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Population density: Iraq vs Maldives compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iraq has a population density of 286.5 people per square mile compared to 4,620 people in Maldives. Iraq has 102,181 sq ft of land per person vs 6,077 sq ft in Maldives. Iraq and Maldives rank 86th and 6th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Iraq has 0.57% of the world's population and 0.29% 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 Iraq 93.8% lower than in Maldives.

Population density by year

Iraq
Maldives

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iraq Maldives
2026 286.5 4,620
2025 280.5 4,604
2024 274.7 4,587
2023 268.9 4,572
2022 262.9 4,525
2021 257 4,456
2020 251.3 4,335
2019 245.7 4,211
2018 240.2 4,084
2017 234.7 3,957
2016 229.5 3,827
2015 224.1 3,696
2014 218.1 3,571
2013 210.5 3,454
2012 200.7 3,340
2011 191.8 3,226
2010 185.1 3,115
2009 179.2 3,007
2008 171.6 2,902
2007 168.1 2,801
2006 169.5 2,710
2005 168.2 2,645
2004 163.3 2,602
2003 158.7 2,560
2002 154 2,518
2001 149.2 2,476
2000 144.6 2,435
1999 140 2,395
1998 135.5 2,354
1997 131.3 2,311
1996 127.3 2,265
1995 123.3 2,216
1994 119.3 2,165
1993 113.7 2,114
1992 108.4 2,059
1991 105.2 2,001
1990 104.1 1,940
1989 102.8 1,880
1988 100.1 1,821
1987 97.8 1,761
1986 95.2 1,700
1985 92.9 1,642
1984 90.7 1,590
1983 87.9 1,546
1982 85.3 1,505
1981 82.9 1,464
1980 80.5 1,423
1979 78 1,384
1978 75.5 1,348
1977 73 1,312
1976 70.6 1,274
1975 68.4 1,236
1974 66.1 1,200
1973 63.9 1,165
1972 61.8 1,131
1971 59.7 1,097
1970 57.7 1,064
1969 55.7 1,032
1968 53.8 1,002
1967 52 971
1966 50.2 937
1965 48.6 899
1964 47 869
1963 45.4 848
1962 43.9 827
1961 42.6 807

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/iraq/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iraq increased by 69.1%, compared to a 70.5% growth in Maldives.

In 2006, Iraq ranked 110th by population density and is 86th now. Maldives was 7th in 2006 and ranks 6th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iraq
Maldives
1x
Year Urban population
Iraq Maldives
2024 69.9% 42%
2023 69.9% 41.5%
2022 69.9% 41.1%
2021 69.9% 40.7%
2020 69.9% 40.4%
2019 69.9% 40%
2018 69.9% 39.7%
2017 69.9% 39.3%
2016 69.9% 39%
2015 69.9% 38.6%
2014 69.7% 38.2%
2013 69.4% 37.8%
2012 69.2% 37.5%
2011 69.1% 37.1%
2010 69.1% 36.8%
2009 69% 36.4%
2008 68.9% 35.9%
2007 68.7% 35.4%
2006 68.6% 34.9%
2005 68.4% 34.1%
2004 68.2% 32.9%
2003 68.1% 31.4%
2002 67.9% 29.9%
2001 67.8% 28.6%
2000 67.6% 27.6%
1999 67.5% 27%
1998 67.5% 26.5%
1997 67.5% 26%
1996 67.6% 25.7%
1995 67.8% 25.5%
1994 68.2% 25.6%
1993 68.6% 25.6%
1992 69% 25.7%
1991 69.4% 25.8%
1990 69.7% 25.9%
1989 70% 25.8%
1988 70.2% 25.8%
1987 70.2% 25.7%
1986 70% 25.6%
1985 69.7% 25.5%
1984 69.1% 25.3%
1983 68.5% 24.9%
1982 67.7% 24.3%
1981 66.9% 23.6%
1980 66% 22.8%
1979 65.1% 22%
1978 64.3% 21.1%
1977 63.5% 20.2%
1976 62.7% 19%
1975 61.8% 17.6%
1974 60.9% 16.2%
1973 60% 14.7%
1972 59% 13.5%
1971 58% 12.5%
1970 57% 11.9%
1969 55.9% 11.6%
1968 54.8% 11.4%
1967 53.7% 11.3%
1966 52.5% 11.4%
1965 51.4% 11.5%
1964 50% 11.5%
1963 48.6% 11.4%
1962 47% 11.4%
1961 45.5% 11.4%
1960 44% 11.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.2% to 69.9% in Iraq and from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives.

Densely populated cities

Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K
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/iraq/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 (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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