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Population density: Madagascar vs Maldives compared

Updated on by Georank team

Madagascar has a population density of 149.3 people per square mile compared to 4,620 people in Maldives. Madagascar has 197,766 sq ft of land per person vs 6,077 sq ft in Maldives. Madagascar and Maldives rank 133rd and 6th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Madagascar has 0.39% 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 Madagascar 96.8% lower than in Maldives.

Population density by year

Madagascar
Maldives

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Madagascar Maldives
2026 149.3 4,620
2025 145.8 4,604
2024 142.3 4,587
2023 138.9 4,572
2022 135.5 4,525
2021 132.2 4,456
2020 128.9 4,335
2019 125.6 4,211
2018 122.4 4,084
2017 119.3 3,957
2016 116.2 3,827
2015 113.2 3,696
2014 110.2 3,571
2013 107.3 3,454
2012 104.4 3,340
2011 101.6 3,226
2010 98.8 3,115
2009 96 3,007
2008 93.2 2,902
2007 90.5 2,801
2006 87.9 2,710
2005 85.3 2,645
2004 82.9 2,602
2003 80.5 2,560
2002 78.2 2,518
2001 75.9 2,476
2000 73.6 2,435
1999 71.3 2,395
1998 69 2,354
1997 66.8 2,311
1996 64.6 2,265
1995 62.6 2,216
1994 60.6 2,165
1993 58.8 2,114
1992 57 2,059
1991 55.3 2,001
1990 53.7 1,940
1989 52.1 1,880
1988 50.6 1,821
1987 49.2 1,761
1986 47.8 1,700
1985 46.5 1,642
1984 45.1 1,590
1983 43.8 1,546
1982 42.6 1,505
1981 41.3 1,464
1980 40.1 1,423
1979 38.9 1,384
1978 37.7 1,348
1977 36.6 1,312
1976 35.5 1,274
1975 34.5 1,236
1974 33.4 1,200
1973 32.5 1,165
1972 31.5 1,131
1971 30.6 1,097
1970 29.7 1,064
1969 28.9 1,032
1968 28.1 1,002
1967 27.3 971
1966 26.6 937
1965 25.9 899
1964 25.3 869
1963 24.6 848
1962 24 827
1961 23.4 807

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/madagascar/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Madagascar increased by 69.9%, compared to a 70.5% growth in Maldives.

In 2006, Madagascar ranked 144th by population density and is 133rd now. Maldives was 7th in 2006 and ranks 6th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Madagascar
Maldives
1x
Year Urban population
Madagascar Maldives
2024 32.4% 42%
2023 32% 41.5%
2022 31.5% 41.1%
2021 31.1% 40.7%
2020 30.7% 40.4%
2019 30.3% 40%
2018 29.9% 39.7%
2017 29.7% 39.3%
2016 29.4% 39%
2015 29.2% 38.6%
2014 28.9% 38.2%
2013 28.7% 37.8%
2012 28.4% 37.5%
2011 28.1% 37.1%
2010 27.9% 36.8%
2009 27.6% 36.4%
2008 27.3% 35.9%
2007 27% 35.4%
2006 26.8% 34.9%
2005 26.5% 34.1%
2004 26.2% 32.9%
2003 25.9% 31.4%
2002 25.6% 29.9%
2001 25.3% 28.6%
2000 25% 27.6%
1999 24.7% 27%
1998 24.4% 26.5%
1997 24.1% 26%
1996 23.8% 25.7%
1995 23.5% 25.5%
1994 23.2% 25.6%
1993 22.9% 25.6%
1992 22.5% 25.7%
1991 22.2% 25.8%
1990 21.9% 25.9%
1989 21.6% 25.8%
1988 21.3% 25.8%
1987 20.9% 25.7%
1986 20.6% 25.6%
1985 20.3% 25.5%
1984 19.9% 25.3%
1983 19.6% 24.9%
1982 19.2% 24.3%
1981 18.9% 23.6%
1980 18.5% 22.8%
1979 18.1% 22%
1978 17.7% 21.1%
1977 17.3% 20.2%
1976 16.9% 19%
1975 16.5% 17.6%
1974 16.1% 16.2%
1973 15.6% 14.7%
1972 15% 13.5%
1971 14.5% 12.5%
1970 14.1% 11.9%
1969 13.7% 11.6%
1968 13.4% 11.4%
1967 13.1% 11.3%
1966 12.7% 11.4%
1965 12.4% 11.5%
1964 12.1% 11.5%
1963 11.8% 11.4%
1962 11.5% 11.4%
1961 11.2% 11.4%
1960 10.8% 11.4%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 26.2% to 32.4% in Madagascar and from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives.

Densely populated cities

Madagascar
City Population
Antananarivo 1.28M
Antsirabe 265K
Toamasina 225K
Toliara 169K
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/madagascar/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 (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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