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Population in Maldives compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Maldives was 529,676 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Maldives' population is 532,468 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 22.3 times bigger than Maldives'.
  • Maldives is ranked the 168th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.006% for Maldives vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Maldives has had an average growth rate of +2.28% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Maldives has increased from 314K people to 532K (69.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% growth).

Maldives vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Maldives
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Maldives UAE
2100 476,472 26,706,595
2099 477,887 26,465,166
2098 479,384 26,225,773
2097 481,076 25,988,828
2096 482,932 25,753,753
2095 484,892 25,520,511
2094 487,026 25,288,801
2093 489,428 25,058,430
2092 492,103 24,829,182
2091 494,866 24,600,702
2090 498,019 24,372,725
2089 501,269 24,144,467
2088 504,943 23,916,513
2087 508,705 23,688,452
2086 512,717 23,460,422
2085 516,827 23,232,061
2084 521,029 23,002,795
2083 525,309 22,772,229
2082 529,594 22,540,771
2081 534,081 22,308,390
2080 538,531 22,075,331
2079 542,993 21,841,417
2078 547,515 21,606,907
2077 551,848 21,371,631
2076 555,977 21,136,110
2075 559,992 20,900,601
2074 563,823 20,665,468
2073 567,615 20,430,105
2072 571,139 20,196,342
2071 574,565 19,963,477
2070 577,779 19,732,649
2069 580,752 19,503,294
2068 583,540 19,276,535
2067 586,154 19,052,348
2066 588,472 18,831,237
2065 590,459 18,612,821
2064 592,304 18,397,315
2063 593,970 18,185,402
2062 595,364 17,977,010
2061 596,441 17,772,656
2060 597,010 17,571,910
2059 597,582 17,373,047
2058 597,833 17,176,551
2057 597,770 16,982,730
2056 597,319 16,791,613
2055 596,595 16,602,585
2054 595,791 16,414,963
2053 594,788 16,230,105
2052 593,417 16,047,360
2051 591,901 15,866,073
2050 590,081 15,685,433
2049 587,930 15,505,176
2048 585,552 15,326,671
2047 583,266 15,149,859
2046 580,802 14,977,516
2045 578,120 14,808,230
2044 575,506 14,639,661
2043 572,763 14,472,097
2042 569,981 14,305,483
2041 567,207 14,139,883
2040 564,359 13,975,444
2039 561,507 13,812,227
2038 558,901 13,650,128
2037 556,305 13,489,998
2036 553,800 13,331,723
2035 551,310 13,175,838
2034 548,914 13,022,467
2033 546,428 12,872,359
2032 544,034 12,725,892
2031 541,696 12,583,470
2030 539,519 12,445,626
2029 537,496 12,304,314
2028 535,357 12,153,292
2027 533,364 11,982,666
2026 531,523 11,781,850
2025 529,676 11,513,149
2024 527,799 10,986,400
2023 525,994 10,483,751
2022 524,106 10,074,977
2021 516,154 9,575,152
2020 502,118 9,401,038
2019 487,731 9,445,785
2018 473,099 9,346,701
2017 458,287 9,223,225
2016 443,308 8,935,095
2015 428,154 8,505,237
2014 413,617 8,059,440
2013 400,070 7,693,031
2012 386,818 7,391,448
2011 373,674 7,104,538
2010 360,792 6,869,838
2009 348,275 6,707,058
2008 336,170 6,302,664
2007 324,479 5,624,635
2006 313,851 5,009,100
2005 306,429 4,664,790
2004 301,413 4,428,967
2003 296,491 4,192,457
2002 291,616 3,956,826
2001 286,767 3,723,590
2000 282,019 3,493,575
1999 277,412 3,266,009
1998 272,723 3,040,421
1997 267,707 2,817,410
1996 262,347 2,597,564
1995 256,649 2,434,662
1994 250,822 2,328,188
1993 244,884 2,222,093
1992 238,543 2,114,730
1991 231,802 2,006,626
1990 224,762 1,898,220
1989 217,738 1,789,851
1988 210,885 1,681,788
1987 203,944 1,574,244
1986 196,935 1,467,383
1985 190,169 1,377,911
1984 184,198 1,305,996
1983 179,128 1,235,305
1982 174,333 1,166,370
1981 169,532 1,099,855
1980 164,835 1,015,700
1979 160,360 912,010
1978 156,159 809,274
1977 151,930 710,209
1976 147,525 615,866
1975 143,158 542,856
1974 138,978 489,087
1973 134,952 436,399
1972 130,968 385,014
1971 127,035 335,027
1970 123,219 286,536
1969 119,564 239,660
1968 116,075 199,416
1967 112,528 179,700
1966 108,507 173,976
1965 104,102 167,103
1964 100,662 159,692
1963 98,222 152,211
1962 95,802 144,946
1961 93,450 137,989
1960 91,189 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Maldives increased by 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Maldives gained 89,160 people (a 20.1% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% growth).

Maldives was ranked 171st most populous country in 2006 and is 168th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

Maldives is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 598K people compared to the peak of 26.7M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Maldives
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Maldives UAE
2100 -0.3% 0.91%
2099 -0.31% 0.91%
2098 -0.35% 0.91%
2097 -0.38% 0.91%
2096 -0.4% 0.91%
2095 -0.44% 0.92%
2094 -0.49% 0.92%
2093 -0.54% 0.92%
2092 -0.56% 0.93%
2091 -0.63% 0.94%
2090 -0.65% 0.95%
2089 -0.73% 0.95%
2088 -0.74% 0.96%
2087 -0.78% 0.97%
2086 -0.8% 0.98%
2085 -0.81% 1%
2084 -0.81% 1.01%
2083 -0.81% 1.03%
2082 -0.84% 1.04%
2081 -0.83% 1.06%
2080 -0.82% 1.07%
2079 -0.83% 1.09%
2078 -0.79% 1.1%
2077 -0.74% 1.11%
2076 -0.72% 1.13%
2075 -0.68% 1.14%
2074 -0.67% 1.15%
2073 -0.62% 1.16%
2072 -0.6% 1.17%
2071 -0.56% 1.17%
2070 -0.51% 1.18%
2069 -0.48% 1.18%
2068 -0.45% 1.18%
2067 -0.39% 1.17%
2066 -0.34% 1.17%
2065 -0.31% 1.17%
2064 -0.28% 1.17%
2063 -0.23% 1.16%
2062 -0.18% 1.15%
2061 -0.1% 1.14%
2060 -0.1% 1.14%
2059 -0.04% 1.14%
2058 0.01% 1.14%
2057 0.08% 1.14%
2056 0.12% 1.14%
2055 0.14% 1.14%
2054 0.17% 1.14%
2053 0.23% 1.14%
2052 0.26% 1.14%
2051 0.31% 1.15%
2050 0.37% 1.16%
2049 0.41% 1.16%
2048 0.39% 1.17%
2047 0.42% 1.15%
2046 0.46% 1.14%
2045 0.45% 1.15%
2044 0.48% 1.16%
2043 0.49% 1.16%
2042 0.49% 1.17%
2041 0.5% 1.18%
2040 0.51% 1.18%
2039 0.47% 1.19%
2038 0.47% 1.19%
2037 0.45% 1.19%
2036 0.45% 1.18%
2035 0.44% 1.18%
2034 0.46% 1.17%
2033 0.44% 1.15%
2032 0.43% 1.13%
2031 0.4% 1.11%
2030 0.38% 1.15%
2029 0.4% 1.24%
2028 0.37% 1.42%
2027 0.35% 1.7%
2026 0.35% 2.33%
2025 0.36% 4.79%
2024 0.34% 4.79%
2023 0.36% 4.06%
2022 1.54% 5.22%
2021 2.8% 1.85%
2020 2.95% -0.47%
2019 3.09% 1.06%
2018 3.23% 1.34%
2017 3.38% 3.22%
2016 3.54% 5.05%
2015 3.51% 5.53%
2014 3.39% 4.76%
2013 3.43% 4.08%
2012 3.52% 4.04%
2011 3.57% 3.42%
2010 3.59% 2.43%
2009 3.6% 6.42%
2008 3.6% 12.1%
2007 3.39% 12.3%
2006 2.42% 7.38%
2005 1.66% 5.32%
2004 1.66% 5.64%
2003 1.67% 5.96%
2002 1.69% 6.26%
2001 1.68% 6.58%
2000 1.66% 6.97%
1999 1.72% 7.42%
1998 1.87% 7.92%
1997 2.04% 8.46%
1996 2.22% 6.69%
1995 2.32% 4.57%
1994 2.42% 4.77%
1993 2.66% 5.08%
1992 2.91% 5.39%
1991 3.13% 5.71%
1990 3.23% 6.05%
1989 3.25% 6.43%
1988 3.4% 6.83%
1987 3.56% 7.28%
1986 3.56% 6.49%
1985 3.24% 5.51%
1984 2.83% 5.72%
1983 2.75% 5.91%
1982 2.83% 6.05%
1981 2.85% 8.29%
1980 2.79% 11.4%
1979 2.69% 12.7%
1978 2.78% 13.9%
1977 2.99% 15.3%
1976 3.05% 13.4%
1975 3.01% 11%
1974 2.98% 12.1%
1973 3.04% 13.3%
1972 3.1% 14.9%
1971 3.1% 16.9%
1970 3.06% 19.6%
1969 3.01% 20.2%
1968 3.15% 11%
1967 3.71% 3.29%
1966 4.23% 4.11%
1965 3.42% 4.64%
1964 2.48% 4.91%
1963 2.53% 5.01%
1962 2.52% 5.04%
1961 2.48% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Maldives grew by 0.36%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Maldives UAE
Current population
532468
11885001
Population rank 168/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.006% 0.14%
One net population change
4.68 hours
1 minute
One birth every
1.57 hours
4.87 minutes
One death every
7.02 hours
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +5 +1,443
Annual growth/decline +1,877 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate +0.36% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 142/197 1/197
One migration net change every
3.85 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -2,283 +158,634
Net migration rank 101/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 75,099 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 141/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 48/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Maldives
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Maldives UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,283 - 158,634
2024 4,340 -2,421 97,197 278,439
2023 4,566 -2,877 92,698 300,004
2022 4,752 -2,674 81,758 322,773
2021 4,426 9,412 76,802 421,663
2020 4,594 9,642 87,871 92,541
2019 4,886 9,648 86,296 -125,186
2018 5,088 9,637 86,840 14,611
2017 5,342 9,555 89,382 34,155
2016 5,652 9,421 87,028 195,317
2015 5,914 9,324 85,044 342,468
2014 6,122 7,700 84,277 360,174
2013 6,307 6,963 82,977 279,269
2012 6,445 6,800 78,682 225,921
2011 6,429 6,611 73,496 215,183
2010 6,350 6,369 69,907 161,842
2009 6,227 6,093 66,521 163,643
2008 5,856 6,035 55,426 523,207
2007 5,324 6,160 55,048 722,380
2006 4,766 5,006 54,338 399,306
2005 4,493 578 60,046 174,926
2004 4,287 668 60,344 176,319
2003 4,316 578 59,118 177,237
2002 4,257 607 55,922 178,988
2001 4,271 560 52,789 178,779
2000 4,372 300 49,993 178,469
1999 4,601 -62 46,198 180,469
1998 4,919 -94 41,176 183,329
1997 5,267 -60 38,207 183,310
1996 5,705 -183 37,886 180,296
1995 6,177 -302 38,685 68,938
1994 6,550 -768 42,976 62,352
1993 6,842 -749 41,324 65,545
1992 7,096 -522 42,119 65,739
1991 7,295 -378 41,409 66,943
1990 7,444 -271 41,339 67,118
1989 7,472 -610 40,148 68,132
1988 7,414 -564 38,861 68,991
1987 7,300 -265 37,741 69,493
1986 7,153 -175 36,829 69,655
1985 6,944 -382 34,855 37,605
1984 6,680 -1,300 33,250 38,124
1983 6,361 -1,608 31,480 38,536
1982 6,058 -1,220 29,585 38,276
1981 5,778 -1,014 27,560 37,600
1980 5,526 -903 25,005 78,148
1979 5,275 -958 21,987 82,238
1978 4,812 -716 18,879 82,359
1977 4,779 -413 15,787 81,111
1976 4,538 -101 12,876 78,903
1975 4,325 -14 11,859 42,380
1974 4,136 -78 10,835 42,474
1973 3,924 60 9,822 42,243
1972 3,707 269 8,818 41,888
1971 3,549 341 7,839 41,425
1970 3,415 330 6,922 40,792
1969 3,260 313 6,138 39,902
1968 3,150 255 5,588 28,866
1967 3,010 672 5,264 -283
1966 2,845 1,511 4,955 1,516
1965 2,747 1,709 4,675 2,598
1964 2,660 -227 4,410 3,126
1963 2,567 -125 4,157 3,264
1962 2,475 -80 3,901 3,212
1961 2,354 -44 3,657 3,141
1960 2,241 -32 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/maldives/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 people).

As of 2024, 75,099 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Maldives, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

Biggest cities by population

Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 65.7K
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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