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Population density: Iceland vs Maldives compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a population density of 10.2 people per square mile compared to 4,620 people in Maldives. Iceland has 2,868,586 sq ft of land per person vs 6,077 sq ft in Maldives. Iceland and Maldives rank 194th and 6th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Iceland has 0.005% of the world's population and 0.07% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.006% of the population and 0.0002% of the land area for Maldives, making the population density in Iceland 99.8% lower than in Maldives.

Population density by year

Iceland
Maldives

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iceland Maldives
2026 10.2 4,620
2025 10.1 4,604
2024 9.93 4,587
2023 9.91 4,572
2022 9.81 4,525
2021 9.57 4,456
2020 9.41 4,335
2019 9.26 4,211
2018 9.06 4,084
2017 8.87 3,957
2016 8.67 3,827
2015 8.55 3,696
2014 8.46 3,571
2013 8.36 3,454
2012 8.29 3,340
2011 8.24 3,226
2010 8.22 3,115
2009 8.23 3,007
2008 8.2 2,902
2007 8.05 2,801
2006 7.85 2,710
2005 7.67 2,645
2004 7.55 2,602
2003 7.48 2,560
2002 7.43 2,518
2001 7.36 2,476
2000 7.27 2,435
1999 7.17 2,395
1998 7.08 2,354
1997 7 2,311
1996 6.95 2,265
1995 6.91 2,216
1994 6.87 2,165
1993 6.81 2,114
1992 6.74 2,059
1991 6.66 2,001
1990 6.58 1,940
1989 6.53 1,880
1988 6.45 1,821
1987 6.35 1,761
1986 6.28 1,700
1985 6.24 1,642
1984 6.19 1,590
1983 6.12 1,546
1982 6.04 1,505
1981 5.96 1,464
1980 5.89 1,423
1979 5.83 1,384
1978 5.78 1,348
1977 5.73 1,312
1976 5.69 1,274
1975 5.63 1,236
1974 5.56 1,200
1973 5.49 1,165
1972 5.4 1,131
1971 5.32 1,097
1970 5.28 1,064
1969 5.25 1,032
1968 5.21 1,002
1967 5.13 971
1966 5.05 937
1965 4.97 899
1964 4.88 869
1963 4.8 848
1962 4.71 827
1961 4.63 807

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/iceland/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iceland increased by 29.7%, compared to a 70.5% growth in Maldives.

In 2006, Iceland ranked 190th by population density and is 194th now. Maldives was 7th in 2006 and ranks 6th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iceland
Maldives
1x
Year Urban population
Iceland Maldives
2024 94.2% 42%
2023 94.2% 41.5%
2022 94.2% 41.1%
2021 94.2% 40.7%
2020 94.1% 40.4%
2019 94% 40%
2018 93.9% 39.7%
2017 93.8% 39.3%
2016 93.8% 39%
2015 93.7% 38.6%
2014 93.6% 38.2%
2013 93.6% 37.8%
2012 93.5% 37.5%
2011 93.4% 37.1%
2010 93.5% 36.8%
2009 93.4% 36.4%
2008 93.1% 35.9%
2007 92.4% 35.4%
2006 92.2% 34.9%
2005 92.4% 34.1%
2004 92.4% 32.9%
2003 92.3% 31.4%
2002 92.2% 29.9%
2001 92% 28.6%
2000 92% 27.6%
1999 91.8% 27%
1998 91.7% 26.5%
1997 92% 26%
1996 91.8% 25.7%
1995 91.6% 25.5%
1994 91.4% 25.6%
1993 91.3% 25.6%
1992 91.1% 25.7%
1991 90.9% 25.8%
1990 90.6% 25.9%
1989 90.4% 25.8%
1988 90.1% 25.8%
1987 89.8% 25.7%
1986 89.6% 25.6%
1985 89.3% 25.5%
1984 89.1% 25.3%
1983 88.9% 24.9%
1982 88.6% 24.3%
1981 88.3% 23.6%
1980 88.1% 22.8%
1979 87.9% 22%
1978 87.7% 21.1%
1977 87.4% 20.2%
1976 87.2% 19%
1975 86.9% 17.6%
1974 86.5% 16.2%
1973 86.2% 14.7%
1972 85.7% 13.5%
1971 85.3% 12.5%
1970 85% 11.9%
1969 84.8% 11.6%
1968 84.4% 11.4%
1967 83.9% 11.3%
1966 83.5% 11.4%
1965 83.2% 11.5%
1964 82.7% 11.5%
1963 82% 11.4%
1962 81.5% 11.4%
1961 81% 11.4%
1960 80.4% 11.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/iceland/maldives | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 92.4% to 94.2% in Iceland and from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives.

Densely populated cities

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/iceland/maldives | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2014–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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