Population and Demographics of the Maldives
Population changed +0.34% in 2024 · median age 32 years
the Maldives' latest population change is +0.34% a year, with fertility measured at 1.6 children per woman. Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, the Maldives moved +87.2% in population size. By 2050, the medium path points to 590 thousand, equivalent to a +11.8% change from the 2024 estimate.
Population Over Time in the Maldives
Between 2000 and 2024, the Maldives' population increased from 282K to 527.8K, a gain of about 87.2%. The UN WPP 2024 medium-variant projection places the 2050 population at about 590K, roughly 11.8% above the 2024 reference point. Only the displayed source-year points are plotted; the connecting lines are visual guides, not annual estimates.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
The broad age bands show a mixed population structure in the Maldives. Under-15s account for 19.59% of residents and people 65+ for 4.64%, leaving 75.77% in the broad 15 to 64 range. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
The 2024 World Bank sex-share indicator gives Maldives a female share of 38.1% and a male share of 61.9%. Males exceed females by 23.8 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Males made up 61.9% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 38.1% females.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Current momentum in the Maldives combines +0.34% population change with fertility at 1.6, with age composition adding a 14.95-point gap between children and older adults.
The 2024 total in the Maldives stands 87.2% above the 2000 reference, and the UN medium scenario changes the 2024 total by +11.8% through 2050; neither series alone identifies the separate contributions of births, deaths and migration.
2024 estimate for the Maldives. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Maldives vs. World
Three same-year indicators show where Maldives differs from the world in 2024: population change is lower than the global rate, fertility is below the global figure, and median age is older than the world benchmark.
| Indicator | Maldives | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +0.34% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.6 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 32 | 30.6 | 2024 |
To keep the comparison defensible, all three indicators come from one harmonized 2024 table that attributes the demographic series to UN WPP 2024.
Key Takeaways
The 2024 total is 527,799 people. Annual change in the same harmonized table is +0.34%.
The 2024 age structure is 19.59% under 15, 75.77% aged 15 to 64 and 4.64% aged 65 or older.
The 2024 female and male shares are 38.1% and 61.9% respectively.
On the medium path, 2050 reaches 0.590M, a +11.8% shift from the 2024 level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of the Maldives?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for the Maldives is 527,799 people.
Is the population of the Maldives growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Maldives' population is growing, with annual change of +0.34%.
What percentage of the population of the Maldives is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 4.64% of the Maldives' 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of the Maldives in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Maldives' 2050 population at 589,962.
What is the fertility rate in the Maldives?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for the Maldives is 1.6 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.