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Population density: Maldives vs Saudi Arabia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Maldives has a population density of 4,620 people per square mile compared to 44.1 people in Saudi Arabia. Maldives has 6,077 sq ft of land per person vs 686,079 sq ft in Saudi Arabia. Maldives and Saudi Arabia rank 6th and 179th 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 0.43% of the population and 1.44% of the land area for Saudi Arabia, making the population density in Maldives 10,387% higher than in Saudi Arabia.

Population density by year

Maldives
Saudi Arabia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Maldives Saudi Arabia
2026 4,620 44.1
2025 4,604 43.3
2024 4,587 42.5
2023 4,572 40.6
2022 4,525 38.8
2021 4,456 37.1
2020 4,335 38
2019 4,211 36.2
2018 4,084 36.4
2017 3,957 37.3
2016 3,827 37.3
2015 3,696 35.9
2014 3,571 34.1
2013 3,454 33.3
2012 3,340 31.5
2011 3,226 30.2
2010 3,115 28.9
2009 3,007 29.2
2008 2,902 28.1
2007 2,801 26.9
2006 2,710 25.9
2005 2,645 24.8
2004 2,602 23.7
2003 2,560 22.6
2002 2,518 21.6
2001 2,476 20.5
2000 2,435 19.5
1999 2,395 18.6
1998 2,354 18
1997 2,311 17.3
1996 2,265 16.7
1995 2,216 16
1994 2,165 15.4
1993 2,114 14.7
1992 2,059 14.1
1991 2,001 13.4
1990 1,940 12.8
1989 1,880 12.2
1988 1,821 11.6
1987 1,761 11
1986 1,700 10.4
1985 1,642 9.82
1984 1,590 9.27
1983 1,546 8.74
1982 1,505 8.22
1981 1,464 7.74
1980 1,423 7.29
1979 1,384 6.87
1978 1,348 6.48
1977 1,312 6.12
1976 1,274 5.79
1975 1,236 5.49
1974 1,200 5.21
1973 1,165 4.95
1972 1,131 4.71
1971 1,097 4.49
1970 1,064 4.29
1969 1,032 4.12
1968 1,002 3.96
1967 971 3.8
1966 937 3.66
1965 899 3.53
1964 869 3.4
1963 848 3.28
1962 827 3.16
1961 807 3.04

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Maldives increased by 70.5%, compared to a 70.4% growth in Saudi Arabia.

In 2006, Maldives ranked 7th by population density and is 6th now. Saudi Arabia was 177th in 2006 and ranks 179th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Maldives
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Urban population
Maldives Saudi Arabia
2024 42% 84.5%
2023 41.5% 84.3%
2022 41.1% 84.1%
2021 40.7% 84%
2020 40.4% 83.8%
2019 40% 83.6%
2018 39.7% 83.5%
2017 39.3% 83.3%
2016 39% 83.1%
2015 38.6% 83%
2014 38.2% 82.8%
2013 37.8% 82.6%
2012 37.5% 82.4%
2011 37.1% 82.3%
2010 36.8% 82.1%
2009 36.4% 81.9%
2008 35.9% 81.6%
2007 35.4% 81.4%
2006 34.9% 81.2%
2005 34.1% 81%
2004 32.9% 80.8%
2003 31.4% 80.5%
2002 29.9% 80.3%
2001 28.6% 80.2%
2000 27.6% 80%
1999 27% 79.8%
1998 26.5% 79.6%
1997 26% 79.4%
1996 25.7% 79.2%
1995 25.5% 78.9%
1994 25.6% 78.6%
1993 25.6% 78.3%
1992 25.7% 78%
1991 25.8% 77.6%
1990 25.9% 77%
1989 25.8% 76.3%
1988 25.8% 75.6%
1987 25.7% 74.8%
1986 25.6% 73.9%
1985 25.5% 72.9%
1984 25.3% 71.8%
1983 24.9% 70.6%
1982 24.3% 69.3%
1981 23.6% 67.9%
1980 22.8% 66.4%
1979 22% 64.9%
1978 21.1% 63.3%
1977 20.2% 61.7%
1976 19% 60.1%
1975 17.6% 58.4%
1974 16.2% 56.8%
1973 14.7% 55.1%
1972 13.5% 53.2%
1971 12.5% 51.2%
1970 11.9% 49.2%
1969 11.6% 47.1%
1968 11.4% 45%
1967 11.3% 42.9%
1966 11.4% 40.9%
1965 11.5% 39%
1964 11.5% 37.2%
1963 11.4% 35.6%
1962 11.4% 34.1%
1961 11.4% 32.8%
1960 11.4% 31.4%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/maldives/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives and from 80.8% to 84.5% in Saudi Arabia.

Densely populated cities

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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