The latest officially reported population of Maldives was 527,799 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Maldives' population is 532,057 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.
Population statistics:
- Papua New Guinea's population is 20.7 times bigger than Maldives'.
- Maldives is ranked the 168th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
- The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.006% for Maldives vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
- For the last 10 years, Maldives has had an average growth rate of +2.56% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
- Since 2006, the population of Maldives has increased from 314K people to 532K (69.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).
Maldives vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Maldives
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | 476,505 | 18,802,138 |
| 2099 | 477,920 | 18,790,040 |
| 2098 | 479,417 | 18,776,265 |
| 2097 | 481,109 | 18,758,897 |
| 2096 | 482,965 | 18,737,707 |
| 2095 | 484,925 | 18,714,219 |
| 2094 | 487,060 | 18,687,257 |
| 2093 | 489,462 | 18,658,233 |
| 2092 | 492,137 | 18,625,772 |
| 2091 | 494,900 | 18,590,001 |
| 2090 | 498,054 | 18,549,501 |
| 2089 | 501,304 | 18,510,463 |
| 2088 | 504,978 | 18,468,827 |
| 2087 | 508,740 | 18,424,378 |
| 2086 | 512,752 | 18,376,043 |
| 2085 | 516,863 | 18,325,641 |
| 2084 | 521,065 | 18,274,394 |
| 2083 | 525,345 | 18,218,709 |
| 2082 | 529,631 | 18,163,177 |
| 2081 | 534,118 | 18,104,285 |
| 2080 | 538,568 | 18,039,008 |
| 2079 | 543,030 | 17,975,778 |
| 2078 | 547,552 | 17,908,670 |
| 2077 | 551,886 | 17,840,781 |
| 2076 | 556,016 | 17,771,791 |
| 2075 | 560,031 | 17,699,428 |
| 2074 | 563,862 | 17,625,044 |
| 2073 | 567,654 | 17,548,128 |
| 2072 | 571,178 | 17,466,649 |
| 2071 | 574,604 | 17,381,598 |
| 2070 | 577,819 | 17,295,105 |
| 2069 | 580,792 | 17,205,503 |
| 2068 | 583,580 | 17,112,154 |
| 2067 | 586,194 | 17,015,090 |
| 2066 | 588,512 | 16,915,436 |
| 2065 | 590,500 | 16,812,946 |
| 2064 | 592,344 | 16,708,669 |
| 2063 | 594,011 | 16,604,296 |
| 2062 | 595,405 | 16,497,292 |
| 2061 | 596,482 | 16,386,905 |
| 2060 | 597,051 | 16,270,535 |
| 2059 | 597,623 | 16,152,614 |
| 2058 | 597,874 | 16,032,684 |
| 2057 | 597,811 | 15,909,649 |
| 2056 | 597,360 | 15,784,519 |
| 2055 | 596,636 | 15,656,542 |
| 2054 | 595,832 | 15,523,143 |
| 2053 | 594,829 | 15,389,244 |
| 2052 | 593,458 | 15,250,715 |
| 2051 | 591,942 | 15,110,389 |
| 2050 | 590,121 | 14,968,530 |
| 2049 | 587,970 | 14,821,865 |
| 2048 | 585,592 | 14,673,459 |
| 2047 | 583,306 | 14,522,926 |
| 2046 | 580,842 | 14,370,120 |
| 2045 | 578,160 | 14,213,585 |
| 2044 | 575,546 | 14,056,036 |
| 2043 | 572,802 | 13,897,765 |
| 2042 | 570,020 | 13,738,690 |
| 2041 | 567,246 | 13,577,382 |
| 2040 | 564,398 | 13,413,396 |
| 2039 | 561,546 | 13,247,486 |
| 2038 | 558,940 | 13,079,352 |
| 2037 | 556,343 | 12,909,735 |
| 2036 | 553,839 | 12,738,223 |
| 2035 | 551,348 | 12,566,543 |
| 2034 | 548,952 | 12,392,476 |
| 2033 | 546,465 | 12,218,246 |
| 2032 | 544,072 | 12,042,345 |
| 2031 | 541,734 | 11,865,316 |
| 2030 | 539,556 | 11,685,599 |
| 2029 | 537,533 | 11,504,890 |
| 2028 | 535,394 | 11,322,573 |
| 2027 | 533,401 | 11,138,409 |
| 2026 | 531,559 | 10,952,454 |
| 2025 | 529,712 | 10,765,048 |
| 2024 | 527,799 | 10,576,502 |
| 2023 | 525,994 | 10,389,635 |
| 2022 | 524,106 | 10,203,169 |
| 2021 | 516,154 | 10,012,896 |
| 2020 | 502,118 | 9,815,746 |
| 2019 | 487,731 | 9,609,010 |
| 2018 | 473,099 | 9,394,513 |
| 2017 | 458,287 | 9,178,714 |
| 2016 | 443,308 | 8,961,718 |
| 2015 | 428,154 | 8,743,246 |
| 2014 | 413,617 | 8,523,441 |
| 2013 | 400,070 | 8,302,698 |
| 2012 | 386,818 | 8,081,390 |
| 2011 | 373,674 | 7,859,346 |
| 2010 | 360,792 | 7,633,523 |
| 2009 | 348,275 | 7,406,438 |
| 2008 | 336,170 | 7,183,002 |
| 2007 | 324,479 | 6,963,345 |
| 2006 | 313,851 | 6,747,720 |
| 2005 | 306,429 | 6,535,905 |
| 2004 | 301,413 | 6,328,041 |
| 2003 | 296,491 | 6,123,997 |
| 2002 | 291,616 | 5,924,003 |
| 2001 | 286,767 | 5,728,435 |
| 2000 | 282,019 | 5,537,064 |
| 1999 | 277,412 | 5,349,333 |
| 1998 | 272,723 | 5,166,390 |
| 1997 | 267,707 | 4,987,883 |
| 1996 | 262,347 | 4,813,361 |
| 1995 | 256,649 | 4,644,278 |
| 1994 | 250,822 | 4,480,208 |
| 1993 | 244,884 | 4,320,872 |
| 1992 | 238,543 | 4,166,699 |
| 1991 | 231,802 | 4,021,837 |
| 1990 | 224,762 | 3,896,481 |
| 1989 | 217,738 | 3,796,078 |
| 1988 | 210,885 | 3,711,880 |
| 1987 | 203,944 | 3,632,543 |
| 1986 | 196,935 | 3,554,793 |
| 1985 | 190,169 | 3,478,936 |
| 1984 | 184,198 | 3,405,198 |
| 1983 | 179,128 | 3,333,633 |
| 1982 | 174,333 | 3,264,291 |
| 1981 | 169,532 | 3,197,019 |
| 1980 | 164,835 | 3,131,512 |
| 1979 | 160,360 | 3,067,341 |
| 1978 | 156,159 | 3,003,714 |
| 1977 | 151,930 | 2,940,327 |
| 1976 | 147,525 | 2,877,327 |
| 1975 | 143,158 | 2,814,820 |
| 1974 | 138,978 | 2,752,671 |
| 1973 | 134,952 | 2,690,629 |
| 1972 | 130,968 | 2,628,432 |
| 1971 | 127,035 | 2,566,421 |
| 1970 | 123,219 | 2,505,628 |
| 1969 | 119,564 | 2,446,927 |
| 1968 | 116,075 | 2,390,803 |
| 1967 | 112,528 | 2,337,532 |
| 1966 | 108,507 | 2,285,774 |
| 1965 | 104,102 | 2,235,820 |
| 1964 | 100,662 | 2,188,325 |
| 1963 | 98,222 | 2,141,376 |
| 1962 | 95,802 | 2,093,919 |
| 1961 | 93,450 | 2,046,127 |
| 1960 | 91,189 | 1,995,110 |
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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Maldives increased by 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Maldives gained 88,749 people (a 20% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).
Maldives was ranked 171st most populous country in 2006 and is 168th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.
Maldives is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 598K people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Maldives
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.3% | 0.06% |
| 2099 | -0.31% | 0.07% |
| 2098 | -0.35% | 0.09% |
| 2097 | -0.38% | 0.11% |
| 2096 | -0.4% | 0.13% |
| 2095 | -0.44% | 0.14% |
| 2094 | -0.49% | 0.16% |
| 2093 | -0.54% | 0.17% |
| 2092 | -0.56% | 0.19% |
| 2091 | -0.63% | 0.22% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.21% |
| 2089 | -0.73% | 0.23% |
| 2088 | -0.74% | 0.24% |
| 2087 | -0.78% | 0.26% |
| 2086 | -0.8% | 0.28% |
| 2085 | -0.81% | 0.28% |
| 2084 | -0.81% | 0.31% |
| 2083 | -0.81% | 0.31% |
| 2082 | -0.84% | 0.33% |
| 2081 | -0.83% | 0.36% |
| 2080 | -0.82% | 0.35% |
| 2079 | -0.83% | 0.37% |
| 2078 | -0.79% | 0.38% |
| 2077 | -0.74% | 0.39% |
| 2076 | -0.72% | 0.41% |
| 2075 | -0.68% | 0.42% |
| 2074 | -0.67% | 0.44% |
| 2073 | -0.62% | 0.47% |
| 2072 | -0.6% | 0.49% |
| 2071 | -0.56% | 0.5% |
| 2070 | -0.51% | 0.52% |
| 2069 | -0.48% | 0.55% |
| 2068 | -0.45% | 0.57% |
| 2067 | -0.39% | 0.59% |
| 2066 | -0.34% | 0.61% |
| 2065 | -0.31% | 0.62% |
| 2064 | -0.28% | 0.63% |
| 2063 | -0.23% | 0.65% |
| 2062 | -0.18% | 0.67% |
| 2061 | -0.1% | 0.72% |
| 2060 | -0.1% | 0.73% |
| 2059 | -0.04% | 0.75% |
| 2058 | 0.01% | 0.77% |
| 2057 | 0.08% | 0.79% |
| 2056 | 0.12% | 0.82% |
| 2055 | 0.14% | 0.86% |
| 2054 | 0.17% | 0.87% |
| 2053 | 0.23% | 0.91% |
| 2052 | 0.26% | 0.93% |
| 2051 | 0.31% | 0.95% |
| 2050 | 0.37% | 0.99% |
| 2049 | 0.41% | 1.01% |
| 2048 | 0.39% | 1.04% |
| 2047 | 0.42% | 1.06% |
| 2046 | 0.46% | 1.1% |
| 2045 | 0.45% | 1.12% |
| 2044 | 0.48% | 1.14% |
| 2043 | 0.49% | 1.16% |
| 2042 | 0.49% | 1.19% |
| 2041 | 0.5% | 1.22% |
| 2040 | 0.51% | 1.25% |
| 2039 | 0.47% | 1.29% |
| 2038 | 0.47% | 1.31% |
| 2037 | 0.45% | 1.35% |
| 2036 | 0.45% | 1.37% |
| 2035 | 0.44% | 1.4% |
| 2034 | 0.46% | 1.43% |
| 2033 | 0.44% | 1.46% |
| 2032 | 0.43% | 1.49% |
| 2031 | 0.4% | 1.54% |
| 2030 | 0.38% | 1.57% |
| 2029 | 0.4% | 1.61% |
| 2028 | 0.37% | 1.65% |
| 2027 | 0.35% | 1.7% |
| 2026 | 0.35% | 1.74% |
| 2025 | 0.36% | 1.78% |
| 2024 | 0.34% | 1.8% |
| 2023 | 0.36% | 1.83% |
| 2022 | 1.54% | 1.9% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | 2.01% |
| 2020 | 2.95% | 2.15% |
| 2019 | 3.09% | 2.28% |
| 2018 | 3.23% | 2.35% |
| 2017 | 3.38% | 2.42% |
| 2016 | 3.54% | 2.5% |
| 2015 | 3.51% | 2.58% |
| 2014 | 3.39% | 2.66% |
| 2013 | 3.43% | 2.74% |
| 2012 | 3.52% | 2.83% |
| 2011 | 3.57% | 2.96% |
| 2010 | 3.59% | 3.07% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | 3.11% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | 3.15% |
| 2007 | 3.39% | 3.2% |
| 2006 | 2.42% | 3.24% |
| 2005 | 1.66% | 3.28% |
| 2004 | 1.66% | 3.33% |
| 2003 | 1.67% | 3.38% |
| 2002 | 1.69% | 3.41% |
| 2001 | 1.68% | 3.46% |
| 2000 | 1.66% | 3.51% |
| 1999 | 1.72% | 3.54% |
| 1998 | 1.87% | 3.58% |
| 1997 | 2.04% | 3.63% |
| 1996 | 2.22% | 3.64% |
| 1995 | 2.32% | 3.66% |
| 1994 | 2.42% | 3.69% |
| 1993 | 2.66% | 3.7% |
| 1992 | 2.91% | 3.6% |
| 1991 | 3.13% | 3.22% |
| 1990 | 3.23% | 2.64% |
| 1989 | 3.25% | 2.27% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | 2.18% |
| 1987 | 3.56% | 2.19% |
| 1986 | 3.56% | 2.18% |
| 1985 | 3.24% | 2.17% |
| 1984 | 2.83% | 2.15% |
| 1983 | 2.75% | 2.12% |
| 1982 | 2.83% | 2.1% |
| 1981 | 2.85% | 2.09% |
| 1980 | 2.79% | 2.09% |
| 1979 | 2.69% | 2.12% |
| 1978 | 2.78% | 2.16% |
| 1977 | 2.99% | 2.19% |
| 1976 | 3.05% | 2.22% |
| 1975 | 3.01% | 2.26% |
| 1974 | 2.98% | 2.31% |
| 1973 | 3.04% | 2.37% |
| 1972 | 3.1% | 2.42% |
| 1971 | 3.1% | 2.43% |
| 1970 | 3.06% | 2.4% |
| 1969 | 3.01% | 2.35% |
| 1968 | 3.15% | 2.28% |
| 1967 | 3.71% | 2.26% |
| 1966 | 4.23% | 2.23% |
| 1965 | 3.42% | 2.17% |
| 1964 | 2.48% | 2.19% |
| 1963 | 2.53% | 2.27% |
| 1962 | 2.52% | 2.34% |
| 1961 | 2.48% | 2.56% |
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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Maldives grew by 0.34%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.
Live population counters
|
Maldives
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
532057
|
11002753
|
| Population rank | 168/197 | 89/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.13% |
| One net population change |
4.85 hours
|
2.81 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.51 hours
|
2.06 minutes
|
| One death every |
7.13 hours
|
7.76 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +5 | +512 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,805 | +186,867 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.34% | +1.8% |
| Population growth rate rank | 146/197 | 59/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.85 hours
|
1.29 days
|
| Annual migration change | -2,283 | -284 |
| Net migration rank | 101/196 | 87/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 75,099 | 31,171 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 141/195 | 163/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 14.2% | 0.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 48/195 | 183/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maldives
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,283 | - | -284 |
| 2024 | - | -2,421 | - | -707 |
| 2023 | 4,566 | -2,877 | 187,637 | -787 |
| 2022 | 4,752 | -2,674 | 186,861 | -787 |
| 2021 | 4,426 | 9,412 | 183,766 | 10,703 |
| 2020 | 4,594 | 9,642 | 189,130 | 10,703 |
| 2019 | 4,886 | 9,648 | 190,662 | 22,978 |
| 2018 | 5,088 | 9,637 | 190,662 | 24,684 |
| 2017 | 5,342 | 9,555 | 189,715 | 26,513 |
| 2016 | 5,652 | 9,421 | 189,281 | 28,473 |
| 2015 | 5,914 | 9,324 | 188,600 | 30,580 |
| 2014 | 6,122 | 7,700 | 187,592 | 32,840 |
| 2013 | 6,307 | 6,963 | 185,790 | 35,280 |
| 2012 | 6,445 | 6,800 | 183,658 | 37,893 |
| 2011 | 6,429 | 6,611 | 181,842 | 40,690 |
| 2010 | 6,350 | 6,369 | 178,998 | 50,106 |
| 2009 | 6,227 | 6,093 | 175,421 | 49,647 |
| 2008 | 5,856 | 6,035 | 172,823 | 48,985 |
| 2007 | 5,324 | 6,160 | 169,306 | 48,203 |
| 2006 | 4,766 | 5,006 | 166,540 | 47,191 |
| 2005 | 4,493 | 578 | 163,888 | 46,014 |
| 2004 | 4,287 | 668 | 161,023 | 44,811 |
| 2003 | 4,316 | 578 | 158,611 | 43,639 |
| 2002 | 4,257 | 607 | 155,091 | 42,657 |
| 2001 | 4,271 | 560 | 151,431 | 41,962 |
| 2000 | 4,372 | 300 | 147,496 | 41,855 |
| 1999 | 4,601 | -62 | 143,592 | 42,519 |
| 1998 | 4,919 | -94 | 136,677 | 43,091 |
| 1997 | 5,267 | -60 | 134,458 | 42,787 |
| 1996 | 5,705 | -183 | 129,802 | 41,994 |
| 1995 | 6,177 | -302 | 125,410 | 40,962 |
| 1994 | 6,550 | -768 | 122,113 | 39,669 |
| 1993 | 6,842 | -749 | 118,668 | 38,220 |
| 1992 | 7,096 | -522 | 114,818 | 36,622 |
| 1991 | 7,295 | -378 | 111,453 | 26,830 |
| 1990 | 7,444 | -271 | 110,033 | 2,398 |
| 1989 | 7,472 | -610 | 108,199 | -19,824 |
| 1988 | 7,414 | -564 | 106,256 | -26,232 |
| 1987 | 7,300 | -265 | 104,367 | -25,720 |
| 1986 | 7,153 | -175 | 102,346 | -25,495 |
| 1985 | 6,944 | -382 | 100,333 | -25,470 |
| 1984 | 6,680 | -1,300 | 98,103 | -25,487 |
| 1983 | 6,361 | -1,608 | 95,982 | -25,465 |
| 1982 | 6,058 | -1,220 | 93,522 | -25,355 |
| 1981 | 5,778 | -1,014 | 91,767 | -25,383 |
| 1980 | 5,526 | -903 | 90,266 | -25,638 |
| 1979 | 5,275 | -958 | 89,330 | -25,618 |
| 1978 | 4,812 | -716 | 88,747 | -25,208 |
| 1977 | 4,779 | -413 | 87,954 | -24,722 |
| 1976 | 4,538 | -101 | 86,965 | -24,198 |
| 1975 | 4,325 | -14 | 85,809 | -23,562 |
| 1974 | 4,136 | -78 | 84,829 | -22,771 |
| 1973 | 3,924 | 60 | 83,821 | -21,803 |
| 1972 | 3,707 | 269 | 82,672 | -20,303 |
| 1971 | 3,549 | 341 | 80,599 | -18,945 |
| 1970 | 3,415 | 330 | 78,712 | -18,773 |
| 1969 | 3,260 | 313 | 76,454 | -18,994 |
| 1968 | 3,150 | 255 | 73,983 | -19,188 |
| 1967 | 3,010 | 672 | 71,519 | -19,767 |
| 1966 | 2,845 | 1,511 | 69,206 | -17,454 |
| 1965 | 2,747 | 1,709 | 66,693 | -18,532 |
| 1964 | 2,660 | -227 | 64,558 | -17,730 |
| 1963 | 2,567 | -125 | 62,260 | -15,189 |
| 1962 | 2,475 | -80 | 59,974 | -12,141 |
| 1961 | 2,354 | -44 | 58,151 | -10,409 |
| 1960 | 2,241 | -32 | 56,326 | -2,034 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/maldives/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).
As of 2024, 75,099 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Maldives, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Maldives
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Male | 133K |
| Hulhumale | 50K |
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Moresby | 317K |
| Lae | 101K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Maldives and Papua New Guinea
|
Maldives
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.7 years | 66.5 years |
| Average age | 32.7 years | 26.7 years |
| Median age | 32.9 years | 23.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 61.9:38.1 | 51.4:48.6 |
| Fertility rate | 1.58 births per woman | 3.1 births per woman |
| Population density | 4,620 ppl/mi² | 62.6 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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