 | 3.2% | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 2.9% | -9.4% |
| 1992 | 2.5% | -12.5% |
| 1993 | 2.3% | -10.6% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | -6.1% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 2.8% | +23.4% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | +17.2% |
| 1998 | 3.6% | +8.8% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | +30.7% |
| 2002 | 6.3% | +24.2% |
| 2003 | 6.6% | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 6.2% | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | -14.7% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -11.1% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 4.6% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 4.5% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 3.8% | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -35.5% |
| 2023 | 1.4% | -38.1% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | +5.2% |
| 2025 | 1.6% | +2.9% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 1.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.0%, 1.6× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 1.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 1.7%, 94% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.3% | 2.6% | 4.8% | 9 |
| 1970s | 9.3% | 5.4% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.7% | 3.4% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.1% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 3.9% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | 1.4% | 3.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
More climate change data for Maldives
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 207,727 kg (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1.17 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1.17 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 0.0028 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0044 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0001 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) 1.14 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1.14 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions 0.0043 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Direct emissions 0.0033 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Maldives?
- Urban population growth in Maldives was 1.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 12.2% in 1974.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2023.
- How does Maldives rank for urban population growth?
- Maldives ranks 90th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Maldives data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.