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Population density: Kenya vs Maldives compared

Updated on by Georank team

Kenya has a population density of 261.5 people per square mile compared to 4,620 people in Maldives. Kenya has 110,878 sq ft of land per person vs 6,077 sq ft in Maldives. Kenya and Maldives rank 94th and 6th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Kenya has 0.69% of the world's population and 0.39% 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 Kenya 94.3% lower than in Maldives.

Population density by year

Kenya
Maldives

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Kenya Maldives
2026 261.5 4,620
2025 256.6 4,604
2024 251.6 4,587
2023 246.7 4,572
2022 241.9 4,525
2021 237.3 4,456
2020 232.8 4,335
2019 229.1 4,211
2018 225.4 4,084
2017 221.6 3,957
2016 217.6 3,827
2015 213.6 3,696
2014 209.6 3,571
2013 204.7 3,454
2012 199.7 3,340
2011 194.6 3,226
2010 189.3 3,115
2009 183.9 3,007
2008 178.4 2,902
2007 173.1 2,801
2006 167.9 2,710
2005 162.9 2,645
2004 158 2,602
2003 153.1 2,560
2002 148.5 2,518
2001 143.9 2,476
2000 139.4 2,435
1999 135.3 2,395
1998 131.5 2,354
1997 127.9 2,311
1996 124.4 2,265
1995 121.1 2,216
1994 117.7 2,165
1993 114.3 2,114
1992 111 2,059
1991 107.6 2,001
1990 104.2 1,940
1989 100.7 1,880
1988 97.2 1,821
1987 93.8 1,761
1986 90.6 1,700
1985 87.4 1,642
1984 84.3 1,590
1983 81.2 1,546
1982 78.3 1,505
1981 75.5 1,464
1980 72.9 1,423
1979 70.4 1,384
1978 68 1,348
1977 65.7 1,312
1976 63.5 1,274
1975 61.5 1,236
1974 59.5 1,200
1973 57.5 1,165
1972 55.5 1,131
1971 53.6 1,097
1970 51.7 1,064
1969 49.8 1,032
1968 47.9 1,002
1967 46 971
1966 44.2 937
1965 42.5 899
1964 40.8 869
1963 39.3 848
1962 37.8 827
1961 36.3 807

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/kenya/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Kenya increased by 55.7%, compared to a 70.5% growth in Maldives.

In 2006, Kenya ranked 111th by population density and is 94th now. Maldives was 7th in 2006 and ranks 6th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Kenya
Maldives
1x
Year Urban population
Kenya Maldives
2024 31.9% 42%
2023 31.6% 41.5%
2022 31.4% 41.1%
2021 31.3% 40.7%
2020 31.2% 40.4%
2019 31.2% 40%
2018 31.4% 39.7%
2017 31.5% 39.3%
2016 31.7% 39%
2015 31.7% 38.6%
2014 31.8% 38.2%
2013 31.8% 37.8%
2012 31.9% 37.5%
2011 31.9% 37.1%
2010 31.9% 36.8%
2009 31.9% 36.4%
2008 31.4% 35.9%
2007 30.4% 35.4%
2006 29% 34.9%
2005 27.3% 34.1%
2004 25.4% 32.9%
2003 23.6% 31.4%
2002 21.9% 29.9%
2001 20.4% 28.6%
2000 19.5% 27.6%
1999 19% 27%
1998 18.9% 26.5%
1997 18.8% 26%
1996 18.7% 25.7%
1995 18.6% 25.5%
1994 18.5% 25.6%
1993 18.5% 25.6%
1992 18.4% 25.7%
1991 18.3% 25.8%
1990 18.2% 25.9%
1989 18.1% 25.8%
1988 17.9% 25.8%
1987 17.7% 25.7%
1986 17.5% 25.6%
1985 17.3% 25.5%
1984 17% 25.3%
1983 16.8% 24.9%
1982 16.5% 24.3%
1981 16.2% 23.6%
1980 15.8% 22.8%
1979 15.5% 22%
1978 15% 21.1%
1977 14.5% 20.2%
1976 13.9% 19%
1975 13.2% 17.6%
1974 12.5% 16.2%
1973 11.8% 14.7%
1972 11.2% 13.5%
1971 10.6% 12.5%
1970 10.1% 11.9%
1969 9.83% 11.6%
1968 9.61% 11.4%
1967 9.42% 11.3%
1966 9.26% 11.4%
1965 9.12% 11.5%
1964 8.97% 11.5%
1963 8.82% 11.4%
1962 8.63% 11.4%
1961 8.44% 11.4%
1960 8.23% 11.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 25.4% to 31.9% in Kenya and from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives.

Densely populated cities

Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
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/kenya/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 (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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