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Population in Maldives compared to Nauru: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Maldives was 529,676 in 2025 vs 12,025 people in Nauru in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Maldives' population is 532,468 people compared to 12,139 in Nauru.

Population statistics:

  • Maldives' population is 43.9 times bigger than Nauru's.
  • Maldives is ranked the 168th most populous country in the world, while Nauru is the 195th.
  • The countries together account for 0.007% of the world: 0.006% for Maldives vs 0.0001% for Nauru.
  • For the last 10 years, Maldives has had an average growth rate of +2.28% per year vs +1.03% in Nauru.
  • Since 2006, the population of Maldives has increased from 314K people to 532K (69.7% growth), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (21% growth).

Maldives vs Nauru: population by year and forecast

Maldives
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Maldives Nauru
2100 476,472 20,708
2099 477,887 20,677
2098 479,384 20,636
2097 481,076 20,596
2096 482,932 20,561
2095 484,892 20,526
2094 487,026 20,479
2093 489,428 20,423
2092 492,103 20,377
2091 494,866 20,332
2090 498,019 20,276
2089 501,269 20,210
2088 504,943 20,143
2087 508,705 20,087
2086 512,717 20,019
2085 516,827 19,950
2084 521,029 19,872
2083 525,309 19,787
2082 529,594 19,700
2081 534,081 19,603
2080 538,531 19,517
2079 542,993 19,411
2078 547,515 19,304
2077 551,848 19,198
2076 555,977 19,089
2075 559,992 18,978
2074 563,823 18,866
2073 567,615 18,750
2072 571,139 18,630
2071 574,565 18,527
2070 577,779 18,388
2069 580,752 18,281
2068 583,540 18,160
2067 586,154 18,017
2066 588,472 17,896
2065 590,459 17,769
2064 592,304 17,641
2063 593,970 17,516
2062 595,364 17,394
2061 596,441 17,260
2060 597,010 17,129
2059 597,582 17,006
2058 597,833 16,874
2057 597,770 16,745
2056 597,319 16,605
2055 596,595 16,465
2054 595,791 16,328
2053 594,788 16,186
2052 593,417 16,042
2051 591,901 15,881
2050 590,081 15,731
2049 587,930 15,565
2048 585,552 15,405
2047 583,266 15,234
2046 580,802 15,058
2045 578,120 14,888
2044 575,506 14,712
2043 572,763 14,539
2042 569,981 14,357
2041 567,207 14,174
2040 564,359 13,990
2039 561,507 13,821
2038 558,901 13,666
2037 556,305 13,507
2036 553,800 13,358
2035 551,310 13,190
2034 548,914 13,035
2033 546,428 12,888
2032 544,034 12,753
2031 541,696 12,619
2030 539,519 12,499
2029 537,496 12,381
2028 535,357 12,286
2027 533,364 12,177
2026 531,523 12,100
2025 529,676 12,025
2024 527,799 11,947
2023 525,994 11,875
2022 524,106 11,801
2021 516,154 11,709
2020 502,118 11,643
2019 487,731 11,587
2018 473,099 11,477
2017 458,287 11,324
2016 443,308 11,150
2015 428,154 10,954
2014 413,617 10,742
2013 400,070 10,517
2012 386,818 10,267
2011 373,674 10,098
2010 360,792 10,043
2009 348,275 10,016
2008 336,170 10,009
2007 324,479 10,020
2006 313,851 10,034
2005 306,429 10,049
2004 301,413 10,060
2003 296,491 10,059
2002 291,616 10,082
2001 286,767 10,130
2000 282,019 10,168
1999 277,412 10,187
1998 272,723 10,198
1997 267,707 10,197
1996 262,347 10,183
1995 256,649 10,165
1994 250,822 10,137
1993 244,884 10,102
1992 238,543 10,021
1991 231,802 9,850
1990 224,762 9,622
1989 217,738 9,390
1988 210,885 9,165
1987 203,944 8,946
1986 196,935 8,742
1985 190,169 8,551
1984 184,198 8,377
1983 179,128 8,216
1982 174,333 8,040
1981 169,532 7,839
1980 164,835 7,649
1979 160,360 7,468
1978 156,159 7,298
1977 151,930 7,163
1976 147,525 7,064
1975 143,158 6,987
1974 138,978 6,923
1973 134,952 6,866
1972 130,968 6,812
1971 127,035 6,762
1970 123,219 6,710
1969 119,564 6,581
1968 116,075 6,328
1967 112,528 6,135
1966 108,507 6,043
1965 104,102 5,832
1964 100,662 5,515
1963 98,222 5,226
1962 95,802 4,979
1961 93,450 4,774
1960 91,189 4,607

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/nauru | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Maldives increased by 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth), while Nauru gained 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Maldives gained 89,160 people (a 20.1% growth), while Nauru's population increased by 989 people (a 8.87% growth).

Maldives was ranked 171st most populous country in 2006 and is 168th in 2026. Nauru was ranked 196th in 2006 and ranked 195th 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 Nauru will increase by 29.6% to 15,731 people and rank change from 195th to 194th.

Maldives is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 598K people compared to the peak of 20.7K people in 2100 for Nauru.

Population growth rate by year

Maldives
Factual

Projection
Nauru
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Maldives Nauru
2100 -0.3% 0.15%
2099 -0.31% 0.2%
2098 -0.35% 0.19%
2097 -0.38% 0.17%
2096 -0.4% 0.17%
2095 -0.44% 0.23%
2094 -0.49% 0.27%
2093 -0.54% 0.23%
2092 -0.56% 0.22%
2091 -0.63% 0.28%
2090 -0.65% 0.33%
2089 -0.73% 0.33%
2088 -0.74% 0.28%
2087 -0.78% 0.34%
2086 -0.8% 0.35%
2085 -0.81% 0.39%
2084 -0.81% 0.43%
2083 -0.81% 0.44%
2082 -0.84% 0.5%
2081 -0.83% 0.44%
2080 -0.82% 0.54%
2079 -0.83% 0.56%
2078 -0.79% 0.55%
2077 -0.74% 0.57%
2076 -0.72% 0.59%
2075 -0.68% 0.6%
2074 -0.67% 0.62%
2073 -0.62% 0.65%
2072 -0.6% 0.56%
2071 -0.56% 0.75%
2070 -0.51% 0.59%
2069 -0.48% 0.66%
2068 -0.45% 0.8%
2067 -0.39% 0.68%
2066 -0.34% 0.71%
2065 -0.31% 0.73%
2064 -0.28% 0.71%
2063 -0.23% 0.7%
2062 -0.18% 0.78%
2061 -0.1% 0.76%
2060 -0.1% 0.73%
2059 -0.04% 0.78%
2058 0.01% 0.77%
2057 0.08% 0.85%
2056 0.12% 0.85%
2055 0.14% 0.84%
2054 0.17% 0.87%
2053 0.23% 0.9%
2052 0.26% 1.01%
2051 0.31% 0.96%
2050 0.37% 1.06%
2049 0.41% 1.04%
2048 0.39% 1.12%
2047 0.42% 1.17%
2046 0.46% 1.14%
2045 0.45% 1.2%
2044 0.48% 1.19%
2043 0.49% 1.27%
2042 0.49% 1.29%
2041 0.5% 1.32%
2040 0.51% 1.22%
2039 0.47% 1.14%
2038 0.47% 1.17%
2037 0.45% 1.12%
2036 0.45% 1.27%
2035 0.44% 1.19%
2034 0.46% 1.14%
2033 0.44% 1.06%
2032 0.43% 1.06%
2031 0.4% 0.96%
2030 0.38% 0.96%
2029 0.4% 0.77%
2028 0.37% 0.9%
2027 0.35% 0.64%
2026 0.35% 0.63%
2025 0.36% 0.65%
2024 0.34% 0.61%
2023 0.36% 0.63%
2022 1.54% 0.79%
2021 2.8% 0.57%
2020 2.95% 0.48%
2019 3.09% 0.96%
2018 3.23% 1.35%
2017 3.38% 1.56%
2016 3.54% 1.79%
2015 3.51% 1.97%
2014 3.39% 2.14%
2013 3.43% 2.43%
2012 3.52% 1.67%
2011 3.57% 0.55%
2010 3.59% 0.27%
2009 3.6% 0.07%
2008 3.6% -0.11%
2007 3.39% -0.14%
2006 2.42% -0.15%
2005 1.66% -0.11%
2004 1.66% 0.01%
2003 1.67% -0.23%
2002 1.69% -0.47%
2001 1.68% -0.37%
2000 1.66% -0.19%
1999 1.72% -0.11%
1998 1.87% 0.01%
1997 2.04% 0.14%
1996 2.22% 0.18%
1995 2.32% 0.28%
1994 2.42% 0.35%
1993 2.66% 0.81%
1992 2.91% 1.74%
1991 3.13% 2.37%
1990 3.23% 2.47%
1989 3.25% 2.45%
1988 3.4% 2.45%
1987 3.56% 2.33%
1986 3.56% 2.23%
1985 3.24% 2.08%
1984 2.83% 1.96%
1983 2.75% 2.19%
1982 2.83% 2.56%
1981 2.85% 2.48%
1980 2.79% 2.42%
1979 2.69% 2.33%
1978 2.78% 1.88%
1977 2.99% 1.4%
1976 3.05% 1.1%
1975 3.01% 0.92%
1974 2.98% 0.83%
1973 3.04% 0.79%
1972 3.1% 0.74%
1971 3.1% 0.77%
1970 3.06% 1.96%
1969 3.01% 4%
1968 3.15% 3.15%
1967 3.71% 1.52%
1966 4.23% 3.62%
1965 3.42% 5.75%
1964 2.48% 5.53%
1963 2.53% 4.96%
1962 2.52% 4.29%
1961 2.48% 3.62%

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/nauru | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Maldives grew by 0.36%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Maldives Nauru
Current population
532468
12139
Population rank 168/197 195/197
Percent of world population 0.006% 0.0001%
One net population change
4.68 hours
4.69 days
One birth every
1.57 hours
1.25 days
One death every
7.02 hours
4.06 days
Daily growth/decline +5 +0
Annual growth/decline +1,877 +78
Annual growth/decline rate +0.36% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 142/197 119/197
One migration net change every
3.85 hours
3 days
Annual migration change -2,283 -122
Net migration rank 101/196 82/196
Foreign-born residents 75,099 2,548
Foreign-born residents rank 141/195 191/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 21.3%
Foreign-born share rank 48/195 29/195

Natural population change vs migration

Maldives
Natural

Migration
Nauru
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Maldives Nauru
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,283 - -122
2024 4,340 -2,421 203 -121
2023 4,566 -2,877 213 -148
2022 4,752 -2,674 226 -144
2021 4,426 9,412 236 -137
2020 4,594 9,642 246 -214
2019 4,886 9,648 255 -171
2018 5,088 9,637 265 -131
2017 5,342 9,555 279 -115
2016 5,652 9,421 289 -105
2015 5,914 9,324 291 -86
2014 6,122 7,700 290 -69
2013 6,307 6,963 291 -53
2012 6,445 6,800 292 -38
2011 6,429 6,611 291 -206
2010 6,350 6,369 281 -246
2009 6,227 6,093 261 -249
2008 5,856 6,035 240 -243
2007 5,324 6,160 222 -235
2006 4,766 5,006 209 -224
2005 4,493 578 204 -217
2004 4,287 668 202 -210
2003 4,316 578 201 -199
2002 4,257 607 200 -247
2001 4,271 560 203 -252
2000 4,372 300 207 -236
1999 4,601 -62 212 -227
1998 4,919 -94 214 -217
1997 5,267 -60 218 -209
1996 5,705 -183 221 -204
1995 6,177 -302 225 -201
1994 6,550 -768 229 -196
1993 6,842 -749 235 -194
1992 7,096 -522 237 -121
1991 7,295 -378 225 0
1990 7,444 -271 214 20
1989 7,472 -610 204 24
1988 7,414 -564 195 29
1987 7,300 -265 186 27
1986 7,153 -175 178 21
1985 6,944 -382 171 8
1984 6,680 -1,300 166 -2
1983 6,361 -1,608 163 -5
1982 6,058 -1,220 162 30
1981 5,778 -1,014 157 44
1980 5,526 -903 145 44
1979 5,275 -958 130 48
1978 4,812 -716 111 40
1977 4,779 -413 89 32
1976 4,538 -101 79 0
1975 4,325 -14 70 0
1974 4,136 -78 63 0
1973 3,924 60 57 0
1972 3,707 269 53 0
1971 3,549 341 50 0
1970 3,415 330 49 0
1969 3,260 313 71 132
1968 3,150 255 116 180
1967 3,010 672 117 -28
1966 2,845 1,511 123 -32
1965 2,747 1,709 113 218
1964 2,660 -227 100 203
1963 2,567 -125 88 181
1962 2,475 -80 75 158
1961 2,354 -44 70 120
1960 2,241 -32 72 76

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

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/nauru | 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 Nauru 64.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,503 people) and 35.4% is from migration (a loss of 1,372 people).

As of 2024, 75,099 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Maldives, compared to 2,548 people or 21.3% in Nauru.

Biggest cities by population

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 65.7K
Nauru
City Population
Yaren 747

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/nauru | 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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