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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Maldives was 527,799 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Maldives' population is 532,057 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 458 times bigger than Maldives'.
  • Maldives is ranked the 168th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 2.95% of the world: 0.006% for Maldives vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Maldives has had an average growth rate of +2.56% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Maldives has increased from 314K people to 532K (69.5% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Maldives vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Maldives
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Maldives Nigeria
2100 476,505 481,678,166
2099 477,920 481,494,914
2098 479,417 481,219,866
2097 481,109 480,876,108
2096 482,965 480,460,381
2095 484,925 479,976,454
2094 487,060 479,432,855
2093 489,462 478,807,152
2092 492,137 478,097,591
2091 494,900 477,274,569
2090 498,054 476,367,086
2089 501,304 475,363,859
2088 504,978 474,268,867
2087 508,740 473,072,894
2086 512,752 471,769,229
2085 516,863 470,365,292
2084 521,065 468,843,169
2083 525,345 467,224,322
2082 529,631 465,509,151
2081 534,118 463,679,779
2080 538,568 461,741,930
2079 543,030 459,680,797
2078 547,552 457,513,367
2077 551,886 455,254,796
2076 556,016 452,885,729
2075 560,031 450,402,898
2074 563,862 447,825,224
2073 567,654 445,152,156
2072 571,178 442,375,349
2071 574,604 439,499,004
2070 577,819 436,539,777
2069 580,792 433,472,204
2068 583,580 430,320,190
2067 586,194 427,066,199
2066 588,512 423,736,078
2065 590,500 420,318,527
2064 592,344 416,811,285
2063 594,011 413,231,409
2062 595,405 409,583,480
2061 596,482 405,859,509
2060 597,051 402,073,494
2059 597,623 398,228,736
2058 597,874 394,315,883
2057 597,811 390,341,867
2056 597,360 386,298,064
2055 596,636 382,193,151
2054 595,832 378,030,342
2053 594,829 373,799,276
2052 593,458 369,501,634
2051 591,942 365,149,555
2050 590,121 360,734,783
2049 587,970 356,271,401
2048 585,592 351,752,501
2047 583,306 347,169,674
2046 580,842 342,532,578
2045 578,160 337,834,528
2044 575,546 333,076,416
2043 572,802 328,256,555
2042 570,020 323,388,886
2041 567,246 318,469,120
2040 564,398 313,492,800
2039 561,546 308,474,350
2038 558,940 303,423,786
2037 556,343 298,351,344
2036 553,839 293,250,795
2035 551,348 288,138,368
2034 548,952 283,018,151
2033 546,465 277,897,810
2032 544,072 272,769,123
2031 541,734 267,666,779
2030 539,556 262,583,487
2029 537,533 257,504,936
2028 535,394 252,465,743
2027 533,401 247,457,208
2026 531,559 242,477,499
2025 529,712 237,546,527
2024 527,799 232,679,478
2023 525,994 227,882,945
2022 524,106 223,150,896
2021 516,154 218,529,286
2020 502,118 213,996,181
2019 487,731 209,485,641
2018 473,099 204,938,755
2017 458,287 200,254,579
2016 443,308 195,443,700
2015 428,154 190,671,878
2014 413,617 185,896,915
2013 400,070 181,049,443
2012 386,818 176,200,625
2011 373,674 171,379,598
2010 360,792 166,642,886
2009 348,275 162,049,464
2008 336,170 157,595,014
2007 324,479 153,267,261
2006 313,851 149,077,334
2005 306,429 145,017,253
2004 301,413 141,057,045
2003 296,491 137,202,644
2002 291,616 133,471,989
2001 286,767 129,862,595
2000 282,019 126,382,494
1999 277,412 123,047,320
1998 272,723 119,846,254
1997 267,707 116,754,792
1996 262,347 113,754,779
1995 256,649 110,819,428
1994 250,822 107,935,714
1993 244,884 105,122,069
1992 238,543 102,372,770
1991 231,802 99,720,162
1990 224,762 97,120,925
1989 217,738 94,531,014
1988 210,885 92,020,090
1987 203,944 89,591,716
1986 196,935 87,235,953
1985 190,169 84,897,973
1984 184,198 82,526,443
1983 179,128 80,438,260
1982 174,333 78,378,701
1981 169,532 76,068,103
1980 164,835 73,764,641
1979 160,360 71,498,242
1978 156,159 69,326,532
1977 151,930 67,234,590
1976 147,525 65,258,009
1975 143,158 63,410,815
1974 138,978 61,679,144
1973 134,952 60,082,139
1972 130,968 58,601,748
1971 127,035 57,214,684
1970 123,219 55,893,838
1969 119,564 54,631,914
1968 116,075 53,432,783
1967 112,528 52,293,065
1966 108,507 51,188,234
1965 104,102 50,086,764
1964 100,662 49,012,016
1963 98,222 47,973,575
1962 95,802 46,965,292
1961 93,450 45,989,310
1960 91,189 45,053,782

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Maldives increased by 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Maldives gained 88,749 people (a 20% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Maldives was ranked 171st most populous country in 2006 and is 168th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Maldives' population will grow by 10.9% to 590,121 people with a rank change from 168th to 166th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Maldives is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 598K people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Maldives
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Maldives Nigeria
2100 -0.3% 0.04%
2099 -0.31% 0.06%
2098 -0.35% 0.07%
2097 -0.38% 0.09%
2096 -0.4% 0.1%
2095 -0.44% 0.11%
2094 -0.49% 0.13%
2093 -0.54% 0.15%
2092 -0.56% 0.17%
2091 -0.63% 0.19%
2090 -0.65% 0.21%
2089 -0.73% 0.23%
2088 -0.74% 0.25%
2087 -0.78% 0.28%
2086 -0.8% 0.3%
2085 -0.81% 0.32%
2084 -0.81% 0.35%
2083 -0.81% 0.37%
2082 -0.84% 0.39%
2081 -0.83% 0.42%
2080 -0.82% 0.45%
2079 -0.83% 0.47%
2078 -0.79% 0.5%
2077 -0.74% 0.52%
2076 -0.72% 0.55%
2075 -0.68% 0.58%
2074 -0.67% 0.6%
2073 -0.62% 0.63%
2072 -0.6% 0.65%
2071 -0.56% 0.68%
2070 -0.51% 0.71%
2069 -0.48% 0.73%
2068 -0.45% 0.76%
2067 -0.39% 0.79%
2066 -0.34% 0.81%
2065 -0.31% 0.84%
2064 -0.28% 0.87%
2063 -0.23% 0.89%
2062 -0.18% 0.92%
2061 -0.1% 0.94%
2060 -0.1% 0.97%
2059 -0.04% 0.99%
2058 0.01% 1.02%
2057 0.08% 1.05%
2056 0.12% 1.07%
2055 0.14% 1.1%
2054 0.17% 1.13%
2053 0.23% 1.16%
2052 0.26% 1.19%
2051 0.31% 1.22%
2050 0.37% 1.25%
2049 0.41% 1.28%
2048 0.39% 1.32%
2047 0.42% 1.35%
2046 0.46% 1.39%
2045 0.45% 1.43%
2044 0.48% 1.47%
2043 0.49% 1.51%
2042 0.49% 1.54%
2041 0.5% 1.59%
2040 0.51% 1.63%
2039 0.47% 1.66%
2038 0.47% 1.7%
2037 0.45% 1.74%
2036 0.45% 1.77%
2035 0.44% 1.81%
2034 0.46% 1.84%
2033 0.44% 1.88%
2032 0.43% 1.91%
2031 0.4% 1.94%
2030 0.38% 1.97%
2029 0.4% 2%
2028 0.37% 2.02%
2027 0.35% 2.05%
2026 0.35% 2.08%
2025 0.36% 2.09%
2024 0.34% 2.1%
2023 0.36% 2.12%
2022 1.54% 2.11%
2021 2.8% 2.12%
2020 2.95% 2.15%
2019 3.09% 2.22%
2018 3.23% 2.34%
2017 3.38% 2.46%
2016 3.54% 2.5%
2015 3.51% 2.57%
2014 3.39% 2.68%
2013 3.43% 2.75%
2012 3.52% 2.81%
2011 3.57% 2.84%
2010 3.59% 2.83%
2009 3.6% 2.83%
2008 3.6% 2.82%
2007 3.39% 2.81%
2006 2.42% 2.8%
2005 1.66% 2.81%
2004 1.66% 2.81%
2003 1.67% 2.8%
2002 1.69% 2.78%
2001 1.68% 2.75%
2000 1.66% 2.71%
1999 1.72% 2.67%
1998 1.87% 2.65%
1997 2.04% 2.64%
1996 2.22% 2.65%
1995 2.32% 2.67%
1994 2.42% 2.68%
1993 2.66% 2.69%
1992 2.91% 2.66%
1991 3.13% 2.68%
1990 3.23% 2.74%
1989 3.25% 2.73%
1988 3.4% 2.71%
1987 3.56% 2.7%
1986 3.56% 2.75%
1985 3.24% 2.87%
1984 2.83% 2.6%
1983 2.75% 2.63%
1982 2.83% 3.04%
1981 2.85% 3.12%
1980 2.79% 3.17%
1979 2.69% 3.13%
1978 2.78% 3.11%
1977 2.99% 3.03%
1976 3.05% 2.91%
1975 3.01% 2.81%
1974 2.98% 2.66%
1973 3.04% 2.53%
1972 3.1% 2.42%
1971 3.1% 2.36%
1970 3.06% 2.31%
1969 3.01% 2.24%
1968 3.15% 2.18%
1967 3.71% 2.16%
1966 4.23% 2.2%
1965 3.42% 2.19%
1964 2.48% 2.16%
1963 2.53% 2.15%
1962 2.52% 2.12%
1961 2.48% 2.08%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Maldives grew by 0.34%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Maldives Nigeria
Current population
532057
243824469
Population rank 168/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.006% 2.94%
One net population change
4.85 hours
6.58 seconds
One birth every
1.51 hours
4.2 seconds
One death every
7.13 hours
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +5 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +1,805 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +0.34% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 146/197 48/197
One migration net change every
3.85 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -2,283 -15,258
Net migration rank 101/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 75,099 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 141/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 48/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Maldives
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Maldives Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,283 - -15,258
2024 - -2,421 - -35,202
2023 4,566 -2,877 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 4,752 -2,674 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 4,426 9,412 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 4,594 9,642 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 4,886 9,648 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 5,088 9,637 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 5,342 9,555 4,706,183 78,685
2016 5,652 9,421 4,761,594 75,265
2015 5,914 9,324 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 6,122 7,700 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 6,307 6,963 4,811,751 40,201
2012 6,445 6,800 4,774,508 71,138
2011 6,429 6,611 4,728,363 67,808
2010 6,350 6,369 4,629,173 47,966
2009 6,227 6,093 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 5,856 6,035 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 5,324 6,160 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 4,766 5,006 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 4,493 578 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 4,287 668 3,877,376 46,370
2003 4,316 578 3,751,120 33,857
2002 4,257 607 3,606,814 69,594
2001 4,271 560 3,478,370 64,163
2000 4,372 300 3,343,196 74,535
1999 4,601 -62 3,155,425 97,195
1998 4,919 -94 3,003,946 145,575
1997 5,267 -60 2,936,500 96,885
1996 5,705 -183 2,882,205 84,448
1995 6,177 -302 2,830,771 73,243
1994 6,550 -768 2,735,198 128,134
1993 6,842 -749 2,673,675 90,200
1992 7,096 -522 2,596,173 138,412
1991 7,295 -378 2,527,807 42,760
1990 7,444 -271 2,491,928 135,959
1989 7,472 -610 2,452,324 99,588
1988 7,414 -564 2,376,419 93,510
1987 7,300 -265 2,322,397 64,418
1986 7,153 -175 2,295,003 29,682
1985 6,944 -382 2,289,784 61,514
1984 6,680 -1,300 2,278,060 113,758
1983 6,361 -1,608 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 6,058 -1,220 2,233,401 101,116
1981 5,778 -1,014 2,179,884 106,723
1980 5,526 -903 2,121,618 198,672
1979 5,275 -958 2,074,807 137,721
1978 4,812 -716 2,019,621 111,258
1977 4,779 -413 1,923,917 129,075
1976 4,538 -101 1,827,289 72,889
1975 4,325 -14 1,718,623 75,603
1974 4,136 -78 1,624,813 44,281
1973 3,924 60 1,525,485 -618
1972 3,707 269 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 3,549 341 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 3,415 330 1,295,507 7,953
1969 3,260 313 1,213,484 6,912
1968 3,150 255 1,168,254 9,615
1967 3,010 672 1,082,884 18,683
1966 2,845 1,511 1,095,582 12,513
1965 2,747 1,709 1,061,840 32,988
1964 2,660 -227 1,028,272 26,411
1963 2,567 -125 995,116 27,115
1962 2,475 -80 966,452 27,906
1961 2,354 -44 932,111 25,515
1960 2,241 -32 901,301 12,131

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/nigeria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 42.7% of the population change in Maldives is from natural causes (a gain of 51,342 people) and 57.3% is from migration (a gain of 68,788 people). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 75,099 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Maldives, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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