Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 21.III.2006) (Total population is taken as de facto and de jure together.):[5]
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
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2013) :
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
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Based on the results of the 2014 Population Census. Data refer to resident population which includes resident Maldivians and resident foreigners.): [6]
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.
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.
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.
CIA World Factbook demographic statistics
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.