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Population density: Maldives vs Nepal compared

Updated on by Georank team

Maldives has a population density of 4,620 people per square mile compared to 535 people in Nepal. Maldives has 6,077 sq ft of land per person vs 53,430 sq ft in Nepal. Maldives and Nepal rank 6th and 54th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Maldives has 0.006% of the world's population and 0.0002% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.36% of the population and 0.1% of the land area for Nepal, making the population density in Maldives 764% higher than in Nepal.

Population density by year

Maldives
Nepal

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Maldives Nepal
2026 4,620 535
2025 4,604 535
2024 4,587 536
2023 4,572 537
2022 4,525 537
2021 4,456 533
2020 4,335 523
2019 4,211 513
2018 4,084 507
2017 3,957 506
2016 3,827 505
2015 3,696 503
2014 3,571 500
2013 3,454 498
2012 3,340 497
2011 3,226 496
2010 3,115 494
2009 3,007 491
2008 2,902 488
2007 2,801 484
2006 2,710 480
2005 2,645 475
2004 2,602 470
2003 2,560 464
2002 2,518 458
2001 2,476 451
2000 2,435 443
1999 2,395 437
1998 2,354 429
1997 2,311 421
1996 2,265 412
1995 2,216 403
1994 2,165 393
1993 2,114 384
1992 2,059 373
1991 2,001 363
1990 1,940 354
1989 1,880 345
1988 1,821 338
1987 1,761 331
1986 1,700 324
1985 1,642 317
1984 1,590 309
1983 1,546 302
1982 1,505 295.2
1981 1,464 288.4
1980 1,423 281.7
1979 1,384 275.1
1978 1,348 268.8
1977 1,312 262.6
1976 1,274 256.8
1975 1,236 251.2
1974 1,200 245.7
1973 1,165 240.4
1972 1,131 235.3
1971 1,097 230.2
1970 1,064 225.2
1969 1,032 220.4
1968 1,002 215.6
1967 971 211.1
1966 937 206.6
1965 899 202.4
1964 869 198.3
1963 848 194.3
1962 827 190.6
1961 807 186.9

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/maldives/nepal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Maldives increased by 70.5%, compared to a 11.4% growth in Nepal.

In 2006, Maldives ranked 7th by population density and is 6th now. Nepal was 45th in 2006 and ranks 54th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Maldives
Nepal
1x
Year Urban population
Maldives Nepal
2024 42% 66.8%
2023 41.5% 66.5%
2022 41.1% 66.3%
2021 40.7% 66.1%
2020 40.4% 66.1%
2019 40% 66%
2018 39.7% 65.8%
2017 39.3% 65.6%
2016 39% 65.3%
2015 38.6% 65%
2014 38.2% 64.6%
2013 37.8% 64.1%
2012 37.5% 63.7%
2011 37.1% 63.1%
2010 36.8% 62%
2009 36.4% 59.9%
2008 35.9% 56.9%
2007 35.4% 53.4%
2006 34.9% 49.5%
2005 34.1% 45.5%
2004 32.9% 41.6%
2003 31.4% 38%
2002 29.9% 35%
2001 28.6% 32.8%
2000 27.6% 31.1%
1999 27% 29.5%
1998 26.5% 28%
1997 26% 26.6%
1996 25.7% 25.3%
1995 25.5% 24.1%
1994 25.6% 23%
1993 25.6% 22%
1992 25.7% 21.2%
1991 25.8% 20.4%
1990 25.9% 19.8%
1989 25.8% 19.2%
1988 25.8% 18.7%
1987 25.7% 18.3%
1986 25.6% 17.9%
1985 25.5% 17.5%
1984 25.3% 17.1%
1983 24.9% 16.6%
1982 24.3% 16.1%
1981 23.6% 15.5%
1980 22.8% 14.6%
1979 22% 13.4%
1978 21.1% 12%
1977 20.2% 10.5%
1976 19% 8.99%
1975 17.6% 7.51%
1974 16.2% 6.18%
1973 14.7% 5.09%
1972 13.5% 4.33%
1971 12.5% 4%
1970 11.9% 3.93%
1969 11.6% 3.87%
1968 11.4% 3.82%
1967 11.3% 3.78%
1966 11.4% 3.75%
1965 11.5% 3.72%
1964 11.5% 3.69%
1963 11.4% 3.66%
1962 11.4% 3.62%
1961 11.4% 3.57%
1960 11.4% 3.51%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives and from 41.6% to 66.8% in Nepal.

Densely populated cities

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K
Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K

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/maldives/nepal | 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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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