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Population in Maldives compared to the Marshall Islands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Maldives was 529,676 in 2025 vs 36,282 people in the Marshall Islands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Maldives' population is 532,468 people compared to 35,039 in the Marshall Islands.

Population statistics:

  • Maldives' population is 15.2 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
  • Maldives is ranked the 168th most populous country in the world, while the Marshall Islands is the 192nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.007% of the world: 0.006% for Maldives vs 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands.
  • For the last 10 years, Maldives has had an average growth rate of +2.28% per year vs -2.84% in the Marshall Islands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Maldives has increased from 314K people to 532K (69.7% growth), while the Marshall Islands has declined from 52K to 35K (32.6% decline).

Maldives vs Marshall Islands: population by year and forecast

Maldives
Factual

Projection
Marshall Islands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Maldives Marshall Islands
2100 476,472 23,445
2099 477,887 23,524
2098 479,384 23,613
2097 481,076 23,708
2096 482,932 23,784
2095 484,892 23,867
2094 487,026 23,935
2093 489,428 24,009
2092 492,103 24,079
2091 494,866 24,137
2090 498,019 24,185
2089 501,269 24,240
2088 504,943 24,272
2087 508,705 24,301
2086 512,717 24,316
2085 516,827 24,335
2084 521,029 24,342
2083 525,309 24,331
2082 529,594 24,315
2081 534,081 24,304
2080 538,531 24,278
2079 542,993 24,256
2078 547,515 24,214
2077 551,848 24,172
2076 555,977 24,138
2075 559,992 24,083
2074 563,823 24,049
2073 567,615 24,000
2072 571,139 23,969
2071 574,565 23,931
2070 577,779 23,889
2069 580,752 23,857
2068 583,540 23,815
2067 586,154 23,795
2066 588,472 23,763
2065 590,459 23,762
2064 592,304 23,766
2063 593,970 23,778
2062 595,364 23,818
2061 596,441 23,869
2060 597,010 23,917
2059 597,582 23,981
2058 597,833 24,028
2057 597,770 24,106
2056 597,319 24,194
2055 596,595 24,305
2054 595,791 24,411
2053 594,788 24,502
2052 593,417 24,602
2051 591,901 24,714
2050 590,081 24,811
2049 587,930 24,935
2048 585,552 25,047
2047 583,266 25,155
2046 580,802 25,267
2045 578,120 25,394
2044 575,506 25,531
2043 572,763 25,687
2042 569,981 25,846
2041 567,207 26,033
2040 564,359 26,249
2039 561,507 26,493
2038 558,901 26,759
2037 556,305 27,090
2036 553,800 27,446
2035 551,310 27,874
2034 548,914 28,364
2033 546,428 28,919
2032 544,034 29,543
2031 541,696 30,251
2030 539,519 31,054
2029 537,496 31,943
2028 535,357 32,879
2027 533,364 33,909
2026 531,523 35,039
2025 529,676 36,282
2024 527,799 37,548
2023 525,994 38,827
2022 524,106 40,077
2021 516,154 41,367
2020 502,118 42,706
2019 487,731 44,007
2018 473,099 45,285
2017 458,287 46,529
2016 443,308 47,709
2015 428,154 48,800
2014 413,617 49,796
2013 400,070 50,681
2012 386,818 51,419
2011 373,674 51,907
2010 360,792 52,044
2009 348,275 52,019
2008 336,170 52,030
2007 324,479 52,035
2006 313,851 51,992
2005 306,429 51,906
2004 301,413 51,791
2003 296,491 51,639
2002 291,616 51,425
2001 286,767 51,123
2000 282,019 50,706
1999 277,412 50,202
1998 272,723 49,717
1997 267,707 49,259
1996 262,347 48,775
1995 256,649 48,266
1994 250,822 47,712
1993 244,884 47,093
1992 238,543 46,388
1991 231,802 45,568
1990 224,762 44,629
1989 217,738 43,586
1988 210,885 42,321
1987 203,944 40,828
1986 196,935 39,286
1985 190,169 37,761
1984 184,198 36,264
1983 179,128 34,811
1982 174,333 33,397
1981 169,532 32,017
1980 164,835 30,774
1979 160,360 29,738
1978 156,159 28,809
1977 151,930 27,906
1976 147,525 27,021
1975 143,158 26,154
1974 138,978 25,296
1973 134,952 24,581
1972 130,968 23,992
1971 127,035 23,366
1970 123,219 22,530
1969 119,564 21,305
1968 116,075 19,862
1967 112,528 18,655
1966 108,507 17,927
1965 104,102 17,402
1964 100,662 16,852
1963 98,222 16,302
1962 95,802 15,755
1961 93,450 15,219
1960 91,189 14,703

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/marshall-islands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Maldives increased by 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth), while the Marshall Islands lost 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Maldives gained 89,160 people (a 20.1% growth), while the Marshall Islands' population decreased by 12,670 people (a 26.6% decline).

Maldives was ranked 171st most populous country in 2006 and is 168th in 2026. The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th in 2006 and ranked 192nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Maldives' population will grow by 10.8% to 590,081 people with a rank change from 168th to 166th. The population of the Marshall Islands will decrease by 29.2% to 24,811 people and rank change from 192nd to 193rd.

Maldives is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 598K people, while the Marshall Islands' population already peaked in 2010 at 52K people and is projected to decrease to 23.4K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Maldives
Factual

Projection
Marshall Islands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Maldives Marshall Islands
2100 -0.3% -0.33%
2099 -0.31% -0.38%
2098 -0.35% -0.4%
2097 -0.38% -0.32%
2096 -0.4% -0.35%
2095 -0.44% -0.28%
2094 -0.49% -0.31%
2093 -0.54% -0.29%
2092 -0.56% -0.24%
2091 -0.63% -0.2%
2090 -0.65% -0.23%
2089 -0.73% -0.13%
2088 -0.74% -0.12%
2087 -0.78% -0.06%
2086 -0.8% -0.08%
2085 -0.81% -0.03%
2084 -0.81% 0.05%
2083 -0.81% 0.06%
2082 -0.84% 0.04%
2081 -0.83% 0.11%
2080 -0.82% 0.09%
2079 -0.83% 0.17%
2078 -0.79% 0.17%
2077 -0.74% 0.14%
2076 -0.72% 0.23%
2075 -0.68% 0.14%
2074 -0.67% 0.2%
2073 -0.62% 0.13%
2072 -0.6% 0.16%
2071 -0.56% 0.17%
2070 -0.51% 0.14%
2069 -0.48% 0.18%
2068 -0.45% 0.08%
2067 -0.39% 0.14%
2066 -0.34% 0.004%
2065 -0.31% -0.02%
2064 -0.28% -0.05%
2063 -0.23% -0.17%
2062 -0.18% -0.21%
2061 -0.1% -0.2%
2060 -0.1% -0.27%
2059 -0.04% -0.2%
2058 0.01% -0.32%
2057 0.08% -0.37%
2056 0.12% -0.46%
2055 0.14% -0.43%
2054 0.17% -0.37%
2053 0.23% -0.41%
2052 0.26% -0.45%
2051 0.31% -0.39%
2050 0.37% -0.5%
2049 0.41% -0.45%
2048 0.39% -0.43%
2047 0.42% -0.44%
2046 0.46% -0.5%
2045 0.45% -0.54%
2044 0.48% -0.61%
2043 0.49% -0.62%
2042 0.49% -0.72%
2041 0.5% -0.82%
2040 0.51% -0.92%
2039 0.47% -1%
2038 0.47% -1.22%
2037 0.45% -1.3%
2036 0.45% -1.53%
2035 0.44% -1.73%
2034 0.46% -1.92%
2033 0.44% -2.11%
2032 0.43% -2.34%
2031 0.4% -2.59%
2030 0.38% -2.78%
2029 0.4% -2.85%
2028 0.37% -3.04%
2027 0.35% -3.23%
2026 0.35% -3.42%
2025 0.36% -3.37%
2024 0.34% -3.29%
2023 0.36% -3.12%
2022 1.54% -3.12%
2021 2.8% -3.14%
2020 2.95% -2.96%
2019 3.09% -2.82%
2018 3.23% -2.67%
2017 3.38% -2.47%
2016 3.54% -2.24%
2015 3.51% -2%
2014 3.39% -1.75%
2013 3.43% -1.44%
2012 3.52% -0.94%
2011 3.57% -0.26%
2010 3.59% 0.05%
2009 3.6% -0.02%
2008 3.6% -0.01%
2007 3.39% 0.08%
2006 2.42% 0.17%
2005 1.66% 0.22%
2004 1.66% 0.29%
2003 1.67% 0.42%
2002 1.69% 0.59%
2001 1.68% 0.82%
2000 1.66% 1%
1999 1.72% 0.98%
1998 1.87% 0.93%
1997 2.04% 0.99%
1996 2.22% 1.05%
1995 2.32% 1.16%
1994 2.42% 1.31%
1993 2.66% 1.52%
1992 2.91% 1.8%
1991 3.13% 2.1%
1990 3.23% 2.39%
1989 3.25% 2.99%
1988 3.4% 3.66%
1987 3.56% 3.93%
1986 3.56% 4.04%
1985 3.24% 4.13%
1984 2.83% 4.17%
1983 2.75% 4.23%
1982 2.83% 4.31%
1981 2.85% 4.04%
1980 2.79% 3.48%
1979 2.69% 3.22%
1978 2.78% 3.24%
1977 2.99% 3.28%
1976 3.05% 3.31%
1975 3.01% 3.39%
1974 2.98% 2.91%
1973 3.04% 2.45%
1972 3.1% 2.68%
1971 3.1% 3.71%
1970 3.06% 5.75%
1969 3.01% 7.27%
1968 3.15% 6.47%
1967 3.71% 4.06%
1966 4.23% 3.02%
1965 3.42% 3.26%
1964 2.48% 3.37%
1963 2.53% 3.47%
1962 2.52% 3.52%
1961 2.48% 3.51%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/marshall-islands | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Maldives grew by 0.36%, while the Marshall Islands' population declined by 3.37%.

Live population counters

Maldives Marshall Islands
Current population
532468
35039
Population rank 168/197 192/197
Percent of world population 0.006% 0.0004%
One net population change
4.68 hours
6.94 hours
One birth every
1.57 hours
11.6 hours
One death every
7.02 hours
1.37 days
Daily growth/decline +5 -3
Annual growth/decline +1,877 -1,266
Annual growth/decline rate +0.36% -3.37%
Population growth rate rank 142/197 197/197
One migration net change every
3.85 hours
5.17 hours
Annual migration change -2,283 -1,698
Net migration rank 101/196 97/196
Foreign-born residents 75,099 3,309
Foreign-born residents rank 141/195 189/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 8.8%
Foreign-born share rank 48/195 71/195

Natural population change vs migration

Maldives
Natural

Migration
Marshall Islands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Maldives Marshall Islands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,283 - -1,698
2024 4,340 -2,421 487 -1,765
2023 4,566 -2,877 550 -1,832
2022 4,752 -2,674 606 -1,829
2021 4,426 9,412 653 -2,016
2020 4,594 9,642 689 -2,004
2019 4,886 9,648 746 -2,030
2018 5,088 9,637 785 -2,058
2017 5,342 9,555 826 -2,040
2016 5,652 9,421 866 -2,003
2015 5,914 9,324 912 -1,964
2014 6,122 7,700 959 -1,906
2013 6,307 6,963 1,014 -1,825
2012 6,445 6,800 1,097 -1,759
2011 6,429 6,611 1,185 -1,512
2010 6,350 6,369 1,273 -1,221
2009 6,227 6,093 1,365 -1,361
2008 5,856 6,035 1,443 -1,467
2007 5,324 6,160 1,507 -1,491
2006 4,766 5,006 1,556 -1,491
2005 4,493 578 1,586 -1,482
2004 4,287 668 1,595 -1,466
2003 4,316 578 1,600 -1,427
2002 4,257 607 1,594 -1,345
2001 4,271 560 1,596 -1,237
2000 4,372 300 1,592 -1,110
1999 4,601 -62 1,590 -1,068
1998 4,919 -94 1,576 -1,124
1997 5,267 -60 1,564 -1,097
1996 5,705 -183 1,542 -1,050
1995 6,177 -302 1,522 -991
1994 6,550 -768 1,524 -942
1993 6,842 -749 1,524 -869
1992 7,096 -522 1,525 -769
1991 7,295 -378 1,540 -661
1990 7,444 -271 1,556 -562
1989 7,472 -610 1,574 -479
1988 7,414 -564 1,575 -140
1987 7,300 -265 1,566 -16
1986 7,153 -175 1,544 -8
1985 6,944 -382 1,511 -1
1984 6,680 -1,300 1,470 6
1983 6,361 -1,608 1,422 12
1982 6,058 -1,220 1,375 23
1981 5,778 -1,014 1,328 31
1980 5,526 -903 1,287 -155
1979 5,275 -958 1,250 -316
1978 4,812 -716 1,207 -286
1977 4,779 -413 1,160 -264
1976 4,538 -101 1,109 -233
1975 4,325 -14 1,055 -193
1974 4,136 -78 1,000 -145
1973 3,924 60 954 -383
1972 3,707 269 913 -306
1971 3,549 341 877 -232
1970 3,415 330 819 201
1969 3,260 313 747 690
1968 3,150 255 685 769
1967 3,010 672 636 308
1966 2,845 1,511 603 -89
1965 2,747 1,709 566 -22
1964 2,660 -227 536 16
1963 2,567 -125 509 42
1962 2,475 -80 488 54
1961 2,354 -44 469 56
1960 2,241 -32 452 63

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/marshall-islands | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 45.8% of the population change in Maldives is from natural causes (a gain of 49,560 people) and 54.2% is from migration (a gain of 58,667 people). In the Marshall Islands 26.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,120 people) and 73.3% is from migration (a loss of 19,541 people).

As of 2024, 75,099 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Maldives, compared to 3,309 people or 8.8% in the Marshall Islands.

Biggest cities by population

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 65.7K
Marshall Islands
City Population
Majuro 30K
Djarrit 7.1K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/marshall-islands | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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