This is a demography of the population of Maldives, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Population size and structure

Structure of the population

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 151 459 147 509 298 968 100 0–4 13 362 12 809 26 171 8.75 5–9 15 352 14 515 29 867 9.99 10–14 19 111 17 888 36 999 12.38 15–19 20 155 19 749 39 904 13.35 20–24 16 933 17 876 34 809 11.64 25–29 11 915 12 666 24 581 8.22 30–34 10 022 10 613 20 635 6.90 35–39 8 780 9 394 18 174 6.08 40–44 7 828 8 043 15 871 5.31 45–49 6 872 6 697 13 569 4.54 50–54 4 147 3 789 7 936 2.65 55–59 3 046 2 813 5 859 1.96 60–64 2 852 2 714 5 566 1.86 65–69 3 014 2 664 5 678 1.90 70–74 2 333 1 853 4 186 1.40 75–79 1 444 933 2 377 0.80 80–84 617 447 1 064 0.36 85–89 241 155 396 0.13 90–94 89 70 159 0.05 95+ 52 32 84 0.03 unknown 3 294 1 789 5 083 1.70Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 47 825 45 212 93 037 31.12 15–64 92 550 94 354 186 904 62.52 65+ 7 790 6 154 13 944 4.66

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 169 800 166 424 336 224 100 0–4 16 714 16 429 33 143 9.86 5–9 13 826 13 318 27 144 8.07 10–14 14 498 13 671 28 169 8.38 15–19 18 153 16 795 34 948 10.39 20–24 20 743 19 640 40 383 12.01 25–29 19 091 19 401 38 492 11.45 30–34 14 054 14 828 28 882 8.59 35–39 10 761 11 263 22 024 6.55 40–44 9 409 9 935 19 344 5.75 45–49 8 270 8 587 16 857 5.01 50–54 7 421 7 340 14 761 4.39 55–59 5 105 4 799 9 904 2.95 60–64 3 118 2 884 6 002 1.79 65–69 2 542 2 495 5 037 1.50 70–74 2 430 2 338 4 768 1.42 75–79 1 971 1 648 3 619 1.08 80+ 1 693 1 054 2 747 0.82Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 45 038 43 418 88 456 26.31 15–64 116 126 115 471 231 597 68.88 65+ 8 636 7 535 16 171 4.81

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 356 149 201 277 557 426 100 0–4 20 612 18 798 39 411 7.07 5–9 19 345 17 242 36 587 6.56 10–14 17 446 16 495 33 941 6.09 15–19 17 354 13 032 30 386 5.45 20–24 48 242 16 763 65 005 11.66 25–29 65 935 21 387 87 322 15.67 30–34 51 583 22 366 73 949 13.27 35–39 36 844 19 016 55 859 10.02 40–44 24 838 13 365 38 203 6.85 45–49 17 124 10 950 28 074 5.04 50–54 11 939 9 187 21 126 3.79 55–59 8 754 7 754 16 508 2.96 60–64 6 450 6 008 12 458 2.23 65–69 3 351 2 958 6 309 1.13 70–74 2 232 2 200 4 432 0.80 75–79 1 832 1 848 3 680 0.66 80+ 2 269 1 908 4 177 0.75Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 57 403 52 535 109 938 19.72 15–64 289 062 139 828 428 890 76.94 65+ 9 684 8 914 18 598 3.34

Vital statistics UN estimates

PeriodWorld Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision Live births per yearDeaths per yearNatural change per yearCBR1CDR1NC1TFR1IMR1 1950–1955 3 000 2 000 1 000 43.2 27.7 15.5 6.03 233.4 1955–1960 4 000 2 000 2 000 53.0 28.2 24.8 6.81 221.6 1960–1965 5 000 3 000 3 000 55.0 27.2 27.9 7.12 205.5 1965–1970 6 000 3 000 3 000 52.2 23.4 28.8 7.22 175.5 1970–1975 6 000 2 000 4 000 47.4 19.3 28.1 7.17 146.5 1975–1980 6 000 2 000 4 000 44.1 15.7 28.3 6.86 121.5 1980–1985 8 000 2 000 6 000 47.8 12.7 35.1 7.26 97.2 1985–1990 9 000 2 000 7 000 45.4 10.5 34.8 6.81 77.1 1990–1995 8 000 2 000 6 000 35.6 8.0 27.6 5.25 62.5 1995–2000 7 000 1 000 5 000 25.1 5.5 19.6 3.52 41.7 2000–2005 6 000 1 000 4 000 19.7 4.1 15.6 2.49 26.5 2005–2010 5 000 1 000 4 000 17.2 3.7 13.5 1.90 9.8 1 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Registered births and deaths Source:

Average estimated populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Crude migration change (per 1000)Total Fertility Rate 1980 157,000 6,822 1,787 5,035 43.6 11.4 32.1 1981 162,000 7,010 1,963 5,047 43.3 12.1 31.2 -0.30 1982 168,000 7,402 2,129 5,273 44.1 12.7 31.44.49 1983 174,000 7,236 1,748 5,488 41.6 10.1 31.63.05 1984 180,000 8,255 1,640 6,615 45.8 9.1 36.7 -3.53 1985 187,000 8,968 1,607 7,361 48.0 8.6 39.4 -2.01 1986 193,000 8,615 1,511 7,104 44.6 7.8 36.8 -5.90 1987 200,000 8,364 1,525 6,839 41.8 7.6 34.20.83 1988 207,000 8,297 1,526 6,771 40.2 7.4 32.81.15 1989 213,000 8,726 1,476 7,250 41.0 6.9 34.0 -6.04 1990 219,000 8,639 1,355 7,284 39.4 6.2 33.2 -6.03 1991 226,000 8,390 1,366 7,024 37.2 6.1 31.1 -0.11 1992 232,000 8,139 1,330 6,809 35.1 5.7 29.4 -3.58 1993 238,000 7,780 1,319 6,461 32.7 5.6 27.2 -1.99 1994 243,000 7,382 1,240 6,142 30.3 5.1 25.2 -4.80 1995 249,000 6,849 1,151 5,698 27.5 4.6 22.91.24 1996 254,000 6,772 1,213 5,559 26.7 4.8 21.9 -2.24 1997 259,000 6,184 1,175 5,009 23.9 4.5 19.3 -0.04 1998 264,000 5,687 1,121 4,566 21.6 4.2 17.31.68 1999 269,000 5,225 1,037 4,188 19.5 3.9 15.63.08 2000 273,000 5,399 1,032 4,367 19.8 3.8 16.0 -1.36 2001 278,000 4,897 1,081 3,816 17.6 3.9 13.74.34 2002 282,000 5,003 1,113 3,890 17.7 3.9 13.80.40 2003 287,000 5,157 1,030 4,127 18.0 3.6 14.43.10 2004 291,000 5,220 1,015 4,205 17.9 3.5 14.5 -0.71 2005 295,000 5,543 1,027 4,516 18.8 3.5 15.3 -1.77 2006 300,000 5,829 1,083 4,746 19.5 3.6 15.90.86 2007 305,000 6,569 1,118 5,451 21.6 3.7 18.0 -1.50 2008 310,000 6,946 1,061 5,885 22.6 3.4 19.1 -2.90 2009 315,000 7,423 1,163 6,260 23.6 3.7 19.9 -4.06 2.400 2010 320,000 7,115 1,105 6,010 22.3 3.5 18.8 -3.21 2.263 2011 325,000 7,180 1,137 6,043 22.1 3.5 18.6 -3.26 2.239 2012 331,000 7,431 1,135 6,296 22.5 3.4 19.0 -0.91 2.259 2013 336,000 7,153 1,120 6,033 21.3 3.3 18.0 -3.12 2.133 2014 437,535 7,245 1,143 6,102 16.6 2.6 14.0284.03 2.007 2015 454,434 6,896 1,130 5,766 15.2 2.5 12.725.44 1.907 2016 472,426 6,756 1,226 5,530 14.3 2.6 11.727.42 1.805 2017 491,589 6,723 1,241 5,482 13.7 2.5 11.228.96 1.718 2018 512,038 6,586 1,300 5,286 12.9 2.5 10.430.85 1.651 2019 533,941 6,153 1,132 5,021 11.5 2.1 9.432.97 1.557 2020 557,426 6,293 1,275 5,018 11.3 2.3 9.034.59 1.572 2021 568,362 5,914 1,552 4,362 10.4 2.7 7.711.791.506 2022 547,651 5,755 1,491 4,264 10.5 2.7 7.8 2023 556,836 5,956 1,517 4,439 10.7 2.7 8.0 2024 5,840 1,470 4,370 10.2 2.6 7.6 2025 581,053 5,625 1,399 4,226 9.7 2.4 7.3

Demographic and Health Surveys Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):

Year Total Urban Rural CBR TFR CBR TFR CBR TFR 2009 24.7 2.5 (2.2) 22.9 2.1 (1.9) 25.5 2.8 (2.4) 2016–17 22.0 2.1 (1.9) 19.9 1.8 (1.5) 23.0 2.5 (2.2)

Total fertility rate The total fertility rate differs greatly from as low as 2.05 children per woman in Malé to a maximum of 3.88 children in Faafu. Code Name Official name Population (2014 census) Reg. Population (31 December 2018) TFR (2014 census)Maldives Population Projections 2014-2054 MaléMalé City 133,412 64,742 2.05 Haa Alif Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi 13,004 22,761 2.91 Haa Dhaalu Thiladhunmathi Dhekunuburi 18,570 27,259 2.91 Shaviyani Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi 12,127 18,274 2.66 Noonu Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi 10,556 16,789 2.83 Raa Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi 14,934 23,721 2.93 Baa Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi 8,919 14,624 2.45 Lhaviyani Faadhippolhu 7,996 13,238 2.59 Kaafu Malé Atholhu 12,232 12,036 2.70 Alif Alif Ari Atholhu Uthuruburi 5,915 7,614 2.94 Alif Dhaal Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi 8,183 11,439 3.30 Vaavu Felidhu Atholhu 1,622 2,599 2.34 Meemu Mulak Atholhu 4,711 7,415 2.75 Faafu Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi 4,140 6,264 3.88 Dhaalu Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi 5,329 7,932 2.62 Thaa Kolhumadulu 8,923 16,161 2.97 Laamu Haddhunmathi 11,841 16,977 2.67 Gaafu Alif Huvadhu Atholhu Uthuruburi 8,477 14,057 2.80 Gaafu Dhaalu Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi 11,653 21,096 3.13 Gnaviyani Fuvahmulah City 8,095 13,037 2.76 Addu CityAddu City 19,827 33,876 2.49 Maldives Republic of Maldives 344,023 374,775 2.46

Years 1925192619271928192919301931193219331934Total Fertility Rate in Maldives5.985.965.955.935.925.905.895.875.865.84 Years 1935193619371938193919401941194219431944Total Fertility Rate in Maldives5.835.815.805.785.765.755.735.725.705.69 Years 19451946194719481949Total Fertility Rate in Maldives5.675.665.645.635.61

Life expectancy at birth

PeriodLife expectancy in YearsPeriodLife expectancy in Years1950–195534.51985–199059.31955–196036.11990–199563.51960–196539.01995–200067.61965–197042.42000–200572.21970–197546.22005–201075.61975–198050.72010–201576.31980–198555.5 Source: UN World Population Prospects

Ethnic groups

The Dhivehin are the largest and effectively the only ethnic group of the Maldives. They are indigenous to the historic region of the Maldive Islands, encompassing the present-day Republic of Maldives and the island of Minicoy in India’s Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The Dhivehin share a common culture and speak the Dhivehi language. They are primarily an Indo-Aryan people, closely related to the Sinhalese, with genetic influences reflecting historical contact with the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Austronesia, and Africa.

In the past there was also a small Tamil population known as the Giraavaru people. This group have now been almost completely absorbed into the larger Maldivian society but were once native to the island of Giraavaru (Kaafu Atoll). This island was evacuated in 1968 due to heavy erosion of the island.

Filipinos in the Maldives numbered 3,000 in 2018.

Languages

Dhivehi, an Indo-Aryan language closely related to the Sinhala language of Sri Lanka, and written in a specialized Arabic script (Thaana), is the official language and is spoken by virtually the whole population. English is also spoken as a second language by many.

Religion

Sunni Islam is the state religion. Historically, the Maldives were converted to Islam from Buddhism in the 12th century. Under the 2008 constitution Islam is the official religion of the entire population, as adherence to it is required for citizenship.

References

Further reading H.C.P. Bell, The Maldive Islands, An account of the physical features, History, Inhabitants, Productions and Trade. Colombo 1883, Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999,