Demographics of the Maldives

This article is about the demographic features of the population of the Maldives, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Demographics of the Maldives, from 2000 to 2012

Demography

The Maldives had one of the highest birth rates in the world. The result is that many islands have become overpopulated and are completely covered by homesteads. Hence the country is becoming less self-sufficient by the day.

Vital statistics

UN estimates

Period	Live births per year	Deaths per year	Natural change per year	CBR1	CDR1	NC1	TFR1	IMR1
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 population (x 1000)	Live births	Deaths	Natural change	Crude birth rate (per 1000)	Crude death rate (per 1000)	Natural change (per 1000)
1975	136	5 002	1 386	3 616	36.8	10.2	26.6
1976	140	5 232	1 565	3 667	37.4	11.2	26.2
1977	144	6 131	1 652	4 479	42.7	11.5	31.2
1978	148	5 667	1 971	3 696	38.4	13.4	25.0
1979	152	6 308	2 044	4 264	41.5	13.5	28.1
1980	157	6 822	1 787	5 035	43.6	11.4	32.1
1981	162	7 010	1 963	5 047	43.3	12.1	31.2
1982	168	7 402	2 129	5 273	44.1	12.7	31.4
1983	174	7 236	1 748	5 488	41.6	10.1	31.6
1984	180	8 255	1 640	6 615	45.8	9.1	36.7
1985	187	8 968	1 607	7 361	48.0	8.6	39.4
1986	193	8 615	1 511	7 104	44.6	7.8	36.8
1987	200	8 364	1 525	6 839	41.8	7.6	34.2
1988	207	8 297	1 526	6 771	40.2	7.4	32.8
1989	213	8 726	1 476	7 250	41.0	6.9	34.0
1990	219	8 639	1 355	7 284	39.4	6.2	33.2
1991	226	8 390	1 366	7 024	37.2	6.1	31.1
1992	232	8 139	1 330	6 809	35.1	5.7	29.4
1993	238	7 780	1 319	6 461	32.7	5.6	27.2
1994	243	7 382	1 240	6 142	30.3	5.1	25.2
1995	249	6 849	1 151	5 698	27.5	4.6	22.9
1996	254	6 772	1 213	5 559	26.7	4.8	21.9
1997	259	6 184	1 175	5 009	23.9	4.5	19.3
1998	264	5 687	1 121	4 566	21.6	4.2	17.3
1999	269	5 225	1 037	4 188	19.5	3.9	15.6
2000	273	5 399	1 032	4 367	19.8	3.8	16.0
2001	278	4 897	1 081	3 816	17.6	3.9	13.7
2002	282	5 003	1 113	3 890	17.7	3.9	13.8
2003	287	5 157	1 030	4 127	18.0	3.6	14.4
2004	291	5 220	1 015	4 205	17.9	3.5	14.5
2005	295	5 543	1 027	4 516	18.8	3.5	15.3
2006	299	5 829	1 083	4 746	19.5	3.6	15.9
2007	304	6 569	1 118	5 451	21.6	3.7	18.0
2008	308	6 946	1 061	5 885	22.6	3.4	19.1
2009	312	7 323	1 158	6 165	23.5	3.7	19.8
2010	316	7 115	1 105	6 010	22.5	3.5	19.0

Ethnic groups

The largest ethnic group are Dhivehis, 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 having traces of Arab, Malay, South Indian and African genes in the population.

In the past there was also a small 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).

Languages

Dhivehi or Maldivian, a language closely related to Sinhala and written in a specialized Arabic script (Tāna), is the official language and is spoken by virtually the whole population. English is also spoken as a second language by many.

Religion

Originally the Maldivians were Buddhists who converted to Sunni Islam in the mid-12th century. Sunni Islam is now the only accepted religion, though there are small numbers of others, particularly Buddhist workers from Sri Lanka and Hindus from India. There are also 300 Christians.

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population

301,475 (July 2000 est.) - 369,031 (July 2007 est.) [1]

Age structure

• 0–14 years: 22.3% (male 45,038/female 43,291)
• 15–64 years: 73.8% (male 180,874/female 171,703)
• 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 7,711/female 7,717) (2010 est.)

Sex ratio

• at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
• under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
• 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
• 65 years and over: 1.09 male(s)/female
• total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

• total population: 62.2 years (2000 est.) - 64.76 years (2007 est.)
• male: 61.05 years (2000 est.) - 63.41 years (2007 est.)
• female: 63.4 years (2000 est.) - 66.19 years (2007 est.)

Nationality

• noun: Maldivian(s)
• adjective: Maldivian

Literacy

• definition: age 15 and over can read and write
• total population: 96.3%
• male: 96.2%
• female: 96.4% (2000 census)

Education

The average Maldivian citizen has 4.7 years of education

References

• H.C.P. Bell, The Maldive Islands, An account of the physical features, History, Inhabitants, Productions and Trade. Colombo 1883, ISBN 81-206-1222-1
• Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5