Skip to content

Population density: Maldives vs Nicaragua compared

Updated on by Georank team

Maldives has a population density of 4,620 people per square mile compared to 152.8 people in Nicaragua. Maldives has 6,077 sq ft of land per person vs 187,291 sq ft in Nicaragua. Maldives and Nicaragua rank 6th and 131st 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 0.09% of the population and 0.08% of the land area for Nicaragua, making the population density in Maldives 2,923% higher than in Nicaragua.

Population density by year

Maldives
Nicaragua

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Maldives Nicaragua
2026 4,620 152.8
2025 4,604 150.8
2024 4,587 148.9
2023 4,572 146.9
2022 4,525 144.9
2021 4,456 143
2020 4,335 141.3
2019 4,211 139.5
2018 4,084 137.7
2017 3,957 135.9
2016 3,827 134.1
2015 3,696 132.3
2014 3,571 130.6
2013 3,454 128.8
2012 3,340 127
2011 3,226 125.2
2010 3,115 123.5
2009 3,007 121.7
2008 2,902 120
2007 2,801 118.3
2006 2,710 116.6
2005 2,645 115
2004 2,602 113.5
2003 2,560 112.2
2002 2,518 110.8
2001 2,476 109.5
2000 2,435 108.1
1999 2,395 106.6
1998 2,354 105.1
1997 2,311 103.5
1996 2,265 101.8
1995 2,216 99.9
1994 2,165 97.9
1993 2,114 95.9
1992 2,059 93.8
1991 2,001 91.7
1990 1,940 89.6
1989 1,880 87.5
1988 1,821 85.5
1987 1,761 83.6
1986 1,700 81.7
1985 1,642 79.8
1984 1,590 77.9
1983 1,546 76
1982 1,505 74
1981 1,464 72
1980 1,423 70
1979 1,384 68.1
1978 1,348 66.3
1977 1,312 64.4
1976 1,274 62.5
1975 1,236 60.6
1974 1,200 58.8
1973 1,165 57
1972 1,131 55.4
1971 1,097 53.8
1970 1,064 52.1
1969 1,032 50.5
1968 1,002 49
1967 971 47.5
1966 937 46
1965 899 44.6
1964 869 43.3
1963 848 42
1962 827 40.7
1961 807 39.5

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Maldives increased by 70.5%, compared to a 31% growth in Nicaragua.

In 2006, Maldives ranked 7th by population density and is 6th now. Nicaragua was 131st in 2006 and still ranks 131st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Maldives
Nicaragua
1x
Year Urban population
Maldives Nicaragua
2024 42% 59.3%
2023 41.5% 59.1%
2022 41.1% 59%
2021 40.7% 58.9%
2020 40.4% 58.7%
2019 40% 58.5%
2018 39.7% 58.4%
2017 39.3% 58.2%
2016 39% 58%
2015 38.6% 57.8%
2014 38.2% 57.6%
2013 37.8% 57.4%
2012 37.5% 57.2%
2011 37.1% 57%
2010 36.8% 56.8%
2009 36.4% 56.7%
2008 35.9% 56.5%
2007 35.4% 56.3%
2006 34.9% 56.1%
2005 34.1% 55.9%
2004 32.9% 55.8%
2003 31.4% 55.6%
2002 29.9% 55.5%
2001 28.6% 55.4%
2000 27.6% 55.2%
1999 27% 55.1%
1998 26.5% 54.9%
1997 26% 54.8%
1996 25.7% 54.6%
1995 25.5% 54.4%
1994 25.6% 54.3%
1993 25.6% 54.1%
1992 25.7% 53.9%
1991 25.8% 53.7%
1990 25.9% 53.5%
1989 25.8% 53.3%
1988 25.8% 53.1%
1987 25.7% 52.9%
1986 25.6% 52.7%
1985 25.5% 52.4%
1984 25.3% 52.2%
1983 24.9% 51.9%
1982 24.3% 51.7%
1981 23.6% 51.4%
1980 22.8% 51.1%
1979 22% 50.8%
1978 21.1% 50.5%
1977 20.2% 50.2%
1976 19% 49.8%
1975 17.6% 49.5%
1974 16.2% 49.1%
1973 14.7% 48.7%
1972 13.5% 48.3%
1971 12.5% 47.8%
1970 11.9% 47.3%
1969 11.6% 46.5%
1968 11.4% 45.6%
1967 11.3% 44.6%
1966 11.4% 43.6%
1965 11.5% 42.6%
1964 11.5% 41.7%
1963 11.4% 41%
1962 11.4% 40.4%
1961 11.4% 39.8%
1960 11.4% 39.2%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives and from 55.8% to 59.3% in Nicaragua.

Densely populated cities

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K

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/nicaragua | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.