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Population density: Laos vs Maldives compared

Updated on by Georank team

Laos has a population density of 89.5 people per square mile compared to 4,620 people in Maldives. Laos has 328,051 sq ft of land per person vs 6,077 sq ft in Maldives. Laos and Maldives rank 150th and 6th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Laos has 0.1% of the world's population and 0.15% 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 Laos 98.1% lower than in Maldives.

Population density by year

Laos
Maldives

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Laos Maldives
2026 89.5 4,620
2025 88.4 4,604
2024 87.2 4,587
2023 86 4,572
2022 84.8 4,525
2021 83.6 4,456
2020 82.4 4,335
2019 81.2 4,211
2018 80 4,084
2017 78.8 3,957
2016 77.5 3,827
2015 76.3 3,696
2014 75.2 3,571
2013 74.2 3,454
2012 73.2 3,340
2011 72.1 3,226
2010 71.1 3,115
2009 70 3,007
2008 69 2,902
2007 68 2,801
2006 66.9 2,710
2005 65.9 2,645
2004 64.9 2,602
2003 63.9 2,560
2002 63 2,518
2001 62 2,476
2000 60.9 2,435
1999 59.9 2,395
1998 58.9 2,354
1997 57.8 2,311
1996 56.6 2,265
1995 55.3 2,216
1994 54 2,165
1993 52.6 2,114
1992 51.2 2,059
1991 49.8 2,001
1990 48.4 1,940
1989 47 1,880
1988 45.7 1,821
1987 44.4 1,761
1986 43.2 1,700
1985 42 1,642
1984 40.8 1,590
1983 39.7 1,546
1982 38.7 1,505
1981 37.8 1,464
1980 36.9 1,423
1979 36.2 1,384
1978 35.6 1,348
1977 35 1,312
1976 34.4 1,274
1975 33.7 1,236
1974 33 1,200
1973 32.2 1,165
1972 31.4 1,131
1971 30.7 1,097
1970 30 1,064
1969 29.3 1,032
1968 28.6 1,002
1967 27.9 971
1966 27.3 937
1965 26.7 899
1964 26.1 869
1963 25.5 848
1962 24.9 827
1961 24.3 807

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/laos/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Laos increased by 33.8%, compared to a 70.5% growth in Maldives.

In 2006, Laos ranked 152nd by population density and is 150th now. Maldives was 7th in 2006 and ranks 6th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Laos
Maldives
1x
Year Urban population
Laos Maldives
2024 39.6% 42%
2023 38.8% 41.5%
2022 38.1% 41.1%
2021 37.3% 40.7%
2020 36.6% 40.4%
2019 35.9% 40%
2018 35.2% 39.7%
2017 34.5% 39.3%
2016 33.8% 39%
2015 33.1% 38.6%
2014 32.7% 38.2%
2013 32.2% 37.8%
2012 31.7% 37.5%
2011 31.2% 37.1%
2010 30.6% 36.8%
2009 30% 36.4%
2008 29.4% 35.9%
2007 28.7% 35.4%
2006 28% 34.9%
2005 27.3% 34.1%
2004 26.5% 32.9%
2003 25.6% 31.4%
2002 24.5% 29.9%
2001 23.4% 28.6%
2000 22.2% 27.6%
1999 21% 27%
1998 19.9% 26.5%
1997 18.8% 26%
1996 18% 25.7%
1995 17.3% 25.5%
1994 16.8% 25.6%
1993 16.3% 25.6%
1992 15.9% 25.7%
1991 15.6% 25.8%
1990 15.2% 25.9%
1989 14.9% 25.8%
1988 14.7% 25.8%
1987 14.4% 25.7%
1986 14.1% 25.6%
1985 13.8% 25.5%
1984 13.5% 25.3%
1983 13.2% 24.9%
1982 12.9% 24.3%
1981 12.7% 23.6%
1980 12.4% 22.8%
1979 12.1% 22%
1978 11.9% 21.1%
1977 11.6% 20.2%
1976 11.3% 19%
1975 11.1% 17.6%
1974 10.8% 16.2%
1973 10.5% 14.7%
1972 10.2% 13.5%
1971 9.84% 12.5%
1970 9.48% 11.9%
1969 9.13% 11.6%
1968 8.82% 11.4%
1967 8.57% 11.3%
1966 8.4% 11.4%
1965 8.28% 11.5%
1964 8.17% 11.5%
1963 8.07% 11.4%
1962 7.98% 11.4%
1961 7.9% 11.4%
1960 7.85% 11.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 26.5% to 39.6% in Laos and from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives.

Densely populated cities

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
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/laos/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 (2012–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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