Maldives: cities by population
Maldives has a population of 531,517 (UN estimate, 2026), with Male as its capital. The 32 largest of its 32 recorded towns and cities, ranked.
+88%
since 2000 (282,019)
+11%
projected by 2050 (589,962)
1772
people per km²
Figures are the latest available in GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), which draws on national censuses of varying dates — treat them as recent, not same-year. Country totals are UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant) where the UN lists the country separately; the handful it reports under a parent state keep a GeoNames figure and are marked as such. Sources & method.
Largest cities in Maldives
| # | Place | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Male | Kaafu Atoll | 103,693 |
| 2 | Fuvahmulah | Gnyaviyani Atoll | 11,140 |
| 3 | Hithadhoo | Seenu | 9,927 |
| 4 | Kulhudhuffushi | Haa Dhaalu Atholhu | 9,500 |
| 5 | Thinadhoo | Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll | 6,376 |
| 6 | Naifaru | Faadhippolhu Atoll | 5,044 |
| 7 | Hulhumale | Kaafu Atoll | 5,000 |
| 8 | Dhihdhoo | Haa Alifu Atholhu | 3,039 |
| 9 | Maafushi | Kaafu Atoll | 3,000 |
| 10 | Viligili | Gaafu Alif Atoll | 2,925 |
| 11 | Funadhoo | Shaviyani Atholhu | 2,900 |
| 12 | Eydhafushi | Baa Atholhu | 2,808 |
| 13 | Mahibadhoo | Southern Ari Atoll | 2,156 |
| 14 | Vilufushi | Thaa Atholhu | 2,077 |
| 15 | Thulusdhoo | Kaafu Atoll | 1,801 |
| 16 | Guraidhoo | Thaa Atholhu | 1,800 |
| 17 | Guraidhoo | Kaafu Atoll | 1,800 |
| 18 | Fonadhoo | Laamu | 1,773 |
| 19 | Meedhoo | Seenu | 1,726 |
| 20 | Manadhoo | Noonu Atoll | 1,580 |
| 21 | Un’goofaaru | Raa Atoll | 1,575 |
| 22 | Kudahuvadhoo | Dhaalu Atholhu | 1,562 |
| 23 | Vaadhoo | Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll | 1,471 |
| 24 | Open Stage | Baa Atholhu | 1,258 |
| 25 | Madifushi | Thaa Atholhu | 1,110 |
| 26 | Veymandoo | Thaa Atholhu | 1,100 |
| 27 | Muli | Meemu Atholhu | 1,008 |
| 28 | Diyamigili | Thaa Atholhu | 763 |
| 29 | Maafaru | Noonu Atoll | 700 |
| 30 | Hithadhoo | Laamu | 683 |
| 31 | Buruni | Dhaalu Atholhu | 577 |
| 32 | Felidhoo | Vaavu Atholhu | 541 |
Twenty years earlier: Maldives in the 2005 World Gazetteer — population then 294,087.
Common questions
What is the population of Maldives?
Maldives has a population of 531,517, the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 2026. The UN's medium-variant projection for 2050 is 589,962 — a forecast, not a measurement.
What is the capital of Maldives?
Male.