The latest officially reported population of Maldives was 529,676 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Maldives' population is 532,468 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.
Population statistics:
- Sri Lanka's population is 41.2 times bigger than Maldives'.
- Maldives is ranked the 168th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
- The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.006% for Maldives vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
- For the last 10 years, Maldives has had an average growth rate of +2.28% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
- Since 2006, the population of Maldives has increased from 314K people to 532K (69.7% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).
Maldives vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Maldives
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
| 2100 | 476,472 | 20,009,380 |
| 2099 | 477,887 | 20,121,095 |
| 2098 | 479,384 | 20,234,513 |
| 2097 | 481,076 | 20,345,619 |
| 2096 | 482,932 | 20,456,607 |
| 2095 | 484,892 | 20,566,246 |
| 2094 | 487,026 | 20,674,019 |
| 2093 | 489,428 | 20,780,946 |
| 2092 | 492,103 | 20,886,274 |
| 2091 | 494,866 | 20,990,047 |
| 2090 | 498,019 | 21,095,968 |
| 2089 | 501,269 | 21,198,788 |
| 2088 | 504,943 | 21,299,229 |
| 2087 | 508,705 | 21,398,269 |
| 2086 | 512,717 | 21,496,892 |
| 2085 | 516,827 | 21,594,661 |
| 2084 | 521,029 | 21,687,323 |
| 2083 | 525,309 | 21,778,597 |
| 2082 | 529,594 | 21,866,395 |
| 2081 | 534,081 | 21,954,337 |
| 2080 | 538,531 | 22,038,953 |
| 2079 | 542,993 | 22,122,744 |
| 2078 | 547,515 | 22,200,069 |
| 2077 | 551,848 | 22,274,355 |
| 2076 | 555,977 | 22,345,857 |
| 2075 | 559,992 | 22,414,609 |
| 2074 | 563,823 | 22,485,066 |
| 2073 | 567,615 | 22,550,427 |
| 2072 | 571,139 | 22,610,645 |
| 2071 | 574,565 | 22,669,042 |
| 2070 | 577,779 | 22,725,948 |
| 2069 | 580,752 | 22,779,050 |
| 2068 | 583,540 | 22,831,596 |
| 2067 | 586,154 | 22,885,941 |
| 2066 | 588,472 | 22,935,123 |
| 2065 | 590,459 | 22,985,942 |
| 2064 | 592,304 | 23,030,844 |
| 2063 | 593,970 | 23,071,114 |
| 2062 | 595,364 | 23,107,970 |
| 2061 | 596,441 | 23,139,924 |
| 2060 | 597,010 | 23,171,649 |
| 2059 | 597,582 | 23,199,387 |
| 2058 | 597,833 | 23,224,997 |
| 2057 | 597,770 | 23,247,211 |
| 2056 | 597,319 | 23,267,292 |
| 2055 | 596,595 | 23,278,653 |
| 2054 | 595,791 | 23,287,520 |
| 2053 | 594,788 | 23,297,347 |
| 2052 | 593,417 | 23,301,287 |
| 2051 | 591,901 | 23,302,108 |
| 2050 | 590,081 | 23,299,282 |
| 2049 | 587,930 | 23,293,630 |
| 2048 | 585,552 | 23,283,465 |
| 2047 | 583,266 | 23,267,251 |
| 2046 | 580,802 | 23,244,081 |
| 2045 | 578,120 | 23,212,221 |
| 2044 | 575,506 | 23,181,041 |
| 2043 | 572,763 | 23,144,217 |
| 2042 | 569,981 | 23,103,489 |
| 2041 | 567,207 | 23,056,478 |
| 2040 | 564,359 | 23,005,928 |
| 2039 | 561,507 | 22,948,866 |
| 2038 | 558,901 | 22,888,821 |
| 2037 | 556,305 | 22,822,943 |
| 2036 | 553,800 | 22,756,462 |
| 2035 | 551,310 | 22,685,766 |
| 2034 | 548,914 | 22,611,514 |
| 2033 | 546,428 | 22,532,374 |
| 2032 | 544,034 | 22,449,310 |
| 2031 | 541,696 | 22,364,063 |
| 2030 | 539,519 | 22,273,377 |
| 2029 | 537,496 | 22,181,300 |
| 2028 | 535,357 | 22,082,826 |
| 2027 | 533,364 | 21,979,196 |
| 2026 | 531,523 | 21,870,145 |
| 2025 | 529,676 | 21,756,000 |
| 2024 | 527,799 | 21,916,000 |
| 2023 | 525,994 | 22,037,000 |
| 2022 | 524,106 | 22,181,000 |
| 2021 | 516,154 | 22,156,000 |
| 2020 | 502,118 | 21,919,000 |
| 2019 | 487,731 | 21,803,000 |
| 2018 | 473,099 | 21,670,000 |
| 2017 | 458,287 | 21,453,000 |
| 2016 | 443,308 | 21,209,000 |
| 2015 | 428,154 | 20,970,000 |
| 2014 | 413,617 | 20,778,000 |
| 2013 | 400,070 | 20,585,000 |
| 2012 | 386,818 | 21,169,458 |
| 2011 | 373,674 | 21,009,048 |
| 2010 | 360,792 | 20,879,089 |
| 2009 | 348,275 | 20,756,435 |
| 2008 | 336,170 | 20,629,378 |
| 2007 | 324,479 | 20,492,545 |
| 2006 | 313,851 | 20,352,411 |
| 2005 | 306,429 | 20,216,524 |
| 2004 | 301,413 | 20,087,605 |
| 2003 | 296,491 | 19,951,521 |
| 2002 | 291,616 | 19,805,752 |
| 2001 | 286,767 | 19,600,362 |
| 2000 | 282,019 | 19,293,054 |
| 1999 | 277,412 | 18,944,731 |
| 1998 | 272,723 | 18,596,003 |
| 1997 | 267,707 | 18,248,200 |
| 1996 | 262,347 | 17,905,018 |
| 1995 | 256,649 | 17,564,068 |
| 1994 | 250,822 | 17,275,773 |
| 1993 | 244,884 | 17,025,918 |
| 1992 | 238,543 | 16,739,284 |
| 1991 | 231,802 | 16,475,354 |
| 1990 | 224,762 | 16,352,458 |
| 1989 | 217,738 | 16,248,557 |
| 1988 | 210,885 | 16,078,621 |
| 1987 | 203,944 | 15,916,576 |
| 1986 | 196,935 | 15,731,256 |
| 1985 | 190,169 | 15,544,154 |
| 1984 | 184,198 | 15,441,860 |
| 1983 | 179,128 | 15,388,794 |
| 1982 | 174,333 | 15,286,567 |
| 1981 | 169,532 | 15,099,414 |
| 1980 | 164,835 | 14,847,974 |
| 1979 | 160,360 | 14,579,614 |
| 1978 | 156,159 | 14,310,128 |
| 1977 | 151,930 | 14,049,371 |
| 1976 | 147,525 | 13,796,770 |
| 1975 | 143,158 | 13,548,984 |
| 1974 | 138,978 | 13,305,693 |
| 1973 | 134,952 | 13,060,916 |
| 1972 | 130,968 | 12,809,205 |
| 1971 | 127,035 | 12,551,910 |
| 1970 | 123,219 | 12,287,110 |
| 1969 | 119,564 | 12,013,858 |
| 1968 | 116,075 | 11,736,088 |
| 1967 | 112,528 | 11,457,328 |
| 1966 | 108,507 | 11,183,928 |
| 1965 | 104,102 | 10,916,965 |
| 1964 | 100,662 | 10,653,397 |
| 1963 | 98,222 | 10,395,040 |
| 1962 | 95,802 | 10,143,754 |
| 1961 | 93,450 | 9,899,372 |
| 1960 | 91,189 | 9,661,389 |
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/sri-lanka | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Maldives increased by 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Maldives gained 89,160 people (a 20.1% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).
Maldives was ranked 171st most populous country in 2006 and is 168th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.
Maldives is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 598K people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Maldives
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
| 2100 | -0.3% | -0.56% |
| 2099 | -0.31% | -0.56% |
| 2098 | -0.35% | -0.55% |
| 2097 | -0.38% | -0.54% |
| 2096 | -0.4% | -0.53% |
| 2095 | -0.44% | -0.52% |
| 2094 | -0.49% | -0.51% |
| 2093 | -0.54% | -0.5% |
| 2092 | -0.56% | -0.49% |
| 2091 | -0.63% | -0.5% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | -0.49% |
| 2089 | -0.73% | -0.47% |
| 2088 | -0.74% | -0.46% |
| 2087 | -0.78% | -0.46% |
| 2086 | -0.8% | -0.45% |
| 2085 | -0.81% | -0.43% |
| 2084 | -0.81% | -0.42% |
| 2083 | -0.81% | -0.4% |
| 2082 | -0.84% | -0.4% |
| 2081 | -0.83% | -0.38% |
| 2080 | -0.82% | -0.38% |
| 2079 | -0.83% | -0.35% |
| 2078 | -0.79% | -0.33% |
| 2077 | -0.74% | -0.32% |
| 2076 | -0.72% | -0.31% |
| 2075 | -0.68% | -0.31% |
| 2074 | -0.67% | -0.29% |
| 2073 | -0.62% | -0.27% |
| 2072 | -0.6% | -0.26% |
| 2071 | -0.56% | -0.25% |
| 2070 | -0.51% | -0.23% |
| 2069 | -0.48% | -0.23% |
| 2068 | -0.45% | -0.24% |
| 2067 | -0.39% | -0.21% |
| 2066 | -0.34% | -0.22% |
| 2065 | -0.31% | -0.19% |
| 2064 | -0.28% | -0.17% |
| 2063 | -0.23% | -0.16% |
| 2062 | -0.18% | -0.14% |
| 2061 | -0.1% | -0.14% |
| 2060 | -0.1% | -0.12% |
| 2059 | -0.04% | -0.11% |
| 2058 | 0.01% | -0.1% |
| 2057 | 0.08% | -0.09% |
| 2056 | 0.12% | -0.05% |
| 2055 | 0.14% | -0.04% |
| 2054 | 0.17% | -0.04% |
| 2053 | 0.23% | -0.02% |
| 2052 | 0.26% | -0.004% |
| 2051 | 0.31% | 0.01% |
| 2050 | 0.37% | 0.02% |
| 2049 | 0.41% | 0.04% |
| 2048 | 0.39% | 0.07% |
| 2047 | 0.42% | 0.1% |
| 2046 | 0.46% | 0.14% |
| 2045 | 0.45% | 0.13% |
| 2044 | 0.48% | 0.16% |
| 2043 | 0.49% | 0.18% |
| 2042 | 0.49% | 0.2% |
| 2041 | 0.5% | 0.22% |
| 2040 | 0.51% | 0.25% |
| 2039 | 0.47% | 0.26% |
| 2038 | 0.47% | 0.29% |
| 2037 | 0.45% | 0.29% |
| 2036 | 0.45% | 0.31% |
| 2035 | 0.44% | 0.33% |
| 2034 | 0.46% | 0.35% |
| 2033 | 0.44% | 0.37% |
| 2032 | 0.43% | 0.38% |
| 2031 | 0.4% | 0.41% |
| 2030 | 0.38% | 0.42% |
| 2029 | 0.4% | 0.45% |
| 2028 | 0.37% | 0.47% |
| 2027 | 0.35% | 0.5% |
| 2026 | 0.35% | 0.52% |
| 2025 | 0.36% | -0.73% |
| 2024 | 0.34% | -0.55% |
| 2023 | 0.36% | -0.65% |
| 2022 | 1.54% | 0.11% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 2.95% | 0.53% |
| 2019 | 3.09% | 0.61% |
| 2018 | 3.23% | 1.01% |
| 2017 | 3.38% | 1.15% |
| 2016 | 3.54% | 1.14% |
| 2015 | 3.51% | 0.92% |
| 2014 | 3.39% | 0.94% |
| 2013 | 3.43% | -2.76% |
| 2012 | 3.52% | 0.76% |
| 2011 | 3.57% | 0.62% |
| 2010 | 3.59% | 0.59% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | 0.62% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | 0.67% |
| 2007 | 3.39% | 0.69% |
| 2006 | 2.42% | 0.67% |
| 2005 | 1.66% | 0.64% |
| 2004 | 1.66% | 0.68% |
| 2003 | 1.67% | 0.74% |
| 2002 | 1.69% | 1.05% |
| 2001 | 1.68% | 1.59% |
| 2000 | 1.66% | 1.84% |
| 1999 | 1.72% | 1.88% |
| 1998 | 1.87% | 1.91% |
| 1997 | 2.04% | 1.92% |
| 1996 | 2.22% | 1.94% |
| 1995 | 2.32% | 1.67% |
| 1994 | 2.42% | 1.47% |
| 1993 | 2.66% | 1.71% |
| 1992 | 2.91% | 1.6% |
| 1991 | 3.13% | 0.75% |
| 1990 | 3.23% | 0.64% |
| 1989 | 3.25% | 1.06% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | 1.02% |
| 1987 | 3.56% | 1.18% |
| 1986 | 3.56% | 1.2% |
| 1985 | 3.24% | 0.66% |
| 1984 | 2.83% | 0.34% |
| 1983 | 2.75% | 0.67% |
| 1982 | 2.83% | 1.24% |
| 1981 | 2.85% | 1.69% |
| 1980 | 2.79% | 1.84% |
| 1979 | 2.69% | 1.88% |
| 1978 | 2.78% | 1.86% |
| 1977 | 2.99% | 1.83% |
| 1976 | 3.05% | 1.83% |
| 1975 | 3.01% | 1.83% |
| 1974 | 2.98% | 1.87% |
| 1973 | 3.04% | 1.97% |
| 1972 | 3.1% | 2.05% |
| 1971 | 3.1% | 2.16% |
| 1970 | 3.06% | 2.27% |
| 1969 | 3.01% | 2.37% |
| 1968 | 3.15% | 2.43% |
| 1967 | 3.71% | 2.44% |
| 1966 | 4.23% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 3.42% | 2.47% |
| 1964 | 2.48% | 2.49% |
| 1963 | 2.53% | 2.48% |
| 1962 | 2.52% | 2.47% |
| 1961 | 2.48% | 2.46% |
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/sri-lanka | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Maldives grew by 0.36%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.
Live population counters
|
Maldives
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
532468
|
21926160
|
| Population rank | 168/197 | 63/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.26% |
| One net population change |
4.68 hours
|
3.29 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.57 hours
|
2.37 minutes
|
| One death every |
7.02 hours
|
3.07 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +5 | -438 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,877 | -160,000 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.36% | -0.73% |
| Population growth rate rank | 142/197 | 190/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.85 hours
|
17.2 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -2,283 | -30,724 |
| Net migration rank | 101/196 | 165/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 75,099 | 40,698 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 141/195 | 156/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 14.2% | 0.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 48/195 | 190/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maldives
|
Sri Lanka
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,283 | - | -30,724 |
| 2024 | 4,340 | -2,421 | 50,407 | -27,245 |
| 2023 | 4,566 | -2,877 | 66,111 | -28,011 |
| 2022 | 4,752 | -2,674 | 95,378 | -27,435 |
| 2021 | 4,426 | 9,412 | 121,858 | -29,586 |
| 2020 | 4,594 | 9,642 | 170,968 | -29,875 |
| 2019 | 4,886 | 9,648 | 172,243 | -28,426 |
| 2018 | 5,088 | 9,637 | 183,610 | -28,607 |
| 2017 | 5,342 | 9,555 | 187,993 | -22,324 |
| 2016 | 5,652 | 9,421 | 194,232 | -18,388 |
| 2015 | 5,914 | 9,324 | 201,815 | -29,797 |
| 2014 | 6,122 | 7,700 | 211,541 | -33,672 |
| 2013 | 6,307 | 6,963 | 221,021 | -37,754 |
| 2012 | 6,445 | 6,800 | 229,138 | -41,955 |
| 2011 | 6,429 | 6,611 | 224,461 | -90,839 |
| 2010 | 6,350 | 6,369 | 224,325 | -98,060 |
| 2009 | 6,227 | 6,093 | 200,175 | -81,130 |
| 2008 | 5,856 | 6,035 | 232,225 | -97,144 |
| 2007 | 5,324 | 6,160 | 248,287 | -109,695 |
| 2006 | 4,766 | 5,006 | 248,706 | -107,045 |
| 2005 | 4,493 | 578 | 248,683 | -118,594 |
| 2004 | 4,287 | 668 | 212,527 | -84,795 |
| 2003 | 4,316 | 578 | 252,008 | -107,573 |
| 2002 | 4,257 | 607 | 252,840 | -105,718 |
| 2001 | 4,271 | 560 | 244,377 | 19,273 |
| 2000 | 4,372 | 300 | 227,060 | 123,894 |
| 1999 | 4,601 | -62 | 206,876 | 138,799 |
| 1998 | 4,919 | -94 | 201,059 | 150,724 |
| 1997 | 5,267 | -60 | 208,193 | 135,636 |
| 1996 | 5,705 | -183 | 215,290 | 127,236 |
| 1995 | 6,177 | -302 | 221,957 | 117,416 |
| 1994 | 6,550 | -768 | 228,904 | 8,323 |
| 1993 | 6,842 | -749 | 226,257 | 36,232 |
| 1992 | 7,096 | -522 | 222,230 | 88,542 |
| 1991 | 7,295 | -378 | 218,117 | -1,047 |
| 1990 | 7,444 | -271 | 224,454 | -195,736 |
| 1989 | 7,472 | -610 | 212,401 | -33,305 |
| 1988 | 7,414 | -564 | 219,184 | -58,415 |
| 1987 | 7,300 | -265 | 226,414 | -63,105 |
| 1986 | 7,153 | -175 | 233,782 | -26,460 |
| 1985 | 6,944 | -382 | 247,836 | -80,950 |
| 1984 | 6,680 | -1,300 | 263,175 | -225,450 |
| 1983 | 6,361 | -1,608 | 277,768 | -209,362 |
| 1982 | 6,058 | -1,220 | 300,030 | -163,987 |
| 1981 | 5,778 | -1,014 | 328,096 | -89,824 |
| 1980 | 5,526 | -903 | 328,155 | -63,541 |
| 1979 | 5,275 | -958 | 329,791 | -57,683 |
| 1978 | 4,812 | -716 | 317,055 | -50,189 |
| 1977 | 4,779 | -413 | 300,038 | -45,383 |
| 1976 | 4,538 | -101 | 291,816 | -41,258 |
| 1975 | 4,325 | -14 | 282,496 | -37,475 |
| 1974 | 4,136 | -78 | 275,521 | -33,979 |
| 1973 | 3,924 | 60 | 278,577 | -30,582 |
| 1972 | 3,707 | 269 | 282,494 | -27,071 |
| 1971 | 3,549 | 341 | 281,200 | -22,021 |
| 1970 | 3,415 | 330 | 286,719 | -16,299 |
| 1969 | 3,260 | 313 | 286,218 | -10,152 |
| 1968 | 3,150 | 255 | 286,642 | -7,163 |
| 1967 | 3,010 | 672 | 284,738 | -6,696 |
| 1966 | 2,845 | 1,511 | 275,549 | -6,794 |
| 1965 | 2,747 | 1,709 | 272,422 | -7,249 |
| 1964 | 2,660 | -227 | 269,584 | -7,614 |
| 1963 | 2,567 | -125 | 262,880 | -8,118 |
| 1962 | 2,475 | -80 | 256,719 | -8,909 |
| 1961 | 2,354 | -44 | 251,087 | -10,144 |
| 1960 | 2,241 | -32 | 247,631 | -12,610 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/maldives/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).
As of 2024, 75,099 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Maldives, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Maldives and Sri Lanka
|
Maldives
|
Sri Lanka
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 81.7 years | 78 years |
| Average age | 33.3 years | 36 years |
| Median age | 33.6 years | 34.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 61.7:38.3 | 48.4:51.6 |
| Fertility rate | 1.56 births per woman | 1.95 births per woman |
| Population density | 4,620 ppl/mi² | 916 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/sri-lanka | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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