The current population of the Marshall Islands is 35,058 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 37,548 in 2024.
- Since 2006, population has decreased from 52K people to 35.1K (-32.6% decline in 20 years).
- The Marshall Islands' population peaked in 2010 at 52K people and has been in decline since.
- The Marshall Islands accounts for 0.0004% of the world's population.
- The Marshall Islands is ranked 192/197 by population and was ranked 188th in 2006.
- The UN estimates that the Marshall Islands' population is going to decline by -29.2% to 24.8K people by 2050.
- For the last 20 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average decline rate of -1.63% per year.
The Marshall Islands population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 23,457 | -0.33% |
| 2099 | 23,536 | -0.38% |
| 2098 | 23,626 | -0.4% |
| 2097 | 23,720 | -0.32% |
| 2096 | 23,797 | -0.35% |
| 2095 | 23,879 | -0.28% |
| 2094 | 23,947 | -0.31% |
| 2093 | 24,022 | -0.29% |
| 2092 | 24,092 | -0.24% |
| 2091 | 24,150 | -0.2% |
| 2090 | 24,198 | -0.23% |
| 2089 | 24,253 | -0.13% |
| 2088 | 24,284 | -0.12% |
| 2087 | 24,314 | -0.06% |
| 2086 | 24,329 | -0.08% |
| 2085 | 24,347 | -0.03% |
| 2084 | 24,355 | 0.05% |
| 2083 | 24,343 | 0.06% |
| 2082 | 24,328 | 0.04% |
| 2081 | 24,317 | 0.11% |
| 2080 | 24,290 | 0.09% |
| 2079 | 24,269 | 0.17% |
| 2078 | 24,226 | 0.17% |
| 2077 | 24,185 | 0.14% |
| 2076 | 24,151 | 0.23% |
| 2075 | 24,096 | 0.14% |
| 2074 | 24,061 | 0.2% |
| 2073 | 24,013 | 0.13% |
| 2072 | 23,982 | 0.16% |
| 2071 | 23,943 | 0.17% |
| 2070 | 23,902 | 0.14% |
| 2069 | 23,869 | 0.18% |
| 2068 | 23,827 | 0.08% |
| 2067 | 23,808 | 0.14% |
| 2066 | 23,775 | 0.004% |
| 2065 | 23,774 | -0.02% |
| 2064 | 23,778 | -0.05% |
| 2063 | 23,791 | -0.17% |
| 2062 | 23,830 | -0.21% |
| 2061 | 23,881 | -0.2% |
| 2060 | 23,929 | -0.27% |
| 2059 | 23,993 | -0.2% |
| 2058 | 24,041 | -0.32% |
| 2057 | 24,118 | -0.37% |
| 2056 | 24,207 | -0.46% |
| 2055 | 24,318 | -0.43% |
| 2054 | 24,424 | -0.37% |
| 2053 | 24,515 | -0.41% |
| 2052 | 24,615 | -0.45% |
| 2051 | 24,727 | -0.39% |
| 2050 | 24,824 | -0.5% |
| 2049 | 24,948 | -0.45% |
| 2048 | 25,060 | -0.43% |
| 2047 | 25,169 | -0.44% |
| 2046 | 25,281 | -0.5% |
| 2045 | 25,407 | -0.54% |
| 2044 | 25,544 | -0.61% |
| 2043 | 25,701 | -0.62% |
| 2042 | 25,860 | -0.72% |
| 2041 | 26,047 | -0.82% |
| 2040 | 26,263 | -0.92% |
| 2039 | 26,507 | -1% |
| 2038 | 26,773 | -1.22% |
| 2037 | 27,104 | -1.3% |
| 2036 | 27,461 | -1.53% |
| 2035 | 27,889 | -1.73% |
| 2034 | 28,379 | -1.92% |
| 2033 | 28,934 | -2.11% |
| 2032 | 29,558 | -2.34% |
| 2031 | 30,266 | -2.59% |
| 2030 | 31,070 | -2.78% |
| 2029 | 31,960 | -2.85% |
| 2028 | 32,896 | -3.04% |
| 2027 | 33,927 | -3.23% |
| 2026 | 35,058 | -3.42% |
| 2025 | 36,301 | -3.32% |
| 2024 | 37,548 | -3.29% |
| 2023 | 38,827 | -3.12% |
| 2022 | 40,077 | -3.12% |
| 2021 | 41,367 | -3.14% |
| 2020 | 42,706 | -2.96% |
| 2019 | 44,007 | -2.82% |
| 2018 | 45,285 | -2.67% |
| 2017 | 46,529 | -2.47% |
| 2016 | 47,709 | -2.24% |
| 2015 | 48,800 | -2% |
| 2014 | 49,796 | -1.75% |
| 2013 | 50,681 | -1.44% |
| 2012 | 51,419 | -0.94% |
| 2011 | 51,907 | -0.26% |
| 2010 | 52,044 | 0.05% |
| 2009 | 52,019 | -0.02% |
| 2008 | 52,030 | -0.01% |
| 2007 | 52,035 | 0.08% |
| 2006 | 51,992 | 0.17% |
| 2005 | 51,906 | 0.22% |
| 2004 | 51,791 | 0.29% |
| 2003 | 51,639 | 0.42% |
| 2002 | 51,425 | 0.59% |
| 2001 | 51,123 | 0.82% |
| 2000 | 50,706 | 1% |
| 1999 | 50,202 | 0.98% |
| 1998 | 49,717 | 0.93% |
| 1997 | 49,259 | 0.99% |
| 1996 | 48,775 | 1.05% |
| 1995 | 48,266 | 1.16% |
| 1994 | 47,712 | 1.31% |
| 1993 | 47,093 | 1.52% |
| 1992 | 46,388 | 1.8% |
| 1991 | 45,568 | 2.1% |
| 1990 | 44,629 | 2.39% |
| 1989 | 43,586 | 2.99% |
| 1988 | 42,321 | 3.66% |
| 1987 | 40,828 | 3.93% |
| 1986 | 39,286 | 4.04% |
| 1985 | 37,761 | 4.13% |
| 1984 | 36,264 | 4.17% |
| 1983 | 34,811 | 4.23% |
| 1982 | 33,397 | 4.31% |
| 1981 | 32,017 | 4.04% |
| 1980 | 30,774 | 3.48% |
| 1979 | 29,738 | 3.22% |
| 1978 | 28,809 | 3.24% |
| 1977 | 27,906 | 3.28% |
| 1976 | 27,021 | 3.31% |
| 1975 | 26,154 | 3.39% |
| 1974 | 25,296 | 2.91% |
| 1973 | 24,581 | 2.45% |
| 1972 | 23,992 | 2.68% |
| 1971 | 23,366 | 3.71% |
| 1970 | 22,530 | 5.75% |
| 1969 | 21,305 | 7.27% |
| 1968 | 19,862 | 6.47% |
| 1967 | 18,655 | 4.06% |
| 1966 | 17,927 | 3.02% |
| 1965 | 17,402 | 3.26% |
| 1964 | 16,852 | 3.37% |
| 1963 | 16,302 | 3.47% |
| 1962 | 15,755 | 3.52% |
| 1961 | 15,219 | 3.51% |
| 1960 | 14,703 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands | CC BY 
The Marshall Islands has a population of 35.1K as of 2026, compared to 47.7K in 2016, 52K in 2006, and 48.8K in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to decrease by an average of 2.65% per year. The Marshall Islands is ranked 197th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) the Marshall Islands will have 25,281 people (-27.9% decline) with a rank change from 192nd to 193rd.
By the year 2100, the Marshall Islands' population is projected to decline by 33.1% from its current level to 23.5K people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -1,698 |
| 2024 | - | - | -1,765 |
| 2023 | -1,282 | 550 | -1,832 |
| 2022 | -1,223 | 606 | -1,829 |
| 2021 | -1,363 | 653 | -2,016 |
| 2020 | -1,315 | 689 | -2,004 |
| 2019 | -1,284 | 746 | -2,030 |
| 2018 | -1,273 | 785 | -2,058 |
| 2017 | -1,214 | 826 | -2,040 |
| 2016 | -1,137 | 866 | -2,003 |
| 2015 | -1,052 | 912 | -1,964 |
| 2014 | -947 | 959 | -1,906 |
| 2013 | -811 | 1,014 | -1,825 |
| 2012 | -662 | 1,097 | -1,759 |
| 2011 | -327 | 1,185 | -1,512 |
| 2010 | 52 | 1,273 | -1,221 |
| 2009 | 4 | 1,365 | -1,361 |
| 2008 | -24 | 1,443 | -1,467 |
| 2007 | 16 | 1,507 | -1,491 |
| 2006 | 65 | 1,556 | -1,491 |
| 2005 | 104 | 1,586 | -1,482 |
| 2004 | 129 | 1,595 | -1,466 |
| 2003 | 173 | 1,600 | -1,427 |
| 2002 | 249 | 1,594 | -1,345 |
| 2001 | 359 | 1,596 | -1,237 |
| 2000 | 482 | 1,592 | -1,110 |
| 1999 | 522 | 1,590 | -1,068 |
| 1998 | 452 | 1,576 | -1,124 |
| 1997 | 467 | 1,564 | -1,097 |
| 1996 | 492 | 1,542 | -1,050 |
| 1995 | 531 | 1,522 | -991 |
| 1994 | 582 | 1,524 | -942 |
| 1993 | 655 | 1,524 | -869 |
| 1992 | 756 | 1,525 | -769 |
| 1991 | 879 | 1,540 | -661 |
| 1990 | 994 | 1,556 | -562 |
| 1989 | 1,095 | 1,574 | -479 |
| 1988 | 1,435 | 1,575 | -140 |
| 1987 | 1,550 | 1,566 | -16 |
| 1986 | 1,536 | 1,544 | -8 |
| 1985 | 1,510 | 1,511 | -1 |
| 1984 | 1,476 | 1,470 | 6 |
| 1983 | 1,434 | 1,422 | 12 |
| 1982 | 1,398 | 1,375 | 23 |
| 1981 | 1,359 | 1,328 | 31 |
| 1980 | 1,132 | 1,287 | -155 |
| 1979 | 934 | 1,250 | -316 |
| 1978 | 921 | 1,207 | -286 |
| 1977 | 896 | 1,160 | -264 |
| 1976 | 876 | 1,109 | -233 |
| 1975 | 862 | 1,055 | -193 |
| 1974 | 855 | 1,000 | -145 |
| 1973 | 571 | 954 | -383 |
| 1972 | 607 | 913 | -306 |
| 1971 | 645 | 877 | -232 |
| 1970 | 1,020 | 819 | 201 |
| 1969 | 1,437 | 747 | 690 |
| 1968 | 1,454 | 685 | 769 |
| 1967 | 944 | 636 | 308 |
| 1966 | 514 | 603 | -89 |
| 1965 | 544 | 566 | -22 |
| 1964 | 552 | 536 | 16 |
| 1963 | 551 | 509 | 42 |
| 1962 | 542 | 488 | 54 |
| 1961 | 525 | 469 | 56 |
| 1960 | 515 | 452 | 63 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 27.8% of the population change in the Marshall Islands is from natural causes (a gain of 7,592 people) and 72.2% is from migration (a loss of 19,682 people).
As of 2024, 3,309 residents or 8.8% of the population were not native-born in the Marshall Islands, compared to 3,089 and 5.9% in 2010.
The Marshall Islands population clock
Marshall Islands
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
35058
|
192/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0004% | 192/197 |
| One net population change |
6.85 hours
|
172/197 |
| One birth every |
10.7 hours
|
187/196 |
| One death every |
1.35 days
|
193/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | -4 | 172/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,279 | 172/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -3.29% | 197/197 |
| One migration net change every |
5.17 hours
|
97/196 |
| Annual migration change | -1,698 | 97/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,309 | 189/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.8% | 71/195 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Marshall Islands population statistics
|
Marshall Islands
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.3 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 27.5 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 21.8 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 2.92 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 504 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.