Maldives Population: Current Estimates & Trends
The Maldives — a nation of 1,192 coral islands in the Indian Ocean — has a small but growing population.
Current Estimates (2023–2024)
| Source | Population | Year | Notes |
|---|
| World Bank | 521,000 | 2022 | Resident population |
| Maldives National Bureau of Statistics | 557,426 | 2022 Census | Includes resident foreigners |
| UN World Population Prospects | 524,000 | 2023 | Medium variant |
| CIA World Factbook | 390,000 | 2024 est. | May exclude foreign workers |
Key Demographics
- Capital (Malé) population: ~211,000 (2022) — one of world's densest cities (65,000/km²)
- Foreign residents: ~150K–200K (tourism, construction, health, education) — ~30% of total
- Age structure: Young (median ~28); fertility declining (TFR ~1.7–1.9)
- Life expectancy: ~79 years (high for region)
- Urbanization: ~40% in Malé; rest on 187 inhabited islands
Population Challenges
- Land scarcity: 99% ocean; 1% land (300 km² total)
- Sea-level rise: Existential threat; 80% land <1m above sea level
- Hulhumalé: Artificial island relieving Malé density; ~100K residents, expanding
- Youth unemployment: ~15% despite tourism jobs
- Brain drain: Educated youth migrate
Data Sources for Updates
Small nation, big climate stakes — the Maldives' population story is inseparable from its fight for survival.
Wanderlust World