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Fertility & birth rates in Marshall Islands and Nauru

Updated on by Georank team

The Marshall Islands has an annual birth rate of 21.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 25.5 for Nauru. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.92 in the Marshall Islands and 3.33 in Nauru — 14.1% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 63.9% in the Marshall Islands and by 37.6% in Nauru — in 1960, it was 8.08 and 5.34, respectively.

  • The Marshall Islands is ranked 67/196 by birth rate compared to 52/196 for Nauru.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.7 years in the Marshall Islands, compared to 22.1 years in Nauru.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.1 in the Marshall Islands — it's 27.1 in Nauru.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 71.8 in the Marshall Islands vs 76.2 in Nauru.
  • In the Marshall Islands, 23.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24.6% in Nauru.

Fertility rate in Marshall Islands vs Nauru by year

Marshall Islands
Nauru
1x
Year Fertility rate
Marshall Islands Nauru
2023 2.92 3.33
2022 2.94 3.38
2021 2.96 3.43
2020 2.99 3.47
2019 3.01 3.53
2018 3.04 3.68
2017 3.06 3.88
2016 3.09 4.03
2015 3.13 4.08
2014 3.18 4.09
2013 3.25 4.1
2012 3.38 4.12
2011 3.53 4.12
2010 3.67 4.02
2009 3.83 3.85
2008 3.97 3.67
2007 4.09 3.5
2006 4.2 3.4
2005 4.28 3.38
2004 4.34 3.38
2003 4.42 3.39
2002 4.49 3.4
2001 4.58 3.46
2000 4.7 3.54
1999 4.78 3.64
1998 4.87 3.68
1997 4.96 3.74
1996 5.02 3.78
1995 5.09 3.81
1994 5.23 3.84
1993 5.38 3.89
1992 5.55 3.95
1991 5.76 3.99
1990 5.97 4.02
1989 6.18 4.07
1988 6.38 4.11
1987 6.57 4.14
1986 6.73 4.15
1985 6.87 4.14
1984 6.99 4.11
1983 7.08 4.06
1982 7.18 3.99
1981 7.27 3.94
1980 7.37 3.88
1979 7.47 3.85
1978 7.58 3.84
1977 7.67 3.86
1976 7.76 3.9
1975 7.83 3.97
1974 7.9 4.07
1973 7.95 4.19
1972 8 4.36
1971 8.04 4.54
1970 8.07 4.74
1969 8.11 4.94
1968 8.14 5.14
1967 8.17 5.29
1966 8.2 5.41
1965 8.16 5.48
1964 8.14 5.47
1963 8.12 5.44
1962 8.12 5.42
1961 8.12 5.38
1960 8.08 5.34

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/marshall-islands/nauru | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the Marshall Islands was 2.92 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.33 in Nauru in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check the Marshall Islands vs Nauru population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Marshall Islands
Nauru
1x
Year Natural population change
Marshall Islands Nauru
2023 550 213
2022 606 226
2021 653 236
2020 689 246
2019 746 255
2018 785 265
2017 826 279
2016 866 289
2015 912 291
2014 959 290
2013 1,014 291
2012 1,097 292
2011 1,185 291
2010 1,273 281
2009 1,365 261
2008 1,443 240
2007 1,507 222
2006 1,556 209
2005 1,586 204
2004 1,595 202
2003 1,600 201
2002 1,594 200
2001 1,596 203
2000 1,592 207
1999 1,590 212
1998 1,576 214
1997 1,564 218
1996 1,542 221
1995 1,522 225
1994 1,524 229
1993 1,524 235
1992 1,525 237
1991 1,540 225
1990 1,556 214
1989 1,574 204
1988 1,575 195
1987 1,566 186
1986 1,544 178
1985 1,511 171
1984 1,470 166
1983 1,422 163
1982 1,375 162
1981 1,328 157
1980 1,287 145
1979 1,250 130
1978 1,207 111
1977 1,160 89
1976 1,109 79
1975 1,055 70
1974 1,000 63
1973 954 57
1972 913 53
1971 877 50
1970 819 49
1969 747 71
1968 685 116
1967 636 117
1966 603 123
1965 566 113
1964 536 100
1963 509 88
1962 488 75
1961 469 70
1960 452 72

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/marshall-islands/nauru | CC BY

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +1.42% in the Marshall Islands and +1.8% in Nauru.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.69% in the Marshall Islands and +2.28% in Nauru.

Birth rate in Marshall Islands vs Nauru by year

Marshall Islands
Nauru

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Marshall Islands Nauru
2023 21.1 25.5
2022 22 26.6
2021 23.2 27.8
2020 23.4 28.7
2019 23.7 29.6
2018 24.1 30.7
2017 24.4 32.2
2016 24.7 33.6
2015 25.2 34.2
2014 25.7 34.7
2013 26.4 35.3
2012 27.7 36.1
2011 29.2 36.8
2010 30.9 36.1
2009 32.8 34.3
2008 34.3 32.3
2007 35.6 30.4
2006 36.6 29.1
2005 37.2 28.5
2004 37.4 28.1
2003 37.6 27.9
2002 37.6 27.8
2001 37.8 27.9
2000 38.2 28.2
1999 38.3 28.6
1998 38.4 28.7
1997 38.6 29
1996 38.5 29.4
1995 38.5 29.8
1994 39 30.3
1993 39.6 31.1
1992 40.2 31.8
1991 41.2 31.7
1990 42.4 31.7
1989 43.8 31.9
1988 45 32
1987 46.2 32
1986 47.3 31.9
1985 48.2 31.9
1984 48.9 31.8
1983 49.5 31.8
1982 50 31.8
1981 50.5 31.2
1980 51.1 29.7
1979 51.6 27.6
1978 51.7 25
1977 51.6 21.8
1976 51.4 20.1
1975 50.9 18.7
1974 50.3 17.4
1973 49.7 16.3
1972 48.9 15.6
1971 48.5 15.2
1970 47.7 15.1
1969 47.2 18.8
1968 47.4 27.2
1967 47.7 28.3
1966 47.5 29.9
1965 46.6 29.1
1964 46.2 28.2
1963 46 27
1962 46.2 25.6
1961 46.5 25.6
1960 46.9 26.9

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/marshall-islands/nauru | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 21.1 in the Marshall Islands and 25.5 in Nauru, compared with 46.9 and 26.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Marshall Islands Nauru
Fertility rate 2.92 3.33
Fertility rate rank 58/196 47/196
Birth rate 21.1 25.5
Birth rate rank 67/196 52/196
Population change due to births and deaths +550 +213
Natural population change rank 143/196 150/196
Natural population change rate +1.42% +1.8%
Population growth -3.29% +0.61%
Population growth rank 197/197 126/197
Age at first childbirth 20.7 years 22.1 years
Average age at childbearing 27.1 years 27.1 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 70.3 77.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 165.6 176.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18.7 37.1
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.8% 24.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 42.4% 25.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 92.4% 97.4%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.16% 0.27%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.3% 0.48%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.35% 0.83%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 2.82% 0.89%
Life expectancy 67.3 years 62.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Marshall Islands
Factual

UN forecast
Nauru
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Marshall Islands Nauru
2100 16.6% 20.7%
2099 16.6% 20.8%
2098 16.6% 21%
2097 16.7% 21.1%
2096 16.7% 21.2%
2095 16.8% 21.3%
2094 16.9% 21.4%
2093 17% 21.6%
2092 17.1% 21.7%
2091 17.3% 21.9%
2090 17.5% 22%
2089 17.7% 22.2%
2088 17.9% 22.4%
2087 18.2% 22.5%
2086 18.4% 22.7%
2085 18.7% 22.9%
2084 19% 23.1%
2083 19.3% 23.3%
2082 19.5% 23.4%
2081 19.8% 23.6%
2080 20% 23.8%
2079 20.2% 23.9%
2078 20.4% 24.1%
2077 20.6% 24.2%
2076 20.8% 24.3%
2075 20.9% 24.5%
2074 21% 24.6%
2073 21.1% 24.7%
2072 21.2% 24.9%
2071 21.3% 25%
2070 21.3% 25.1%
2069 21.4% 25.3%
2068 21.5% 25.4%
2067 21.7% 25.6%
2066 21.8% 25.8%
2065 22% 26%
2064 22.3% 26.2%
2063 22.6% 26.4%
2062 22.9% 26.7%
2061 23.3% 26.9%
2060 23.8% 27.2%
2059 24.3% 27.5%
2058 24.8% 27.9%
2057 25.4% 28.2%
2056 26% 28.5%
2055 26.5% 28.8%
2054 27.1% 29.1%
2053 27.6% 29.4%
2052 28% 29.7%
2051 28.4% 29.9%
2050 28.7% 30.2%
2049 28.9% 30.4%
2048 29% 30.6%
2047 29.1% 30.7%
2046 29% 30.8%
2045 28.9% 30.9%
2044 28.7% 30.9%
2043 28.4% 31%
2042 28.2% 31%
2041 27.8% 31%
2040 27.5% 31%
2039 27.3% 31.1%
2038 27.3% 31.2%
2037 27.4% 31.4%
2036 27.8% 31.8%
2035 28.4% 32%
2034 28.9% 32.3%
2033 29.5% 32.5%
2032 30% 32.9%
2031 30.6% 33.4%
2030 31.2% 34%
2029 31.7% 34.7%
2028 32.3% 35.3%
2027 32.9% 36.1%
2026 33.6% 36.8%
2025 34.2% 37.5%
2024 34.5% 37.8%
2023 34.7% 38.2%
2022 34.6% 38.3%
2021 34.4% 38.3%
2020 34.5% 38%
2019 35.1% 37.6%
2018 35.7% 37.6%
2017 36.2% 38%
2016 36.8% 38.2%
2015 37.5% 38.2%
2014 38.2% 38.2%
2013 38.8% 38%
2012 39.4% 37.7%
2011 39.7% 37.1%
2010 39.7% 36.3%
2009 39.4% 35.8%
2008 39.2% 35.6%
2007 39% 35.7%
2006 38.9% 36.1%
2005 39.1% 36.6%
2004 39.4% 37.1%
2003 39.9% 37.7%
2002 40.6% 38.2%
2001 41.3% 38.5%
2000 42% 38.9%
1999 42.8% 39.4%
1998 43.7% 39.9%
1997 44.7% 40.5%
1996 45.6% 41.1%
1995 46.6% 41.7%
1994 47.5% 42.1%
1993 48.4% 42.5%
1992 49.1% 42.5%
1991 49.7% 42.1%
1990 50.2% 41.2%
1989 50.6% 40.2%
1988 50.8% 39.2%
1987 50.8% 38.3%
1986 50.7% 37.5%
1985 50.6% 36.5%
1984 50.4% 35.7%
1983 50.4% 34.6%
1982 50.3% 33.2%
1981 50.3% 31.9%
1980 50.1% 30.9%
1979 49.8% 30.6%
1978 49.4% 30.9%
1977 49% 31.9%
1976 48.5% 33.4%
1975 48.2% 34.9%
1974 47.8% 36.4%
1973 47.3% 38.1%
1972 46.6% 39.7%
1971 45.6% 41.3%
1970 45% 42.9%
1969 45.3% 43.4%
1968 46.1% 41.3%
1967 46.7% 39.5%
1966 47.2% 39.4%
1965 47.5% 38.6%
1964 47.5% 37.5%
1963 47.4% 36.5%
1962 47.1% 35.7%
1961 46.7% 35.2%
1960 46.1% 34.8%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/marshall-islands/nauru | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in the Marshall Islands and 37.8% in Nauru in 2024, compared to 50.2% and 41.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Marshall Islands and Nauru compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/marshall-islands/nauru | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Marshall Islands vs Nauru

Marshall Islands
Nauru
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Marshall Islands Nauru
2023 155 273
2022 174 317
2021 206 266
2020 178 309
2019 168 267
2018 167 269
2017 179 259
2016 183 248
2015 184 253
2014 199 240
2013 201 247
2012 207 255
2011 209 260
2010 212 297
2009 224 300
2008 226 302
2007 229 303
2006 233 304
2005 234 328
2004 238 324
2003 221 323
2002 223 321
2001 231 299
2000 251 278
1999 250 277
1998 259 257
1997 274 218
1996 292 218
1995 303 219
1994 303 220
1993 320 219
1992 322 217
1991 297 216
1990 311 195
1989 299 198
1988 276 202
1987 282 206
1986 274 209
1985 254 191

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/marshall-islands/nauru | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 155 deaths per 100,000 live births in the Marshall Islands, compared to 273 deaths in Nauru.

Under-five mortality rates

Marshall Islands
Nauru

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Marshall Islands Nauru
2023 2.82% 0.89%
2022 2.91% 0.95%
2021 3% 1.02%
2020 3.1% 1.11%
2019 3.19% 1.22%
2018 3.29% 1.34%
2017 3.38% 1.47%
2016 3.48% 1.61%
2015 3.57% 1.76%
2014 3.66% 1.93%
2013 3.75% 2.11%
2012 3.82% 2.29%
2011 3.89% 2.48%
2010 3.94% 2.66%
2009 3.97% 2.84%
2008 4.02% 3%
2007 4.06% 3.15%
2006 4.1% 3.29%
2005 4.14% 3.41%
2004 4.18% 3.53%
2003 4.21% 3.66%
2002 4.24% 3.81%
2001 4.25% 3.96%
2000 4.25% 4.13%
1999 4.23% 4.32%
1998 4.19% 4.52%
1997 4.15% 4.74%
1996 4.14% 4.97%
1995 4.15% 5.22%
1994 4.2% 5.49%
1993 4.29% 5.78%
1992 4.43% 6.09%
1991 4.59% 6.41%
1990 4.76% 6.74%
1989 4.95% 7.08%
1988 5.13% 7.43%
1987 5.31% 7.81%
1986 5.49% 8.2%
1985 5.66% 8.62%
1984 5.83% -
1983 6% -
1982 6.15% -
1981 6.29% -
1980 6.42% -
1979 6.52% -
1978 6.61% -
1977 6.69% -
1976 6.77% -
1975 6.86% -
1974 6.97% -
1973 7.13% -
1972 7.33% -
1971 7.58% -
1970 7.87% -
1969 8.19% -
1968 8.53% -
1967 8.88% -
1966 9.25% -
1965 9.64% -
1964 10.1% -
1963 10.5% -
1962 11% -
1961 11.6% -
1960 12.2% -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/marshall-islands/nauru | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.82% in the Marshall Islands and 0.89% in Nauru. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2017, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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