The latest officially reported population of Maldives was 527,799 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Maldives' population is 532,057 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 123.5 times bigger than Maldives'.
- Maldives is ranked the 168th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.006% for Maldives vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, Maldives has had an average growth rate of +2.56% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of Maldives has increased from 314K people to 532K (69.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).
Maldives vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Maldives
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 476,505 | 94,767,727 |
| 2099 | 477,920 | 94,556,931 |
| 2098 | 479,417 | 94,349,546 |
| 2097 | 481,109 | 94,158,472 |
| 2096 | 482,965 | 93,960,605 |
| 2095 | 484,925 | 93,752,736 |
| 2094 | 487,060 | 93,527,902 |
| 2093 | 489,462 | 93,300,398 |
| 2092 | 492,137 | 93,074,837 |
| 2091 | 494,900 | 92,826,204 |
| 2090 | 498,054 | 92,594,033 |
| 2089 | 501,304 | 92,355,184 |
| 2088 | 504,978 | 92,112,914 |
| 2087 | 508,740 | 91,866,024 |
| 2086 | 512,752 | 91,614,165 |
| 2085 | 516,863 | 91,385,350 |
| 2084 | 521,065 | 91,139,318 |
| 2083 | 525,345 | 90,877,425 |
| 2082 | 529,631 | 90,615,359 |
| 2081 | 534,118 | 90,345,492 |
| 2080 | 538,568 | 90,071,835 |
| 2079 | 543,030 | 89,801,998 |
| 2078 | 547,552 | 89,526,224 |
| 2077 | 551,886 | 89,249,206 |
| 2076 | 556,016 | 88,986,114 |
| 2075 | 560,031 | 88,713,215 |
| 2074 | 563,862 | 88,428,616 |
| 2073 | 567,654 | 88,149,885 |
| 2072 | 571,178 | 87,866,246 |
| 2071 | 574,604 | 87,540,177 |
| 2070 | 577,819 | 87,209,425 |
| 2069 | 580,792 | 86,901,512 |
| 2068 | 583,580 | 86,588,742 |
| 2067 | 586,194 | 86,268,392 |
| 2066 | 588,512 | 85,935,310 |
| 2065 | 590,500 | 85,604,376 |
| 2064 | 592,344 | 85,244,950 |
| 2063 | 594,011 | 84,875,503 |
| 2062 | 595,405 | 84,503,237 |
| 2061 | 596,482 | 84,132,885 |
| 2060 | 597,051 | 83,748,999 |
| 2059 | 597,623 | 83,354,923 |
| 2058 | 597,874 | 82,947,675 |
| 2057 | 597,811 | 82,538,045 |
| 2056 | 597,360 | 82,127,477 |
| 2055 | 596,636 | 81,698,196 |
| 2054 | 595,832 | 81,255,867 |
| 2053 | 594,829 | 80,818,632 |
| 2052 | 593,458 | 80,367,409 |
| 2051 | 591,942 | 79,886,672 |
| 2050 | 590,121 | 79,411,977 |
| 2049 | 587,970 | 78,925,493 |
| 2048 | 585,592 | 78,437,677 |
| 2047 | 583,306 | 77,922,211 |
| 2046 | 580,842 | 77,397,298 |
| 2045 | 578,160 | 76,879,838 |
| 2044 | 575,546 | 76,357,155 |
| 2043 | 572,802 | 75,827,709 |
| 2042 | 570,020 | 75,291,615 |
| 2041 | 567,246 | 74,748,408 |
| 2040 | 564,398 | 74,205,530 |
| 2039 | 561,546 | 73,663,047 |
| 2038 | 558,940 | 73,105,930 |
| 2037 | 556,343 | 72,532,742 |
| 2036 | 553,839 | 71,956,247 |
| 2035 | 551,348 | 71,362,555 |
| 2034 | 548,952 | 70,762,815 |
| 2033 | 546,465 | 70,153,205 |
| 2032 | 544,072 | 69,527,410 |
| 2031 | 541,734 | 68,890,002 |
| 2030 | 539,556 | 68,245,372 |
| 2029 | 537,533 | 67,573,179 |
| 2028 | 535,394 | 66,884,377 |
| 2027 | 533,401 | 66,190,258 |
| 2026 | 531,559 | 65,496,277 |
| 2025 | 529,712 | 64,770,314 |
| 2024 | 527,799 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 525,994 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 524,106 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 516,154 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 502,118 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 487,731 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 473,099 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 458,287 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 443,308 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 428,154 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 413,617 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 400,070 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 386,818 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 373,674 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 360,792 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 348,275 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 336,170 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 324,479 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 313,851 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 306,429 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 301,413 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 296,491 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 291,616 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 286,767 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 282,019 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 277,412 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 272,723 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 267,707 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 262,347 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 256,649 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 250,822 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 244,884 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 238,543 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 231,802 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 224,762 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 217,738 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 210,885 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 203,944 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 196,935 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 190,169 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 184,198 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 179,128 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 174,333 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 169,532 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 164,835 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 160,360 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 156,159 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 151,930 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 147,525 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 143,158 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 138,978 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 134,952 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 130,968 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 127,035 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 123,219 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 119,564 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 116,075 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 112,528 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 108,507 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 104,102 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 100,662 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 98,222 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 95,802 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 93,450 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 91,189 | 16,440,172 |
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/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Maldives increased by 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Maldives gained 88,749 people (a 20% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).
Maldives was ranked 171st most populous country in 2006 and is 168th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
Maldives is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 598K people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Maldives
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | -0.3% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.31% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | -0.35% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.38% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | -0.4% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | -0.44% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | -0.49% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | -0.54% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | -0.56% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | -0.63% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | -0.73% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | -0.74% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | -0.78% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | -0.8% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | -0.81% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | -0.81% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | -0.81% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | -0.84% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | -0.83% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | -0.82% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | -0.83% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | -0.79% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | -0.74% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | -0.72% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | -0.68% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | -0.67% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | -0.62% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | -0.6% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | -0.56% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | -0.51% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | -0.48% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | -0.45% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | -0.39% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | -0.34% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | -0.31% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | -0.28% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | -0.23% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | -0.18% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | -0.1% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | -0.1% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | -0.04% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | 0.01% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | 0.08% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | 0.12% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | 0.14% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | 0.17% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | 0.23% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | 0.26% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | 0.31% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | 0.37% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | 0.41% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | 0.39% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | 0.42% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | 0.46% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | 0.45% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | 0.48% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | 0.49% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | 0.49% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | 0.5% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | 0.51% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | 0.47% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | 0.47% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | 0.45% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | 0.45% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | 0.44% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | 0.46% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | 0.44% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | 0.43% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | 0.4% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | 0.38% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | 0.4% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | 0.37% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | 0.35% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | 0.35% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 0.36% | 1.19% |
| 2024 | 0.34% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | 0.36% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | 1.54% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 2.95% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 3.09% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 3.23% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 3.38% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 3.54% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 3.51% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 3.39% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | 3.43% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | 3.52% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | 3.57% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 3.59% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | 3.39% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | 2.42% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | 1.66% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 1.66% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 1.67% | 1% |
| 2002 | 1.69% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 1.68% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 1.66% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 1.72% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.87% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 2.04% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 2.22% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 2.32% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 2.42% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 2.66% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 2.91% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 3.13% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 3.23% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 3.25% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 3.56% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 3.56% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 3.24% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 2.83% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | 2.75% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 2.83% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 2.85% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | 2.79% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | 2.69% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 2.78% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | 2.99% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 3.05% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | 3.01% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | 2.98% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | 3.04% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | 3.1% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 3.1% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | 3.06% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | 3.01% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 3.15% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | 3.71% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 4.23% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | 3.42% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | 2.48% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 2.53% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | 2.52% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | 2.48% | 2.85% |
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/south-africa | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Maldives grew by 0.34%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.
Live population counters
|
Maldives
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
532057
|
65683993
|
| Population rank | 168/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
4.85 hours
|
39.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
1.51 hours
|
26.6 seconds
|
| One death every |
7.13 hours
|
54 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +5 | +2,178 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,805 | +794,803 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.34% | +1.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 146/197 | 85/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.85 hours
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -2,283 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 101/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 75,099 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 141/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 14.2% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 48/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maldives
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,283 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | - | -2,421 | - | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 4,566 | -2,877 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 4,752 | -2,674 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 4,426 | 9,412 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 4,594 | 9,642 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 4,886 | 9,648 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 5,088 | 9,637 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 5,342 | 9,555 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 5,652 | 9,421 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 5,914 | 9,324 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 6,122 | 7,700 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 6,307 | 6,963 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 6,445 | 6,800 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 6,429 | 6,611 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 6,350 | 6,369 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 6,227 | 6,093 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 5,856 | 6,035 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 5,324 | 6,160 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 4,766 | 5,006 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 4,493 | 578 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 4,287 | 668 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 4,316 | 578 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 4,257 | 607 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 4,271 | 560 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 4,372 | 300 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 4,601 | -62 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 4,919 | -94 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 5,267 | -60 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 5,705 | -183 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 6,177 | -302 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 6,550 | -768 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 6,842 | -749 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 7,096 | -522 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 7,295 | -378 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 7,444 | -271 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 7,472 | -610 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 7,414 | -564 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 7,300 | -265 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 7,153 | -175 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 6,944 | -382 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 6,680 | -1,300 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 6,361 | -1,608 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 6,058 | -1,220 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 5,778 | -1,014 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 5,526 | -903 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 5,275 | -958 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 4,812 | -716 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 4,779 | -413 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 4,538 | -101 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 4,325 | -14 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 4,136 | -78 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 3,924 | 60 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 3,707 | 269 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 3,549 | 341 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 3,415 | 330 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 3,260 | 313 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 3,150 | 255 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 3,010 | 672 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 2,845 | 1,511 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 2,747 | 1,709 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 2,660 | -227 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 2,567 | -125 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 2,475 | -80 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 2,354 | -44 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 2,241 | -32 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/maldives/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).
As of 2024, 75,099 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Maldives, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Maldives
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Male | 133K |
| Hulhumale | 50K |
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Johannesburg | 4.8M |
| Cape Town | 3.78M |
| Soweto | 1.27M |
| Pietermaritzburg | 839K |
| Pretoria | 742K |
| Durban | 595K |
| Rustenburg | 550K |
| Randburg | 337K |
| Port Elizabeth | 312K |
| East London | 267K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Maldives and South Africa
|
Maldives
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.7 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 32.7 years | 31.1 years |
| Median age | 32.9 years | 29.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 61.9:38.1 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.58 births per woman | 2.22 births per woman |
| Population density | 4,620 ppl/mi² | 139.8 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/south-africa | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
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)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.