The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 37,548 in 2024 vs 11,947 people in Nauru in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,058 people compared to 12,125 in Nauru.
Population statistics:
- The Marshall Islands' population is 2.89 times bigger than Nauru's.
- The Marshall Islands is ranked the 192nd most populous country in the world, while Nauru is the 195th.
- The countries together account for 0.0006% of the world: 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands vs 0.0001% for Nauru.
- For the last 10 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average growth rate of -2.69% per year vs +1.17% in Nauru.
- Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35.1K (32.6% decline), while Nauru has grown from 10K to 12.1K (20.8% growth).
Marshall Islands vs Nauru: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Marshall Islands
|
Nauru
|
|
| 2100 | 23,457 | 20,717 |
| 2099 | 23,536 | 20,686 |
| 2098 | 23,626 | 20,645 |
| 2097 | 23,720 | 20,605 |
| 2096 | 23,797 | 20,570 |
| 2095 | 23,879 | 20,535 |
| 2094 | 23,947 | 20,488 |
| 2093 | 24,022 | 20,432 |
| 2092 | 24,092 | 20,386 |
| 2091 | 24,150 | 20,341 |
| 2090 | 24,198 | 20,285 |
| 2089 | 24,253 | 20,219 |
| 2088 | 24,284 | 20,152 |
| 2087 | 24,314 | 20,096 |
| 2086 | 24,329 | 20,028 |
| 2085 | 24,347 | 19,959 |
| 2084 | 24,355 | 19,880 |
| 2083 | 24,343 | 19,796 |
| 2082 | 24,328 | 19,709 |
| 2081 | 24,317 | 19,611 |
| 2080 | 24,290 | 19,525 |
| 2079 | 24,269 | 19,420 |
| 2078 | 24,226 | 19,312 |
| 2077 | 24,185 | 19,206 |
| 2076 | 24,151 | 19,098 |
| 2075 | 24,096 | 18,986 |
| 2074 | 24,061 | 18,874 |
| 2073 | 24,013 | 18,758 |
| 2072 | 23,982 | 18,638 |
| 2071 | 23,943 | 18,535 |
| 2070 | 23,902 | 18,396 |
| 2069 | 23,869 | 18,289 |
| 2068 | 23,827 | 18,168 |
| 2067 | 23,808 | 18,025 |
| 2066 | 23,775 | 17,903 |
| 2065 | 23,774 | 17,777 |
| 2064 | 23,778 | 17,649 |
| 2063 | 23,791 | 17,524 |
| 2062 | 23,830 | 17,402 |
| 2061 | 23,881 | 17,267 |
| 2060 | 23,929 | 17,137 |
| 2059 | 23,993 | 17,013 |
| 2058 | 24,041 | 16,882 |
| 2057 | 24,118 | 16,752 |
| 2056 | 24,207 | 16,612 |
| 2055 | 24,318 | 16,472 |
| 2054 | 24,424 | 16,335 |
| 2053 | 24,515 | 16,193 |
| 2052 | 24,615 | 16,049 |
| 2051 | 24,727 | 15,888 |
| 2050 | 24,824 | 15,738 |
| 2049 | 24,948 | 15,572 |
| 2048 | 25,060 | 15,412 |
| 2047 | 25,169 | 15,241 |
| 2046 | 25,281 | 15,064 |
| 2045 | 25,407 | 14,895 |
| 2044 | 25,544 | 14,718 |
| 2043 | 25,701 | 14,546 |
| 2042 | 25,860 | 14,363 |
| 2041 | 26,047 | 14,180 |
| 2040 | 26,263 | 13,996 |
| 2039 | 26,507 | 13,827 |
| 2038 | 26,773 | 13,672 |
| 2037 | 27,104 | 13,513 |
| 2036 | 27,461 | 13,363 |
| 2035 | 27,889 | 13,196 |
| 2034 | 28,379 | 13,040 |
| 2033 | 28,934 | 12,894 |
| 2032 | 29,558 | 12,758 |
| 2031 | 30,266 | 12,625 |
| 2030 | 31,070 | 12,504 |
| 2029 | 31,960 | 12,386 |
| 2028 | 32,896 | 12,292 |
| 2027 | 33,927 | 12,182 |
| 2026 | 35,058 | 12,105 |
| 2025 | 36,301 | 12,030 |
| 2024 | 37,548 | 11,947 |
| 2023 | 38,827 | 11,875 |
| 2022 | 40,077 | 11,801 |
| 2021 | 41,367 | 11,709 |
| 2020 | 42,706 | 11,643 |
| 2019 | 44,007 | 11,587 |
| 2018 | 45,285 | 11,477 |
| 2017 | 46,529 | 11,324 |
| 2016 | 47,709 | 11,150 |
| 2015 | 48,800 | 10,954 |
| 2014 | 49,796 | 10,742 |
| 2013 | 50,681 | 10,517 |
| 2012 | 51,419 | 10,267 |
| 2011 | 51,907 | 10,098 |
| 2010 | 52,044 | 10,043 |
| 2009 | 52,019 | 10,016 |
| 2008 | 52,030 | 10,009 |
| 2007 | 52,035 | 10,020 |
| 2006 | 51,992 | 10,034 |
| 2005 | 51,906 | 10,049 |
| 2004 | 51,791 | 10,060 |
| 2003 | 51,639 | 10,059 |
| 2002 | 51,425 | 10,082 |
| 2001 | 51,123 | 10,130 |
| 2000 | 50,706 | 10,168 |
| 1999 | 50,202 | 10,187 |
| 1998 | 49,717 | 10,198 |
| 1997 | 49,259 | 10,197 |
| 1996 | 48,775 | 10,183 |
| 1995 | 48,266 | 10,165 |
| 1994 | 47,712 | 10,137 |
| 1993 | 47,093 | 10,102 |
| 1992 | 46,388 | 10,021 |
| 1991 | 45,568 | 9,850 |
| 1990 | 44,629 | 9,622 |
| 1989 | 43,586 | 9,390 |
| 1988 | 42,321 | 9,165 |
| 1987 | 40,828 | 8,946 |
| 1986 | 39,286 | 8,742 |
| 1985 | 37,761 | 8,551 |
| 1984 | 36,264 | 8,377 |
| 1983 | 34,811 | 8,216 |
| 1982 | 33,397 | 8,040 |
| 1981 | 32,017 | 7,839 |
| 1980 | 30,774 | 7,649 |
| 1979 | 29,738 | 7,468 |
| 1978 | 28,809 | 7,298 |
| 1977 | 27,906 | 7,163 |
| 1976 | 27,021 | 7,064 |
| 1975 | 26,154 | 6,987 |
| 1974 | 25,296 | 6,923 |
| 1973 | 24,581 | 6,866 |
| 1972 | 23,992 | 6,812 |
| 1971 | 23,366 | 6,762 |
| 1970 | 22,530 | 6,710 |
| 1969 | 21,305 | 6,581 |
| 1968 | 19,862 | 6,328 |
| 1967 | 18,655 | 6,135 |
| 1966 | 17,927 | 6,043 |
| 1965 | 17,402 | 5,832 |
| 1964 | 16,852 | 5,515 |
| 1963 | 16,302 | 5,226 |
| 1962 | 15,755 | 4,979 |
| 1961 | 15,219 | 4,774 |
| 1960 | 14,703 | 4,607 |
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/nauru | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Marshall Islands decreased by 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline), while Nauru gained 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Marshall Islands lost 12,651 people (a 26.5% decline), while Nauru's population increased by 975 people (a 8.74% growth).
The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th most populous country in 2006 and is 192nd in 2026. Nauru was ranked 196th in 2006 and ranked 195th now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Marshall Islands' population will shrink by 29.2% to 24,824 people with a rank change from 192nd to 193rd. The population of Nauru will increase by 29.8% to 15,738 people and rank change from 195th to 194th.
Nauru is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.7K people, while the Marshall Islands' population already peaked in 2010 at 52K people and is projected to decrease to 23.5K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
Nauru
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | 0.15% |
| 2099 | -0.38% | 0.2% |
| 2098 | -0.4% | 0.19% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | 0.17% |
| 2096 | -0.35% | 0.17% |
| 2095 | -0.28% | 0.23% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | 0.27% |
| 2093 | -0.29% | 0.23% |
| 2092 | -0.24% | 0.22% |
| 2091 | -0.2% | 0.28% |
| 2090 | -0.23% | 0.33% |
| 2089 | -0.13% | 0.33% |
| 2088 | -0.12% | 0.28% |
| 2087 | -0.06% | 0.34% |
| 2086 | -0.08% | 0.35% |
| 2085 | -0.03% | 0.39% |
| 2084 | 0.05% | 0.43% |
| 2083 | 0.06% | 0.44% |
| 2082 | 0.04% | 0.5% |
| 2081 | 0.11% | 0.44% |
| 2080 | 0.09% | 0.54% |
| 2079 | 0.17% | 0.56% |
| 2078 | 0.17% | 0.55% |
| 2077 | 0.14% | 0.57% |
| 2076 | 0.23% | 0.59% |
| 2075 | 0.14% | 0.6% |
| 2074 | 0.2% | 0.62% |
| 2073 | 0.13% | 0.65% |
| 2072 | 0.16% | 0.56% |
| 2071 | 0.17% | 0.75% |
| 2070 | 0.14% | 0.59% |
| 2069 | 0.18% | 0.66% |
| 2068 | 0.08% | 0.8% |
| 2067 | 0.14% | 0.68% |
| 2066 | 0.004% | 0.71% |
| 2065 | -0.02% | 0.73% |
| 2064 | -0.05% | 0.71% |
| 2063 | -0.17% | 0.7% |
| 2062 | -0.21% | 0.78% |
| 2061 | -0.2% | 0.76% |
| 2060 | -0.27% | 0.73% |
| 2059 | -0.2% | 0.78% |
| 2058 | -0.32% | 0.77% |
| 2057 | -0.37% | 0.85% |
| 2056 | -0.46% | 0.85% |
| 2055 | -0.43% | 0.84% |
| 2054 | -0.37% | 0.87% |
| 2053 | -0.41% | 0.9% |
| 2052 | -0.45% | 1.01% |
| 2051 | -0.39% | 0.96% |
| 2050 | -0.5% | 1.06% |
| 2049 | -0.45% | 1.04% |
| 2048 | -0.43% | 1.12% |
| 2047 | -0.44% | 1.17% |
| 2046 | -0.5% | 1.14% |
| 2045 | -0.54% | 1.2% |
| 2044 | -0.61% | 1.19% |
| 2043 | -0.62% | 1.27% |
| 2042 | -0.72% | 1.29% |
| 2041 | -0.82% | 1.32% |
| 2040 | -0.92% | 1.22% |
| 2039 | -1% | 1.14% |
| 2038 | -1.22% | 1.17% |
| 2037 | -1.3% | 1.12% |
| 2036 | -1.53% | 1.27% |
| 2035 | -1.73% | 1.19% |
| 2034 | -1.92% | 1.14% |
| 2033 | -2.11% | 1.06% |
| 2032 | -2.34% | 1.06% |
| 2031 | -2.59% | 0.96% |
| 2030 | -2.78% | 0.96% |
| 2029 | -2.85% | 0.77% |
| 2028 | -3.04% | 0.9% |
| 2027 | -3.23% | 0.64% |
| 2026 | -3.42% | 0.63% |
| 2025 | -3.32% | 0.7% |
| 2024 | -3.29% | 0.61% |
| 2023 | -3.12% | 0.63% |
| 2022 | -3.12% | 0.79% |
| 2021 | -3.14% | 0.57% |
| 2020 | -2.96% | 0.48% |
| 2019 | -2.82% | 0.96% |
| 2018 | -2.67% | 1.35% |
| 2017 | -2.47% | 1.56% |
| 2016 | -2.24% | 1.79% |
| 2015 | -2% | 1.97% |
| 2014 | -1.75% | 2.14% |
| 2013 | -1.44% | 2.43% |
| 2012 | -0.94% | 1.67% |
| 2011 | -0.26% | 0.55% |
| 2010 | 0.05% | 0.27% |
| 2009 | -0.02% | 0.07% |
| 2008 | -0.01% | -0.11% |
| 2007 | 0.08% | -0.14% |
| 2006 | 0.17% | -0.15% |
| 2005 | 0.22% | -0.11% |
| 2004 | 0.29% | 0.01% |
| 2003 | 0.42% | -0.23% |
| 2002 | 0.59% | -0.47% |
| 2001 | 0.82% | -0.37% |
| 2000 | 1% | -0.19% |
| 1999 | 0.98% | -0.11% |
| 1998 | 0.93% | 0.01% |
| 1997 | 0.99% | 0.14% |
| 1996 | 1.05% | 0.18% |
| 1995 | 1.16% | 0.28% |
| 1994 | 1.31% | 0.35% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 0.81% |
| 1992 | 1.8% | 1.74% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | 2.37% |
| 1990 | 2.39% | 2.47% |
| 1989 | 2.99% | 2.45% |
| 1988 | 3.66% | 2.45% |
| 1987 | 3.93% | 2.33% |
| 1986 | 4.04% | 2.23% |
| 1985 | 4.13% | 2.08% |
| 1984 | 4.17% | 1.96% |
| 1983 | 4.23% | 2.19% |
| 1982 | 4.31% | 2.56% |
| 1981 | 4.04% | 2.48% |
| 1980 | 3.48% | 2.42% |
| 1979 | 3.22% | 2.33% |
| 1978 | 3.24% | 1.88% |
| 1977 | 3.28% | 1.4% |
| 1976 | 3.31% | 1.1% |
| 1975 | 3.39% | 0.92% |
| 1974 | 2.91% | 0.83% |
| 1973 | 2.45% | 0.79% |
| 1972 | 2.68% | 0.74% |
| 1971 | 3.71% | 0.77% |
| 1970 | 5.75% | 1.96% |
| 1969 | 7.27% | 4% |
| 1968 | 6.47% | 3.15% |
| 1967 | 4.06% | 1.52% |
| 1966 | 3.02% | 3.62% |
| 1965 | 3.26% | 5.75% |
| 1964 | 3.37% | 5.53% |
| 1963 | 3.47% | 4.96% |
| 1962 | 3.52% | 4.29% |
| 1961 | 3.51% | 3.62% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/nauru | CC BY
In 2024, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.29%, while Nauru's population grew by 0.61%.
Live population counters
|
Marshall Islands
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
35058
|
12125
|
| Population rank | 192/197 | 195/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0004% | 0.0001% |
| One net population change |
6.85 hours
|
5.07 days
|
| One birth every |
10.7 hours
|
1.21 days
|
| One death every |
1.35 days
|
4.1 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | -4 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,279 | +72 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -3.29% | +0.61% |
| Population growth rate rank | 197/197 | 126/197 |
| One migration net change every |
5.17 hours
|
3 days
|
| Annual migration change | -1,698 | -122 |
| Net migration rank | 97/196 | 82/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,309 | 2,548 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 189/195 | 191/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.8% | 21.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 71/195 | 29/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
Nauru
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,698 | - | -122 |
| 2024 | - | -1,765 | - | -121 |
| 2023 | 550 | -1,832 | 213 | -148 |
| 2022 | 606 | -1,829 | 226 | -144 |
| 2021 | 653 | -2,016 | 236 | -137 |
| 2020 | 689 | -2,004 | 246 | -214 |
| 2019 | 746 | -2,030 | 255 | -171 |
| 2018 | 785 | -2,058 | 265 | -131 |
| 2017 | 826 | -2,040 | 279 | -115 |
| 2016 | 866 | -2,003 | 289 | -105 |
| 2015 | 912 | -1,964 | 291 | -86 |
| 2014 | 959 | -1,906 | 290 | -69 |
| 2013 | 1,014 | -1,825 | 291 | -53 |
| 2012 | 1,097 | -1,759 | 292 | -38 |
| 2011 | 1,185 | -1,512 | 291 | -206 |
| 2010 | 1,273 | -1,221 | 281 | -246 |
| 2009 | 1,365 | -1,361 | 261 | -249 |
| 2008 | 1,443 | -1,467 | 240 | -243 |
| 2007 | 1,507 | -1,491 | 222 | -235 |
| 2006 | 1,556 | -1,491 | 209 | -224 |
| 2005 | 1,586 | -1,482 | 204 | -217 |
| 2004 | 1,595 | -1,466 | 202 | -210 |
| 2003 | 1,600 | -1,427 | 201 | -199 |
| 2002 | 1,594 | -1,345 | 200 | -247 |
| 2001 | 1,596 | -1,237 | 203 | -252 |
| 2000 | 1,592 | -1,110 | 207 | -236 |
| 1999 | 1,590 | -1,068 | 212 | -227 |
| 1998 | 1,576 | -1,124 | 214 | -217 |
| 1997 | 1,564 | -1,097 | 218 | -209 |
| 1996 | 1,542 | -1,050 | 221 | -204 |
| 1995 | 1,522 | -991 | 225 | -201 |
| 1994 | 1,524 | -942 | 229 | -196 |
| 1993 | 1,524 | -869 | 235 | -194 |
| 1992 | 1,525 | -769 | 237 | -121 |
| 1991 | 1,540 | -661 | 225 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1,556 | -562 | 214 | 20 |
| 1989 | 1,574 | -479 | 204 | 24 |
| 1988 | 1,575 | -140 | 195 | 29 |
| 1987 | 1,566 | -16 | 186 | 27 |
| 1986 | 1,544 | -8 | 178 | 21 |
| 1985 | 1,511 | -1 | 171 | 8 |
| 1984 | 1,470 | 6 | 166 | -2 |
| 1983 | 1,422 | 12 | 163 | -5 |
| 1982 | 1,375 | 23 | 162 | 30 |
| 1981 | 1,328 | 31 | 157 | 44 |
| 1980 | 1,287 | -155 | 145 | 44 |
| 1979 | 1,250 | -316 | 130 | 48 |
| 1978 | 1,207 | -286 | 111 | 40 |
| 1977 | 1,160 | -264 | 89 | 32 |
| 1976 | 1,109 | -233 | 79 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1,055 | -193 | 70 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1,000 | -145 | 63 | 0 |
| 1973 | 954 | -383 | 57 | 0 |
| 1972 | 913 | -306 | 53 | 0 |
| 1971 | 877 | -232 | 50 | 0 |
| 1970 | 819 | 201 | 49 | 0 |
| 1969 | 747 | 690 | 71 | 132 |
| 1968 | 685 | 769 | 116 | 180 |
| 1967 | 636 | 308 | 117 | -28 |
| 1966 | 603 | -89 | 123 | -32 |
| 1965 | 566 | -22 | 113 | 218 |
| 1964 | 536 | 16 | 100 | 203 |
| 1963 | 509 | 42 | 88 | 181 |
| 1962 | 488 | 54 | 75 | 158 |
| 1961 | 469 | 56 | 70 | 120 |
| 1960 | 452 | 63 | 72 | 76 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/nauru | 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). In Nauru 66.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 people).
As of 2024, 3,309 residents or 8.8% of the population were not native-born in the Marshall Islands, compared to 2,548 people or 21.3% in Nauru.
Biggest cities by population
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Majuro | 30K |
| Djarrit | 7.1K |
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Yaren | 747 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between the Marshall Islands and Nauru
|
Marshall Islands
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.3 years | 62.6 years |
| Average age | 27.5 years | 25.3 years |
| Median age | 21.8 years | 21.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 50.9:49.1 |
| Fertility rate | 2.92 births per woman | 3.33 births per woman |
| Population density | 504 ppl/mi² | 1,568 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/nauru | 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)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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