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Population density: Maldives vs Somalia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Maldives has a population density of 4,620 people per square mile compared to 83.9 people in Somalia. Maldives has 6,077 sq ft of land per person vs 361,073 sq ft in Somalia. Maldives and Somalia rank 6th and 152nd 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 0.23% of the population and 0.42% of the land area for Somalia, making the population density in Maldives 5,406% higher than in Somalia.

Population density by year

Maldives
Somalia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Maldives Somalia
2026 4,620 83.9
2025 4,604 81.2
2024 4,587 78.5
2023 4,572 75.8
2022 4,525 73.5
2021 4,456 71.3
2020 4,335 68.7
2019 4,211 66.2
2018 4,084 63.8
2017 3,957 61.6
2016 3,827 59.2
2015 3,696 57
2014 3,571 55.1
2013 3,454 53.1
2012 3,340 51.4
2011 3,226 51
2010 3,115 50.6
2009 3,007 49.4
2008 2,902 48.2
2007 2,801 46.7
2006 2,710 45.3
2005 2,645 43.9
2004 2,602 42.4
2003 2,560 40.9
2002 2,518 39.4
2001 2,476 38
2000 2,435 36.5
1999 2,395 35.1
1998 2,354 33.7
1997 2,311 32.3
1996 2,265 31.2
1995 2,216 30.1
1994 2,165 29
1993 2,114 27.6
1992 2,059 26.8
1991 2,001 28.1
1990 1,940 29.2
1989 1,880 29.4
1988 1,821 29.9
1987 1,761 29.8
1986 1,700 28.8
1985 1,642 27.6
1984 1,590 26.5
1983 1,546 25.6
1982 1,505 24.8
1981 1,464 24.7
1980 1,423 24.5
1979 1,384 22.5
1978 1,348 19.9
1977 1,312 18.5
1976 1,274 18
1975 1,236 17.6
1974 1,200 17.1
1973 1,165 16.7
1972 1,131 16.3
1971 1,097 15.8
1970 1,064 15.4
1969 1,032 15
1968 1,002 14.6
1967 971 14.3
1966 937 13.9
1965 899 13.5
1964 869 13.2
1963 848 12.8
1962 827 12.5
1961 807 12.2

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Maldives increased by 70.5%, compared to a 85.2% growth in Somalia.

In 2006, Maldives ranked 7th by population density and is 6th now. Somalia was 162nd in 2006 and ranks 152nd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Maldives
Somalia
1x
Year Urban population
Maldives Somalia
2024 42% 54.6%
2023 41.5% 54.1%
2022 41.1% 53.5%
2021 40.7% 52.9%
2020 40.4% 52.3%
2019 40% 51.6%
2018 39.7% 51%
2017 39.3% 48.4%
2016 39% 45.9%
2015 38.6% 43.9%
2014 38.2% 42.4%
2013 37.8% 41.3%
2012 37.5% 40.3%
2011 37.1% 39.4%
2010 36.8% 38.6%
2009 36.4% 37.8%
2008 35.9% 37.2%
2007 35.4% 36.6%
2006 34.9% 36%
2005 34.1% 35.5%
2004 32.9% 35%
2003 31.4% 34.5%
2002 29.9% 34%
2001 28.6% 33.5%
2000 27.6% 33.1%
1999 27% 32.6%
1998 26.5% 32.2%
1997 26% 31.8%
1996 25.7% 31.4%
1995 25.5% 31.1%
1994 25.6% 30.7%
1993 25.6% 30.4%
1992 25.7% 30%
1991 25.8% 29.7%
1990 25.9% 29.4%
1989 25.8% 29.1%
1988 25.8% 28.8%
1987 25.7% 28.5%
1986 25.6% 28.2%
1985 25.5% 28%
1984 25.3% 27.7%
1983 24.9% 27.5%
1982 24.3% 27.3%
1981 23.6% 27.1%
1980 22.8% 26.8%
1979 22% 26.6%
1978 21.1% 26.4%
1977 20.2% 26.1%
1976 19% 25.8%
1975 17.6% 25.5%
1974 16.2% 25.2%
1973 14.7% 24.8%
1972 13.5% 24.3%
1971 12.5% 23.8%
1970 11.9% 23.2%
1969 11.6% 22.7%
1968 11.4% 22.1%
1967 11.3% 21.5%
1966 11.4% 20.9%
1965 11.5% 20.3%
1964 11.5% 19.7%
1963 11.4% 19.2%
1962 11.4% 18.7%
1961 11.4% 18.2%
1960 11.4% 17.7%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 32.9% to 42% in Maldives and from 35% to 54.6% in Somalia.

Densely populated cities

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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 (2013–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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