# Demographics of the Maldives

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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 Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| 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 | 1.70 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 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 Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| 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 | 0.82 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 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 Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| 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 | 0.75 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 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

| Period | Live births per year | Deaths per year | Natural change per year | CBR$^1$ | CDR$^1$ | NC$^1$ | TFR$^1$ | IMR$^1$ |
| 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

| | Average estimated population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | TFR |
| 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 | |
| 1982 | 168,000 | 7,402 | 2,129 | 5,273 | 44.1 | 12.7 | 31.4 | |
| 1983 | 174,000 | 7,236 | 1,748 | 5,488 | 41.6 | 10.1 | 31.6 | |
| 1984 | 180,000 | 8,255 | 1,640 | 6,615 | 45.8 | 9.1 | 36.7 | |
| 1985 | 187,000 | 8,968 | 1,607 | 7,361 | 48.0 | 8.6 | 39.4 | |
| 1986 | 193,000 | 8,615 | 1,511 | 7,104 | 44.6 | 7.8 | 36.8 | |
| 1987 | 200,000 | 8,364 | 1,525 | 6,839 | 41.8 | 7.6 | 34.2 | |
| 1988 | 207,000 | 8,297 | 1,526 | 6,771 | 40.2 | 7.4 | 32.8 | |
| 1989 | 213,000 | 8,726 | 1,476 | 7,250 | 41.0 | 6.9 | 34.0 | |
| 1990 | 219,000 | 8,639 | 1,355 | 7,284 | 39.4 | 6.2 | 33.2 | |
| 1991 | 226,000 | 8,390 | 1,366 | 7,024 | 37.2 | 6.1 | 31.1 | |
| 1992 | 232,000 | 8,139 | 1,330 | 6,809 | 35.1 | 5.7 | 29.4 | |
| 1993 | 238,000 | 7,780 | 1,319 | 6,461 | 32.7 | 5.6 | 27.2 | |
| 1994 | 243,000 | 7,382 | 1,240 | 6,142 | 30.3 | 5.1 | 25.2 | |
| 1995 | 249,000 | 6,849 | 1,151 | 5,698 | 27.5 | 4.6 | 22.9 | |
| 1996 | 254,000 | 6,772 | 1,213 | 5,559 | 26.7 | 4.8 | 21.9 | |
| 1997 | 259,000 | 6,184 | 1,175 | 5,009 | 23.9 | 4.5 | 19.3 | |
| 1998 | 264,000 | 5,687 | 1,121 | 4,566 | 21.6 | 4.2 | 17.3 | |
| 1999 | 269,000 | 5,225 | 1,037 | 4,188 | 19.5 | 3.9 | 15.6 | |
| 2000 | 273,000 | 5,399 | 1,032 | 4,367 | 19.8 | 3.8 | 16.0 | |
| 2001 | 278,000 | 4,897 | 1,081 | 3,816 | 17.6 | 3.9 | 13.7 | |
| 2002 | 282,000 | 5,003 | 1,113 | 3,890 | 17.7 | 3.9 | 13.8 | |
| 2003 | 287,000 | 5,157 | 1,030 | 4,127 | 18.0 | 3.6 | 14.4 | |
| 2004 | 291,000 | 5,220 | 1,015 | 4,205 | 17.9 | 3.5 | 14.5 | |
| 2005 | 295,000 | 5,543 | 1,027 | 4,516 | 18.8 | 3.5 | 15.3 | |
| 2006 | 300,000 | 5,829 | 1,083 | 4,746 | 19.5 | 3.6 | 15.9 | |
| 2007 | 305,000 | 6,569 | 1,118 | 5,451 | 21.6 | 3.7 | 18.0 | |
| 2008 | 310,000 | 6,946 | 1,061 | 5,885 | 22.6 | 3.4 | 19.1 | |
| 2009 | 315,000 | 7,423 | 1,163 | 6,260 | 23.6 | 3.7 | 19.9 | 2.400 |
| 2010 | 320,000 | 7,115 | 1,105 | 6,010 | 22.3 | 3.5 | 18.8 | 2.263 |
| 2011 | 325,000 | 7,180 | 1,137 | 6,043 | 22.1 | 3.5 | 18.6 | 2.239 |
| 2012 | 331,000 | 7,431 | 1,135 | 6,296 | 22.5 | 3.4 | 19.0 | 2.259 |
| 2013 | 336,000 | 7,153 | 1,120 | 6,033 | 21.3 | 3.3 | 18.0 | 2.133 |
| 2014 | 437,535 | 7,245 | 1,143 | 6,102 | 16.6 | 2.6 | 14.0 | 2.007 |
| 2015 | 454,434 | 6,896 | 1,130 | 5,766 | 15.2 | 2.5 | 12.7 | 1.907 |
| 2016 | 472,426 | 6,756 | 1,226 | 5,530 | 14.3 | 2.6 | 11.7 | 1.805 |
| 2017 | 491,589 | 6,723 | 1,241 | 5,482 | 13.7 | 2.5 | 11.2 | 1.718 |
| 2018 | 512,038 | 6,586 | 1,300 | 5,286 | 12.9 | 2.5 | 10.4 | 1.651 |
| 2019 | 533,941 | 6,153 | 1,132 | 5,021 | 11.5 | 2.1 | 9.4 | 1.557 |
| 2020 | 557,426 | 6,293 | 1,275 | 5,018 | 11.3 | 2.3 | 9.0 | 1.572 |
| 2021 | 568,362 | 5,914 | 1,552 | 4,362 | 10.4 | 2.7 | 7.7 | 1.506 |

### Demographic and Health Surveys

Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):
| Year | Total | Total | Urban | Urban | Rural | Rural |
| Year | 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) |
| Malé | Malé 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 City | Addu City | 19,827 | 33,876 | 2.49 |
| Maldives | Republic of Maldives | 344,023 | 374,775 | 2.46 |

### Life expectancy at birth

| Period | Life expectancy in Years | Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 34.5 | 1985–1990 | 59.3 |
| 1955–1960 | 36.1 | 1990–1995 | 63.5 |
| 1960–1965 | 39.0 | 1995–2000 | 67.6 |
| 1965–1970 | 42.4 | 2000–2005 | 72.2 |
| 1970–1975 | 46.2 | 2005–2010 | 75.6 |
| 1975–1980 | 50.7 | 2010–2015 | 76.3 |
| 1980–1985 | 55.5 | | |
Source: UN World Population Prospects

## Ethnic groups

The largest ethnic group is Dhivehin, native to the historic region of the Maldive Islands comprising today's Republic of Maldives and the island of Minicoy in Union territory of Lakshadweep, India. They share the same culture and speak the Dhivehi language. They are principally an Indo-Aryan people, closely related to the Sinhalese and having traces of Middle Eastern, South Asian, Austronesian and African genes in the population.
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 numbering 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.