The Marshall Islands Demographics: Median age, Gender

Median age in Marshall Islands, 1960–2100

In 1960, the median age in the Marshall Islands was 17.4 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 21.8 years, compared with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. Ranked 164th for median age 64 years ago (old to young), the Marshall Islands ranks 150th currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in the Marshall Islands is expected to increase to 41.4 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

Marshall Islands

Male

Female

Age range	Share of population
	Marshall Islands
	Male	Female
80+	0.13%	0.21%
75-79	0.34%	0.33%
70-74	0.73%	0.71%
65-69	1.11%	1.09%
60-64	1.53%	1.5%
55-59	2.07%	1.97%
50-54	2.46%	2.39%
45-49	2.86%	2.8%
40-44	3.25%	3.29%
35-39	3.05%	3.12%
30-34	2.16%	2.29%
25-29	2.63%	2.47%
20-24	4.58%	3.98%
15-19	6.59%	5.89%
10-14	6.39%	5.98%
5-9	5.81%	5.55%
0-4	5.56%	5.18%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. The Marshall Islands has average demographic potential with 65.1% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 67/196).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

Marshall Islands

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	Marshall Islands	World
2100	65.6%	59.6%
2099	65.7%	59.6%
2098	65.8%	59.7%
2097	65.8%	59.7%
2096	65.7%	59.7%
2095	65.6%	59.7%
2094	65.4%	59.7%
2093	65.2%	59.8%
2092	64.9%	59.8%
2091	64.7%	59.8%
2090	64.5%	59.8%
2089	64.2%	59.8%
2088	64.2%	59.8%
2087	64.3%	59.8%
2086	64.5%	59.8%
2085	64.9%	59.9%
2084	65.4%	59.9%
2083	65.8%	60%
2082	66.3%	60.1%
2081	66.8%	60.3%
2080	67.3%	60.4%
2079	67.9%	60.6%
2078	68.5%	60.7%
2077	69.2%	60.9%
2076	70%	61%
2075	70.9%	61.1%
2074	71.7%	61.3%
2073	72.5%	61.4%
2072	73.1%	61.5%
2071	73.7%	61.6%
2070	74.2%	61.7%
2069	74.3%	61.8%
2068	74.2%	61.9%
2067	73.7%	62%
2066	73.1%	62%
2065	72.3%	62.1%
2064	71.4%	62.1%
2063	70.5%	62.1%
2062	69.4%	62.2%
2061	68.3%	62.2%
2060	67.1%	62.3%
2059	65.8%	62.3%
2058	64.4%	62.4%
2057	63.1%	62.4%
2056	61.9%	62.5%
2055	60.9%	62.7%
2054	60.1%	62.8%
2053	59.5%	62.9%
2052	59%	63.1%
2051	58.7%	63.2%
2050	58.5%	63.4%
2049	58.5%	63.5%
2048	58.6%	63.6%
2047	58.9%	63.8%
2046	59.3%	63.9%
2045	59.8%	64%
2044	60.3%	64.1%
2043	60.9%	64.2%
2042	61.5%	64.3%
2041	62.1%	64.4%
2040	62.8%	64.5%
2039	63.4%	64.7%
2038	63.8%	64.8%
2037	63.9%	64.9%
2036	63.9%	65.1%
2035	63.7%	65.2%
2034	63.5%	65.3%
2033	63.3%	65.4%
2032	63.1%	65.4%
2031	62.8%	65.4%
2030	62.7%	65.4%
2029	62.5%	65.4%
2028	62.2%	65.4%
2027	61.8%	65.4%
2026	61.4%	65.2%
2025	61%	65.1%
2024	60.9%	65.1%
2023	60.9%	65%
2022	61.3%	64.9%
2021	61.7%	64.9%
2020	61.7%	64.8%
2019	61.3%	64.9%
2018	60.9%	64.9%
2017	60.6%	65%
2016	60.2%	65.1%
2015	59.7%	65.1%
2014	59.3%	65.2%
2013	58.8%	65.2%
2012	58.4%	65.2%
2011	58.2%	65.2%
2010	58.3%	65.1%
2009	58.5%	65%
2008	58.7%	64.9%
2007	58.9%	64.7%
2006	58.9%	64.5%
2005	58.8%	64.3%
2004	58.4%	64%
2003	57.8%	63.7%
2002	57.2%	63.4%
2001	56.5%	63.1%
2000	55.7%	62.8%
1999	54.9%	62.5%
1998	54%	62.2%
1997	52.9%	61.9%
1996	51.9%	61.7%
1995	50.9%	61.5%
1994	49.9%	61.3%
1993	49%	61.2%
1992	48.2%	61.1%
1991	47.6%	61%
1990	47%	60.9%
1989	46.6%	60.8%
1988	46.3%	60.7%
1987	46.2%	60.5%
1986	46.3%	60.4%
1985	46.4%	60.1%
1984	46.5%	59.9%
1983	46.5%	59.6%
1982	46.5%	59.3%
1981	46.6%	59%
1980	46.7%	58.7%
1979	46.9%	58.4%
1978	47.2%	58%
1977	47.5%	57.7%
1976	47.8%	57.5%
1975	48.1%	57.4%
1974	48.3%	57.3%
1973	48.8%	57.3%
1972	49.8%	57.2%
1971	50.9%	57.1%
1970	51.5%	57%
1969	50.6%	56.9%
1968	49.1%	56.9%
1967	47.7%	56.9%
1966	47%	56.8%
1965	46.8%	56.9%
1964	46.8%	57%
1963	46.9%	57.2%
1962	47.2%	57.4%
1961	47.5%	57.5%
1960	48%	57.6%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in the Marshall Islands changed from 58.4% to 60.9% between 2004 and 2024.

Age dependency by year

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in the Marshall Islands decreased from 71.3% to 64.2% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

Marshall Islands

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	Marshall Islands	World
2100	16.6%	16.5%
2099	16.6%	16.6%
2098	16.6%	16.6%
2097	16.7%	16.7%
2096	16.7%	16.8%
2095	16.8%	16.8%
2094	16.9%	16.9%
2093	17%	17%
2092	17.1%	17%
2091	17.3%	17.1%
2090	17.5%	17.2%
2089	17.7%	17.2%
2088	17.9%	17.3%
2087	18.2%	17.4%
2086	18.4%	17.4%
2085	18.7%	17.5%
2084	19%	17.5%
2083	19.3%	17.6%
2082	19.5%	17.7%
2081	19.8%	17.7%
2080	20%	17.8%
2079	20.2%	17.8%
2078	20.4%	17.9%
2077	20.6%	17.9%
2076	20.8%	18%
2075	20.9%	18%
2074	21%	18.1%
2073	21.1%	18.2%
2072	21.2%	18.2%
2071	21.3%	18.3%
2070	21.3%	18.3%
2069	21.4%	18.4%
2068	21.5%	18.5%
2067	21.7%	18.6%
2066	21.8%	18.6%
2065	22%	18.7%
2064	22.3%	18.8%
2063	22.6%	18.9%
2062	22.9%	19.1%
2061	23.3%	19.2%
2060	23.8%	19.3%
2059	24.3%	19.4%
2058	24.8%	19.5%
2057	25.4%	19.6%
2056	26%	19.8%
2055	26.5%	19.9%
2054	27.1%	20%
2053	27.6%	20.1%
2052	28%	20.2%
2051	28.4%	20.3%
2050	28.7%	20.4%
2049	28.9%	20.5%
2048	29%	20.6%
2047	29.1%	20.7%
2046	29%	20.8%
2045	28.9%	20.9%
2044	28.7%	20.9%
2043	28.4%	21%
2042	28.2%	21.1%
2041	27.8%	21.2%
2040	27.5%	21.2%
2039	27.3%	21.3%
2038	27.3%	21.4%
2037	27.4%	21.5%
2036	27.8%	21.6%
2035	28.4%	21.8%
2034	28.9%	22%
2033	29.5%	22.2%
2032	30%	22.4%
2031	30.6%	22.7%
2030	31.2%	23%
2029	31.7%	23.3%
2028	32.3%	23.6%
2027	32.9%	23.9%
2026	33.6%	24.2%
2025	34.2%	24.6%
2024	34.5%	24.7%
2023	34.7%	25%
2022	34.6%	25.3%
2021	34.4%	25.6%
2020	34.5%	25.8%
2019	35.1%	26%
2018	35.7%	26.2%
2017	36.2%	26.4%
2016	36.8%	26.5%
2015	37.5%	26.6%
2014	38.2%	26.8%
2013	38.8%	26.9%
2012	39.4%	27%
2011	39.7%	27.1%
2010	39.7%	27.3%
2009	39.4%	27.5%
2008	39.2%	27.6%
2007	39%	27.9%
2006	38.9%	28.1%
2005	39.1%	28.5%
2004	39.4%	28.8%
2003	39.9%	29.2%
2002	40.6%	29.6%
2001	41.3%	30%
2000	42%	30.4%
1999	42.8%	30.8%
1998	43.7%	31.1%
1997	44.7%	31.5%
1996	45.6%	31.8%
1995	46.6%	32.1%
1994	47.5%	32.3%
1993	48.4%	32.5%
1992	49.1%	32.7%
1991	49.7%	32.9%
1990	50.2%	33%
1989	50.6%	33.2%
1988	50.8%	33.4%
1987	50.8%	33.6%
1986	50.7%	33.8%
1985	50.6%	34%
1984	50.4%	34.3%
1983	50.4%	34.6%
1982	50.3%	34.9%
1981	50.3%	35.2%
1980	50.1%	35.5%
1979	49.8%	35.9%
1978	49.4%	36.3%
1977	49%	36.7%
1976	48.5%	36.9%
1975	48.2%	37.1%
1974	47.8%	37.2%
1973	47.3%	37.3%
1972	46.6%	37.5%
1971	45.6%	37.6%
1970	45%	37.7%
1969	45.3%	37.8%
1968	46.1%	37.9%
1967	46.7%	38%
1966	47.2%	38%
1965	47.5%	38%
1964	47.5%	38%
1963	47.4%	37.8%
1962	47.1%	37.6%
1961	46.7%	37.5%
1960	46.1%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in the Marshall Islands decreased from 39.4% to 34.5% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+) by year

Chart Table

Marshall Islands

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	Marshall Islands	World
2100	17.8%	23.9%
2099	17.7%	23.8%
2098	17.6%	23.7%
2097	17.6%	23.6%
2096	17.6%	23.5%
2095	17.6%	23.4%
2094	17.7%	23.4%
2093	17.8%	23.3%
2092	17.9%	23.2%
2091	18%	23.1%
2090	18.1%	23.1%
2089	18.1%	23%
2088	17.9%	22.9%
2087	17.6%	22.8%
2086	17%	22.7%
2085	16.3%	22.6%
2084	15.6%	22.5%
2083	14.9%	22.4%
2082	14.2%	22.2%
2081	13.4%	22%
2080	12.7%	21.8%
2079	11.9%	21.6%
2078	11.1%	21.4%
2077	10.2%	21.2%
2076	9.2%	21%
2075	8.2%	20.8%
2074	7.27%	20.6%
2073	6.4%	20.4%
2072	5.65%	20.3%
2071	5.01%	20.1%
2070	4.49%	19.9%
2069	4.27%	19.8%
2068	4.32%	19.6%
2067	4.64%	19.5%
2066	5.11%	19.3%
2065	5.69%	19.2%
2064	6.3%	19.1%
2063	6.95%	18.9%
2062	7.64%	18.8%
2061	8.39%	18.6%
2060	9.13%	18.5%
2059	9.93%	18.3%
2058	10.7%	18.1%
2057	11.5%	17.9%
2056	12.2%	17.7%
2055	12.6%	17.5%
2054	12.8%	17.2%
2053	12.9%	17%
2052	13%	16.7%
2051	12.9%	16.4%
2050	12.8%	16.2%
2049	12.6%	16%
2048	12.4%	15.8%
2047	12%	15.5%
2046	11.7%	15.3%
2045	11.3%	15.1%
2044	11%	14.9%
2043	10.6%	14.8%
2042	10.3%	14.6%
2041	10%	14.4%
2040	9.66%	14.2%
2039	9.3%	14%
2038	8.98%	13.8%
2037	8.67%	13.5%
2036	8.29%	13.3%
2035	7.92%	13%
2034	7.58%	12.7%
2033	7.22%	12.4%
2032	6.9%	12.2%
2031	6.55%	11.9%
2030	6.18%	11.6%
2029	5.84%	11.3%
2028	5.53%	11%
2027	5.27%	10.7%
2026	4.99%	10.5%
2025	4.76%	10.3%
2024	4.64%	10.2%
2023	4.38%	9.98%
2022	4.11%	9.74%
2021	3.87%	9.53%
2020	3.7%	9.33%
2019	3.57%	9.1%
2018	3.39%	8.88%
2017	3.19%	8.65%
2016	3%	8.45%
2015	2.8%	8.26%
2014	2.59%	8.08%
2013	2.38%	7.92%
2012	2.2%	7.78%
2011	2.07%	7.66%
2010	2.06%	7.58%
2009	2.08%	7.52%
2008	2.1%	7.47%
2007	2.12%	7.41%
2006	2.15%	7.34%
2005	2.18%	7.26%
2004	2.22%	7.18%
2003	2.25%	7.1%
2002	2.26%	7.01%
2001	2.25%	6.92%
2000	2.25%	6.84%
1999	2.25%	6.76%
1998	2.31%	6.68%
1997	2.4%	6.61%
1996	2.48%	6.53%
1995	2.54%	6.45%
1994	2.59%	6.37%
1993	2.64%	6.29%
1992	2.69%	6.21%
1991	2.74%	6.14%
1990	2.8%	6.07%
1989	2.86%	6.01%
1988	2.91%	5.95%
1987	2.95%	5.91%
1986	3%	5.86%
1985	3.05%	5.82%
1984	3.1%	5.8%
1983	3.13%	5.79%
1982	3.15%	5.8%
1981	3.17%	5.81%
1980	3.21%	5.81%
1979	3.27%	5.77%
1978	3.36%	5.71%
1977	3.49%	5.65%
1976	3.61%	5.59%
1975	3.73%	5.53%
1974	3.89%	5.47%
1973	3.87%	5.42%
1972	3.66%	5.37%
1971	3.46%	5.32%
1970	3.49%	5.28%
1969	4.03%	5.24%
1968	4.88%	5.2%
1967	5.59%	5.16%
1966	5.79%	5.12%
1965	5.71%	5.08%
1964	5.67%	5.04%
1963	5.65%	5.02%
1962	5.68%	5.01%
1961	5.74%	4.99%
1960	5.84%	4.97%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in the Marshall Islands increased from 2.22% to 4.64% between 2004 and 2024.

Median age map

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