Maldives birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Maldives has a birth rate of 11 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.58 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Maldives was 6.71 children per woman — 4.26 times higher than in 2023.

Maldives birth rate statistics:

Maldives is ranked 131/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 13/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Maldives is 23.2 — it was 23.9 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.4, a change from 29.2 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 165.5 in 1960 to 5.43 in 2023.
21.9% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 23.1% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Maldives by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.58	129
2022	1.58	134
2021	1.6	143
2020	1.61	135
2019	1.64	139
2018	1.71	137
2017	1.8	126
2016	1.9	121
2015	2	117
2014	2.09	113
2013	2.17	107
2012	2.25	106
2011	2.31	104
2010	2.35	101
2009	2.39	101
2008	2.37	104
2007	2.29	108
2006	2.2	111
2005	2.2	114
2004	2.26	112
2003	2.34	110
2002	2.42	108
2001	2.53	104
2000	2.69	103
1999	2.9	95
1998	3.17	86
1997	3.48	80
1996	3.86	75
1995	4.29	70
1994	4.69	65
1993	5.06	56
1992	5.44	51
1991	5.8	45
1990	6.13	37
1989	6.39	30
1988	6.58	23
1987	6.73	21
1986	6.85	21
1985	6.94	21
1984	7.03	19
1983	7.09	18
1982	7.15	19
1981	7.19	19
1980	7.23	18
1979	7.23	19
1978	7.23	21
1977	7.27	20
1976	7.29	18
1975	7.32	18
1974	7.38	15
1973	7.4	15
1972	7.37	15
1971	7.38	15
1970	7.39	15
1969	7.33	17
1968	7.28	18
1967	7.23	22
1966	7.15	26
1965	7.07	30
1964	7	38
1963	6.94	42
1962	6.89	46
1961	6.79	49
1960	6.71	57

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/maldives | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Maldives was 1.58 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 2014. In 1993, the fertility rate was 5.06 — a 68.9% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	4,566	5,795	1,229
2022	4,752	5,972	1,220
2021	4,426	6,035	1,609
2020	4,594	6,081	1,487
2019	4,886	6,143	1,257
2018	5,088	6,337	1,249
2017	5,342	6,572	1,230
2016	5,652	6,876	1,224
2015	5,914	7,134	1,220
2014	6,122	7,345	1,223
2013	6,307	7,522	1,215
2012	6,445	7,648	1,203
2011	6,429	7,623	1,194
2010	6,350	7,536	1,186
2009	6,227	7,406	1,179
2008	5,856	7,027	1,171
2007	5,324	6,474	1,150
2006	4,766	5,906	1,140
2005	4,493	5,614	1,121
2004	4,287	5,523	1,236
2003	4,316	5,469	1,153
2002	4,257	5,443	1,186
2001	4,271	5,478	1,207
2000	4,372	5,616	1,244
1999	4,601	5,886	1,285
1998	4,919	6,267	1,348
1997	5,267	6,678	1,411
1996	5,705	7,193	1,488
1995	6,177	7,737	1,560
1994	6,550	8,160	1,610
1993	6,842	8,508	1,666
1992	7,096	8,819	1,723
1991	7,295	9,076	1,781
1990	7,444	9,272	1,828
1989	7,472	9,339	1,867
1988	7,414	9,322	1,908
1987	7,300	9,241	1,941
1986	7,153	9,118	1,965
1985	6,944	8,923	1,979
1984	6,680	8,677	1,997
1983	6,361	8,400	2,039
1982	6,058	8,133	2,075
1981	5,778	7,889	2,111
1980	5,526	7,676	2,150
1979	5,275	7,470	2,195
1978	4,812	7,278	2,466
1977	4,779	7,060	2,281
1976	4,538	6,849	2,311
1975	4,325	6,660	2,335
1974	4,136	6,510	2,374
1973	3,924	6,344	2,420
1972	3,707	6,159	2,452
1971	3,549	6,027	2,478
1970	3,415	5,914	2,499
1969	3,260	5,767	2,507
1968	3,150	5,655	2,505
1967	3,010	5,547	2,537
1966	2,845	5,423	2,578
1965	2,747	5,315	2,568
1964	2,660	5,225	2,565
1963	2,567	5,116	2,549
1962	2,475	4,996	2,521
1961	2,354	4,832	2,478
1960	2,241	4,669	2,428

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/maldives | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Maldives (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +1.09% annually. On average, 5,134 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.87% — 4,566 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Maldives ranks 130/196 for absolute natural population change and 103/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Maldives compared to other countries

	Maldives	Rank
Fertility rate	1.58	129/196
Birth rate	11	131/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+4,566	130/196
Natural population change rate	+0.87%	103/196
Population growth	+0.34%	146/197
Age at first childbirth	23.2 years	70/137
Average age at childbearing	30.4 years	53/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	4.77	168/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	73.7	134/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	27.5	82/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	21.9%	163/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	14.9%	162/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	99.5%	61/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.03%	114/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.39%	141/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.5%	147/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.57%	148/192
Life expectancy	81.7 years	37/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	25.5	4.77	73.7	27.5
2025	26.6	4.88	75.7	28.6
2024	27.8	5.16	77.7	29.6
2023	29.1	5.58	79.5	30.6
2022	30.2	5.78	80	31.6
2021	30.8	6.06	81.2	32.1
2020	31.6	6.38	81.8	32.8
2019	32.4	6.8	83.4	33.4
2018	34.1	7.71	87.7	34.3
2017	36	8.98	93.4	35.3
2016	38.4	10.1	101	36.3
2015	40.7	11.5	108.2	37
2014	42.8	12.7	115	37.1
2013	44.6	13.8	121.3	37.3
2012	46.2	15.4	127	37.5
2011	47	16.5	130.8	37.7
2010	47.4	17.2	135.1	37.4
2009	47.5	17.7	139.3	37.3
2008	45.9	16.1	138.6	37.1
2007	43.1	14.6	133.9	36.2
2006	39.9	13.9	126.8	35.6
2005	38.6	14.6	124.6	36.5
2004	38.6	16.2	127.1	38
2003	38.8	17.6	130.3	40
2002	39.2	21.2	133.6	41.7
2001	40.2	26.8	137.6	43.5
2000	41.8	31.1	144.9	46.2
1999	44.6	37.3	153.1	50.3
1998	48.2	45.1	165	55
1997	52.3	51.6	178.7	60.7
1996	57.5	60.5	194.7	68.2
1995	63.2	75	209	76.8
1994	68.2	89.1	222.1	83.9
1993	72.8	98.3	236.4	90.2
1992	77.4	108.5	250.6	95.6
1991	82	119.7	263.8	100.6
1990	86.5	131.5	276.9	104.4
1989	90.1	141.9	286.8	106.8
1988	92.9	151.5	294.5	107.6
1987	95.3	160.9	301	107.1
1986	97.5	170.4	307	106.1
1985	99.1	173.8	313	105.9
1984	99.5	176.5	319	107.1
1983	99	177.8	321	109.6
1982	98.5	177.5	323	112.2
1981	98.3	175.9	325	115.1
1980	98.5	175.8	327	117.6
1979	98.7	175.6	327	119.4
1978	98.9	174.5	326	120.7
1977	98.8	175.5	328	122.6
1976	98.9	176.7	329	124.4
1975	99.4	176.7	330	126.7
1974	100.3	177.4	333	129.2
1973	100.7	178.1	333	131.4
1972	100.7	178.1	332	133
1971	101.7	178.5	332	135.2
1970	102.9	177.8	331	137.5
1969	103.4	175.9	329	138.3
1968	104.5	175.9	327	139.5
1967	105.7	174.8	324	139
1966	107.3	172.9	321	135.3
1965	109.8	175.1	318	130.6
1964	111.8	170.7	316	128.9
1963	112.6	170	314	127
1962	113.1	168.5	313	125.7
1961	112.4	166.2	309	123.3
1960	111.8	164.9	307	121.4

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/maldives | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Maldives by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 1.51% will be to women under age 20, 39.5% to women ages 20-29, and 59% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 16.2%, 54.5%, and 29.3%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Maldives	World
2100	13.8%	16.5%
2099	13.8%	16.6%
2098	13.9%	16.6%
2097	13.9%	16.7%
2096	13.9%	16.8%
2095	14%	16.8%
2094	14%	16.9%
2093	14%	17%
2092	14%	17%
2091	14%	17.1%
2090	14%	17.2%
2089	13.9%	17.2%
2088	13.8%	17.3%
2087	13.7%	17.4%
2086	13.6%	17.4%
2085	13.5%	17.5%
2084	13.4%	17.5%
2083	13.2%	17.6%
2082	13.1%	17.7%
2081	12.9%	17.7%
2080	12.8%	17.8%
2079	12.6%	17.8%
2078	12.5%	17.9%
2077	12.3%	17.9%
2076	12.2%	18%
2075	12.1%	18%
2074	12%	18.1%
2073	12%	18.2%
2072	11.9%	18.2%
2071	11.9%	18.3%
2070	11.9%	18.3%
2069	11.9%	18.4%
2068	12%	18.5%
2067	12%	18.6%
2066	12.1%	18.6%
2065	12.2%	18.7%
2064	12.3%	18.8%
2063	12.4%	18.9%
2062	12.5%	19.1%
2061	12.7%	19.2%
2060	12.8%	19.3%
2059	12.9%	19.4%
2058	13%	19.5%
2057	13.1%	19.6%
2056	13.1%	19.8%
2055	13.2%	19.9%
2054	13.2%	20%
2053	13.2%	20.1%
2052	13.2%	20.2%
2051	13.2%	20.3%
2050	13.1%	20.4%
2049	13%	20.5%
2048	13%	20.6%
2047	12.9%	20.7%
2046	12.8%	20.8%
2045	12.8%	20.9%
2044	12.8%	20.9%
2043	12.7%	21%
2042	12.8%	21.1%
2041	12.8%	21.2%
2040	12.9%	21.2%
2039	13.1%	21.3%
2038	13.2%	21.4%
2037	13.5%	21.5%
2036	13.7%	21.6%
2035	14.1%	21.8%
2034	14.4%	22%
2033	14.8%	22.2%
2032	15.3%	22.4%
2031	15.8%	22.7%
2030	16.3%	23%
2029	16.9%	23.3%
2028	17.5%	23.6%
2027	18.1%	23.9%
2026	18.7%	24.2%
2025	19.3%	24.6%
2024	19.6%	24.7%
2023	20%	25%
2022	20.4%	25.3%
2021	20.8%	25.6%
2020	21.2%	25.8%
2019	21.7%	26%
2018	22.1%	26.2%
2017	22.5%	26.4%
2016	22.8%	26.5%
2015	23.2%	26.6%
2014	23.5%	26.8%
2013	23.9%	26.9%
2012	24.3%	27%
2011	24.9%	27.1%
2010	25.7%	27.3%
2009	26.7%	27.5%
2008	28%	27.6%
2007	29.5%	27.9%
2006	31.2%	28.1%
2005	32.7%	28.5%
2004	34.2%	28.8%
2003	35.6%	29.2%
2002	37.1%	29.6%
2001	38.7%	30%
2000	40.2%	30.4%
1999	41.6%	30.8%
1998	42.9%	31.1%
1997	44.1%	31.5%
1996	45%	31.8%
1995	45.8%	32.1%
1994	46.5%	32.3%
1993	46.8%	32.5%
1992	47%	32.7%
1991	47.1%	32.9%
1990	47%	33%
1989	46.8%	33.2%
1988	46.6%	33.4%
1987	46.3%	33.6%
1986	45.9%	33.8%
1985	45.5%	34%
1984	45.4%	34.3%
1983	45.6%	34.6%
1982	45.8%	34.9%
1981	45.9%	35.2%
1980	45.9%	35.5%
1979	45.9%	35.9%
1978	45.8%	36.3%
1977	45.7%	36.7%
1976	45.8%	36.9%
1975	45.6%	37.1%
1974	45.6%	37.2%
1973	45.7%	37.3%
1972	45.8%	37.5%
1971	45.8%	37.6%
1970	45.6%	37.7%
1969	45.4%	37.8%
1968	45.2%	37.9%
1967	44.7%	38%
1966	43.5%	38%
1965	41.8%	38%
1964	40.3%	38%
1963	39.4%	37.8%
1962	38.7%	37.6%
1961	38.2%	37.5%
1960	37.9%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/maldives | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Maldives was 37.9% in 1960, 47% in 1992, and 19.6% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Maldives.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/maldives | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Maldives	World
2023	32	197
2022	34	203
2021	60	242
2020	48	211
2019	39	207
2018	40	211
2017	41	215
2016	41	220
2015	41	228
2014	43	231
2013	47	235
2012	47	239
2011	48	247
2010	49	253
2009	52	258
2008	53	264
2007	51	269
2006	52	276
2005	54	283
2004	65	291
2003	70	301
2002	76	311
2001	81	321
2000	94	328
1999	111	340
1998	136	360
1997	149	358
1996	167	366
1995	191	371
1994	222	382
1993	251	389
1992	281	395
1991	310	395
1990	346	391
1989	381	401
1988	424	414
1987	471	429
1986	508	438
1985	552	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/maldives | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Maldives was 32 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.03% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 66% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Maldives	World
2023	0.57%	2.49%
2022	0.6%	2.59%
2021	0.64%	2.66%
2020	0.69%	2.75%
2019	0.74%	2.86%
2018	0.8%	2.97%
2017	0.86%	3.11%
2016	0.92%	3.22%
2015	0.99%	3.35%
2014	1.05%	3.48%
2013	1.13%	3.61%
2012	1.21%	3.77%
2011	1.29%	3.97%
2010	1.38%	4.11%
2009	1.49%	4.31%
2008	1.61%	4.5%
2007	1.76%	4.7%
2006	1.94%	4.92%
2005	2.16%	5.16%
2004	2.7%	5.43%
2003	2.72%	5.65%
2002	3.08%	5.94%
2001	3.47%	6.21%
2000	3.9%	6.48%
1999	4.36%	6.75%
1998	4.81%	7.05%
1997	5.28%	7.28%
1996	5.74%	7.52%
1995	6.22%	7.76%
1994	6.68%	7.98%
1993	7.15%	8.19%
1992	7.61%	8.46%
1991	8.08%	8.66%
1990	8.57%	8.81%
1989	9.06%	9.02%
1988	9.59%	9.31%
1987	10.1%	9.47%
1986	10.7%	9.81%
1985	11.3%	10.1%
1984	12%	10.4%
1983	12.7%	10.6%
1982	13.4%	10.8%
1981	14.2%	11%
1980	15%	11.4%
1979	15.9%	11.7%
1978	16.9%	12.2%
1977	17.9%	12.6%
1976	18.9%	13%
1975	20.1%	13.4%
1974	21.2%	13.8%
1973	22.4%	14.1%
1972	23.6%	14.5%
1971	24.7%	15.1%
1970	25.8%	15.2%
1969	26.8%	15.4%
1968	27.7%	15.6%
1967	28.7%	15.9%
1966	29.7%	16.1%
1965	30.6%	16.4%
1964	31.5%	16.6%
1963	32.5%	16.5%
1962	33.4%	16.7%
1961	-	17%
1960	-	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/maldives | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Maldives was 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.57% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.