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Population in Maldives compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Maldives was 529,676 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Maldives' population is 532,468 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 50.1 times bigger than Maldives'.
  • Maldives is ranked the 168th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.006% for Maldives vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Maldives has had an average growth rate of +2.28% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Maldives has increased from 314K people to 532K (69.7% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Maldives vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Maldives
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Maldives North Korea
2100 476,472 19,601,003
2099 477,887 19,729,897
2098 479,384 19,859,274
2097 481,076 19,989,589
2096 482,932 20,120,795
2095 484,892 20,252,653
2094 487,026 20,384,384
2093 489,428 20,516,457
2092 492,103 20,649,140
2091 494,866 20,781,939
2090 498,019 20,914,434
2089 501,269 21,046,685
2088 504,943 21,178,406
2087 508,705 21,310,103
2086 512,717 21,441,361
2085 516,827 21,571,843
2084 521,029 21,701,761
2083 525,309 21,830,989
2082 529,594 21,960,135
2081 534,081 22,088,774
2080 538,531 22,216,836
2079 542,993 22,344,442
2078 547,515 22,471,597
2077 551,848 22,598,635
2076 555,977 22,725,293
2075 559,992 22,852,140
2074 563,823 22,979,532
2073 567,615 23,107,165
2072 571,139 23,234,961
2071 574,565 23,363,260
2070 577,779 23,491,789
2069 580,752 23,621,167
2068 583,540 23,750,741
2067 586,154 23,880,460
2066 588,472 24,010,584
2065 590,459 24,140,518
2064 592,304 24,269,765
2063 593,970 24,397,924
2062 595,364 24,525,403
2061 596,441 24,651,788
2060 597,010 24,776,326
2059 597,582 24,898,430
2058 597,833 25,018,630
2057 597,770 25,135,871
2056 597,319 25,250,670
2055 596,595 25,361,704
2054 595,791 25,469,578
2053 594,788 25,574,137
2052 593,417 25,675,211
2051 591,901 25,772,870
2050 590,081 25,866,886
2049 587,930 25,957,363
2048 585,552 26,043,774
2047 583,266 26,126,594
2046 580,802 26,205,638
2045 578,120 26,281,344
2044 575,506 26,353,455
2043 572,763 26,422,173
2042 569,981 26,486,580
2041 567,207 26,547,651
2040 564,359 26,604,634
2039 561,507 26,656,882
2038 558,901 26,703,458
2037 556,305 26,744,185
2036 553,800 26,778,348
2035 551,310 26,805,065
2034 548,914 26,823,948
2033 546,428 26,834,263
2032 544,034 26,835,978
2031 541,696 26,827,992
2030 539,519 26,809,850
2029 537,496 26,782,161
2028 535,357 26,744,278
2027 533,364 26,696,504
2026 531,523 26,638,530
2025 529,676 26,571,036
2024 527,799 26,498,823
2023 525,994 26,418,204
2022 524,106 26,328,845
2021 516,154 26,232,534
2020 502,118 26,136,312
2019 487,731 26,037,632
2018 473,099 25,931,147
2017 458,287 25,817,709
2016 443,308 25,698,326
2015 428,154 25,575,350
2014 413,617 25,451,262
2013 400,070 25,329,451
2012 386,818 25,211,728
2011 373,674 25,097,874
2010 360,792 24,987,258
2009 348,275 24,878,332
2008 336,170 24,764,618
2007 324,479 24,646,383
2006 313,851 24,524,507
2005 306,429 24,396,433
2004 301,413 24,254,943
2003 296,491 24,090,380
2002 291,616 23,943,973
2001 286,767 23,815,358
2000 282,019 23,665,910
1999 277,412 23,497,599
1998 272,723 23,311,564
1997 267,707 23,110,830
1996 262,347 22,895,746
1995 256,649 22,669,304
1994 250,822 22,393,975
1993 244,884 22,073,352
1992 238,543 21,750,911
1991 231,802 21,428,638
1990 224,762 21,112,137
1989 217,738 20,804,367
1988 210,885 20,503,161
1987 203,944 20,205,483
1986 196,935 19,910,855
1985 190,169 19,620,388
1984 184,198 19,335,043
1983 179,128 19,054,034
1982 174,333 18,776,357
1981 169,532 18,501,295
1980 164,835 18,236,786
1979 160,360 17,983,470
1978 156,159 17,735,995
1977 151,930 17,492,798
1976 147,525 17,243,450
1975 143,158 16,971,055
1974 138,978 16,673,121
1973 134,952 16,350,367
1972 130,968 15,975,069
1971 127,035 15,572,457
1970 123,219 15,172,775
1969 119,564 14,767,615
1968 116,075 14,365,596
1967 112,528 13,958,350
1966 108,507 13,569,094
1965 104,102 13,219,369
1964 100,662 12,889,770
1963 98,222 12,567,057
1962 95,802 12,262,882
1961 93,450 11,990,713
1960 91,189 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Maldives increased by 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Maldives gained 89,160 people (a 20.1% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Maldives was ranked 171st most populous country in 2006 and is 168th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Maldives is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 598K people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Maldives
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Maldives North Korea
2100 -0.3% -0.65%
2099 -0.31% -0.65%
2098 -0.35% -0.65%
2097 -0.38% -0.65%
2096 -0.4% -0.65%
2095 -0.44% -0.65%
2094 -0.49% -0.64%
2093 -0.54% -0.64%
2092 -0.56% -0.64%
2091 -0.63% -0.63%
2090 -0.65% -0.63%
2089 -0.73% -0.62%
2088 -0.74% -0.62%
2087 -0.78% -0.61%
2086 -0.8% -0.6%
2085 -0.81% -0.6%
2084 -0.81% -0.59%
2083 -0.81% -0.59%
2082 -0.84% -0.58%
2081 -0.83% -0.58%
2080 -0.82% -0.57%
2079 -0.83% -0.57%
2078 -0.79% -0.56%
2077 -0.74% -0.56%
2076 -0.72% -0.56%
2075 -0.68% -0.55%
2074 -0.67% -0.55%
2073 -0.62% -0.55%
2072 -0.6% -0.55%
2071 -0.56% -0.55%
2070 -0.51% -0.55%
2069 -0.48% -0.55%
2068 -0.45% -0.54%
2067 -0.39% -0.54%
2066 -0.34% -0.54%
2065 -0.31% -0.53%
2064 -0.28% -0.53%
2063 -0.23% -0.52%
2062 -0.18% -0.51%
2061 -0.1% -0.5%
2060 -0.1% -0.49%
2059 -0.04% -0.48%
2058 0.01% -0.47%
2057 0.08% -0.45%
2056 0.12% -0.44%
2055 0.14% -0.42%
2054 0.17% -0.41%
2053 0.23% -0.39%
2052 0.26% -0.38%
2051 0.31% -0.36%
2050 0.37% -0.35%
2049 0.41% -0.33%
2048 0.39% -0.32%
2047 0.42% -0.3%
2046 0.46% -0.29%
2045 0.45% -0.27%
2044 0.48% -0.26%
2043 0.49% -0.24%
2042 0.49% -0.23%
2041 0.5% -0.21%
2040 0.51% -0.2%
2039 0.47% -0.17%
2038 0.47% -0.15%
2037 0.45% -0.13%
2036 0.45% -0.1%
2035 0.44% -0.07%
2034 0.46% -0.04%
2033 0.44% -0.006%
2032 0.43% 0.03%
2031 0.4% 0.07%
2030 0.38% 0.1%
2029 0.4% 0.14%
2028 0.37% 0.18%
2027 0.35% 0.22%
2026 0.35% 0.25%
2025 0.36% 0.27%
2024 0.34% 0.31%
2023 0.36% 0.34%
2022 1.54% 0.37%
2021 2.8% 0.37%
2020 2.95% 0.38%
2019 3.09% 0.41%
2018 3.23% 0.44%
2017 3.38% 0.46%
2016 3.54% 0.48%
2015 3.51% 0.49%
2014 3.39% 0.48%
2013 3.43% 0.47%
2012 3.52% 0.45%
2011 3.57% 0.44%
2010 3.59% 0.44%
2009 3.6% 0.46%
2008 3.6% 0.48%
2007 3.39% 0.5%
2006 2.42% 0.52%
2005 1.66% 0.58%
2004 1.66% 0.68%
2003 1.67% 0.61%
2002 1.69% 0.54%
2001 1.68% 0.63%
2000 1.66% 0.72%
1999 1.72% 0.8%
1998 1.87% 0.87%
1997 2.04% 0.94%
1996 2.22% 1%
1995 2.32% 1.23%
1994 2.42% 1.45%
1993 2.66% 1.48%
1992 2.91% 1.5%
1991 3.13% 1.5%
1990 3.23% 1.48%
1989 3.25% 1.47%
1988 3.4% 1.47%
1987 3.56% 1.48%
1986 3.56% 1.48%
1985 3.24% 1.48%
1984 2.83% 1.47%
1983 2.75% 1.48%
1982 2.83% 1.49%
1981 2.85% 1.45%
1980 2.79% 1.41%
1979 2.69% 1.4%
1978 2.78% 1.39%
1977 2.99% 1.45%
1976 3.05% 1.61%
1975 3.01% 1.79%
1974 2.98% 1.97%
1973 3.04% 2.35%
1972 3.1% 2.59%
1971 3.1% 2.63%
1970 3.06% 2.74%
1969 3.01% 2.8%
1968 3.15% 2.92%
1967 3.71% 2.87%
1966 4.23% 2.65%
1965 3.42% 2.56%
1964 2.48% 2.57%
1963 2.53% 2.48%
1962 2.52% 2.27%
1961 2.48% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Maldives grew by 0.36%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Maldives North Korea
Current population
532468
26668308
Population rank 168/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.006% 0.32%
One net population change
4.68 hours
7.3 minutes
One birth every
1.57 hours
1.54 minutes
One death every
7.02 hours
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +5 +198
Annual growth/decline +1,877 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +0.36% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 142/197 146/197
One migration net change every
3.85 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -2,283 -2,787
Net migration rank 101/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 75,099 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 141/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 48/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Maldives
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Maldives North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,283 - -2,787
2024 4,340 -2,421 79,496 -2,473
2023 4,566 -2,877 86,203 -1,997
2022 4,752 -2,674 96,495 -1,997
2021 4,426 9,412 99,710 -1,585
2020 4,594 9,642 95,920 -1,585
2019 4,886 9,648 106,208 -3,142
2018 5,088 9,637 113,164 -3,225
2017 5,342 9,555 120,181 -3,224
2016 5,652 9,421 125,048 -3,222
2015 5,914 9,324 127,365 -3,208
2014 6,122 7,700 127,078 -3,042
2013 6,307 6,963 122,519 -2,933
2012 6,445 6,800 118,773 -2,919
2011 6,429 6,611 114,798 -2,957
2010 6,350 6,369 112,443 -3,053
2009 6,227 6,093 111,530 -3,058
2008 5,856 6,035 122,015 -3,051
2007 5,324 6,160 120,521 -3,021
2006 4,766 5,006 129,171 -2,948
2005 4,493 578 132,765 -2,861
2004 4,287 668 155,838 -2,758
2003 4,316 578 178,775 -2,717
2002 4,257 607 119,504 -2,763
2001 4,271 560 143,321 -2,884
2000 4,372 300 161,591 -3,142
1999 4,601 -62 181,613 -3,443
1998 4,919 -94 197,589 -3,706
1997 5,267 -60 211,325 -3,745
1996 5,705 -183 226,095 -3,512
1995 6,177 -302 233,381 -3,094
1994 6,550 -768 320,861 -517
1993 6,842 -749 320,880 0
1992 7,096 -522 324,002 0
1991 7,295 -378 320,551 0
1990 7,444 -271 312,460 0
1989 7,472 -610 303,078 0
1988 7,414 -564 299,305 0
1987 7,300 -265 296,030 0
1986 7,153 -175 293,227 0
1985 6,944 -382 287,714 0
1984 6,680 -1,300 282,987 0
1983 6,361 -1,608 279,046 0
1982 6,058 -1,220 276,332 0
1981 5,778 -1,014 273,800 0
1980 5,526 -903 255,206 0
1979 5,275 -958 251,409 0
1978 4,812 -716 243,533 0
1977 4,779 -413 242,870 0
1976 4,538 -101 255,841 0
1975 4,325 -14 288,966 0
1974 4,136 -78 306,902 0
1973 3,924 60 338,600 0
1972 3,707 269 411,997 0
1971 3,549 341 393,220 0
1970 3,415 330 406,129 0
1969 3,260 313 404,189 0
1968 3,150 255 399,837 0
1967 3,010 672 414,632 0
1966 2,845 1,511 363,882 0
1965 2,747 1,709 335,587 0
1964 2,660 -227 323,623 0
1963 2,567 -125 321,805 0
1962 2,475 -80 286,534 0
1961 2,354 -44 257,788 0
1960 2,241 -32 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people).

As of 2024, 75,099 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Maldives, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 65.7K
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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