Urban population in Maldives
Maldives: Urban population was 225,145 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Maldives, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Maldives stood at 225,145. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 36.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Maldives peaked at 225,145 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,364, in 1960.
That places Maldives 175th out of 218 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 population in Maldives, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 10,364 | — |
| 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 | 72,201 | +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 4.10 million, 5% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 225,145 is below the median for South Asia, which is 12.15 million, 2% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
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 in Maldives?
- Urban population in Maldives was 225,145 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 225,145 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,364 in 1960.
- How does Maldives rank for urban population?
- Maldives ranks 175th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban 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 World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.