The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 37,548 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,058 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.
Population statistics:
- New Zealand's population is 153.3 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
- The Marshall Islands is ranked the 192nd most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
- The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
- For the last 10 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average growth rate of -2.69% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
- Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35.1K (32.6% decline), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).
Marshall Islands vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Marshall Islands
|
New Zealand
|
|
| 2100 | 23,457 | 5,918,837 |
| 2099 | 23,536 | 5,923,132 |
| 2098 | 23,626 | 5,927,206 |
| 2097 | 23,720 | 5,930,263 |
| 2096 | 23,797 | 5,932,907 |
| 2095 | 23,879 | 5,934,847 |
| 2094 | 23,947 | 5,936,183 |
| 2093 | 24,022 | 5,938,804 |
| 2092 | 24,092 | 5,939,085 |
| 2091 | 24,150 | 5,940,665 |
| 2090 | 24,198 | 5,941,752 |
| 2089 | 24,253 | 5,944,871 |
| 2088 | 24,284 | 5,945,635 |
| 2087 | 24,314 | 5,948,586 |
| 2086 | 24,329 | 5,951,745 |
| 2085 | 24,347 | 5,955,275 |
| 2084 | 24,355 | 5,959,115 |
| 2083 | 24,343 | 5,963,613 |
| 2082 | 24,328 | 5,966,943 |
| 2081 | 24,317 | 5,968,511 |
| 2080 | 24,290 | 5,971,082 |
| 2079 | 24,269 | 5,972,331 |
| 2078 | 24,226 | 5,972,928 |
| 2077 | 24,185 | 5,971,804 |
| 2076 | 24,151 | 5,971,386 |
| 2075 | 24,096 | 5,970,985 |
| 2074 | 24,061 | 5,969,834 |
| 2073 | 24,013 | 5,968,506 |
| 2072 | 23,982 | 5,964,548 |
| 2071 | 23,943 | 5,964,493 |
| 2070 | 23,902 | 5,963,811 |
| 2069 | 23,869 | 5,962,551 |
| 2068 | 23,827 | 5,960,918 |
| 2067 | 23,808 | 5,958,438 |
| 2066 | 23,775 | 5,954,539 |
| 2065 | 23,774 | 5,950,378 |
| 2064 | 23,778 | 5,946,851 |
| 2063 | 23,791 | 5,944,910 |
| 2062 | 23,830 | 5,940,838 |
| 2061 | 23,881 | 5,939,601 |
| 2060 | 23,929 | 5,936,094 |
| 2059 | 23,993 | 5,931,426 |
| 2058 | 24,041 | 5,925,816 |
| 2057 | 24,118 | 5,919,823 |
| 2056 | 24,207 | 5,913,287 |
| 2055 | 24,318 | 5,904,352 |
| 2054 | 24,424 | 5,894,795 |
| 2053 | 24,515 | 5,884,875 |
| 2052 | 24,615 | 5,876,162 |
| 2051 | 24,727 | 5,864,176 |
| 2050 | 24,824 | 5,852,896 |
| 2049 | 24,948 | 5,844,165 |
| 2048 | 25,060 | 5,833,178 |
| 2047 | 25,169 | 5,822,035 |
| 2046 | 25,281 | 5,809,860 |
| 2045 | 25,407 | 5,795,785 |
| 2044 | 25,544 | 5,780,884 |
| 2043 | 25,701 | 5,764,579 |
| 2042 | 25,860 | 5,746,528 |
| 2041 | 26,047 | 5,727,253 |
| 2040 | 26,263 | 5,708,874 |
| 2039 | 26,507 | 5,690,018 |
| 2038 | 26,773 | 5,669,959 |
| 2037 | 27,104 | 5,650,253 |
| 2036 | 27,461 | 5,630,126 |
| 2035 | 27,889 | 5,609,155 |
| 2034 | 28,379 | 5,588,315 |
| 2033 | 28,934 | 5,565,507 |
| 2032 | 29,558 | 5,542,488 |
| 2031 | 30,266 | 5,517,391 |
| 2030 | 31,070 | 5,491,320 |
| 2029 | 31,960 | 5,462,926 |
| 2028 | 32,896 | 5,432,752 |
| 2027 | 33,927 | 5,399,898 |
| 2026 | 35,058 | 5,364,771 |
| 2025 | 36,301 | 5,327,462 |
| 2024 | 37,548 | 5,287,500 |
| 2023 | 38,827 | 5,200,000 |
| 2022 | 40,077 | 5,081,700 |
| 2021 | 41,367 | 5,084,600 |
| 2020 | 42,706 | 5,072,400 |
| 2019 | 44,007 | 4,970,300 |
| 2018 | 45,285 | 4,900,600 |
| 2017 | 46,529 | 4,813,600 |
| 2016 | 47,709 | 4,714,100 |
| 2015 | 48,800 | 4,609,400 |
| 2014 | 49,796 | 4,516,500 |
| 2013 | 50,681 | 4,442,100 |
| 2012 | 51,419 | 4,408,100 |
| 2011 | 51,907 | 4,384,000 |
| 2010 | 52,044 | 4,350,700 |
| 2009 | 52,019 | 4,302,600 |
| 2008 | 52,030 | 4,259,800 |
| 2007 | 52,035 | 4,223,800 |
| 2006 | 51,992 | 4,184,600 |
| 2005 | 51,906 | 4,133,900 |
| 2004 | 51,791 | 4,087,500 |
| 2003 | 51,639 | 4,027,200 |
| 2002 | 51,425 | 3,948,500 |
| 2001 | 51,123 | 3,880,500 |
| 2000 | 50,706 | 3,857,700 |
| 1999 | 50,202 | 3,835,100 |
| 1998 | 49,717 | 3,815,000 |
| 1997 | 49,259 | 3,781,300 |
| 1996 | 48,775 | 3,732,000 |
| 1995 | 48,266 | 3,673,400 |
| 1994 | 47,712 | 3,620,000 |
| 1993 | 47,093 | 3,572,200 |
| 1992 | 46,388 | 3,531,700 |
| 1991 | 45,568 | 3,495,100 |
| 1990 | 44,629 | 3,329,800 |
| 1989 | 43,586 | 3,299,200 |
| 1988 | 42,321 | 3,283,400 |
| 1987 | 40,828 | 3,274,400 |
| 1986 | 39,286 | 3,246,300 |
| 1985 | 37,761 | 3,247,100 |
| 1984 | 36,264 | 3,227,100 |
| 1983 | 34,811 | 3,199,300 |
| 1982 | 33,397 | 3,156,100 |
| 1981 | 32,017 | 3,124,900 |
| 1980 | 30,774 | 3,112,900 |
| 1979 | 29,738 | 3,109,000 |
| 1978 | 28,809 | 3,121,200 |
| 1977 | 27,906 | 3,120,200 |
| 1976 | 27,021 | 3,110,500 |
| 1975 | 26,154 | 3,083,100 |
| 1974 | 25,296 | 3,023,700 |
| 1973 | 24,581 | 2,961,300 |
| 1972 | 23,992 | 2,903,900 |
| 1971 | 23,366 | 2,853,000 |
| 1970 | 22,530 | 2,810,700 |
| 1969 | 21,305 | 2,772,800 |
| 1968 | 19,862 | 2,748,100 |
| 1967 | 18,655 | 2,724,100 |
| 1966 | 17,927 | 2,675,900 |
| 1965 | 17,402 | 2,628,400 |
| 1964 | 16,852 | 2,585,400 |
| 1963 | 16,302 | 2,531,800 |
| 1962 | 15,755 | 2,482,000 |
| 1961 | 15,219 | 2,419,700 |
| 1960 | 14,703 | 2,371,800 |
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/new-zealand | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Marshall Islands decreased by 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Marshall Islands lost 12,651 people (a 26.5% decline), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).
The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th most populous country in 2006 and is 192nd in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.
New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M 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
|
New Zealand
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | -0.07% |
| 2099 | -0.38% | -0.07% |
| 2098 | -0.4% | -0.05% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | -0.04% |
| 2096 | -0.35% | -0.03% |
| 2095 | -0.28% | -0.02% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | -0.04% |
| 2093 | -0.29% | -0.005% |
| 2092 | -0.24% | -0.03% |
| 2091 | -0.2% | -0.02% |
| 2090 | -0.23% | -0.05% |
| 2089 | -0.13% | -0.01% |
| 2088 | -0.12% | -0.05% |
| 2087 | -0.06% | -0.05% |
| 2086 | -0.08% | -0.06% |
| 2085 | -0.03% | -0.06% |
| 2084 | 0.05% | -0.08% |
| 2083 | 0.06% | -0.06% |
| 2082 | 0.04% | -0.03% |
| 2081 | 0.11% | -0.04% |
| 2080 | 0.09% | -0.02% |
| 2079 | 0.17% | -0.01% |
| 2078 | 0.17% | 0.02% |
| 2077 | 0.14% | 0.007% |
| 2076 | 0.23% | 0.007% |
| 2075 | 0.14% | 0.02% |
| 2074 | 0.2% | 0.02% |
| 2073 | 0.13% | 0.07% |
| 2072 | 0.16% | 0.001% |
| 2071 | 0.17% | 0.01% |
| 2070 | 0.14% | 0.02% |
| 2069 | 0.18% | 0.03% |
| 2068 | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| 2067 | 0.14% | 0.07% |
| 2066 | 0.004% | 0.07% |
| 2065 | -0.02% | 0.06% |
| 2064 | -0.05% | 0.03% |
| 2063 | -0.17% | 0.07% |
| 2062 | -0.21% | 0.02% |
| 2061 | -0.2% | 0.06% |
| 2060 | -0.27% | 0.08% |
| 2059 | -0.2% | 0.09% |
| 2058 | -0.32% | 0.1% |
| 2057 | -0.37% | 0.11% |
| 2056 | -0.46% | 0.15% |
| 2055 | -0.43% | 0.16% |
| 2054 | -0.37% | 0.17% |
| 2053 | -0.41% | 0.15% |
| 2052 | -0.45% | 0.2% |
| 2051 | -0.39% | 0.19% |
| 2050 | -0.5% | 0.15% |
| 2049 | -0.45% | 0.19% |
| 2048 | -0.43% | 0.19% |
| 2047 | -0.44% | 0.21% |
| 2046 | -0.5% | 0.24% |
| 2045 | -0.54% | 0.26% |
| 2044 | -0.61% | 0.28% |
| 2043 | -0.62% | 0.31% |
| 2042 | -0.72% | 0.34% |
| 2041 | -0.82% | 0.32% |
| 2040 | -0.92% | 0.33% |
| 2039 | -1% | 0.35% |
| 2038 | -1.22% | 0.35% |
| 2037 | -1.3% | 0.36% |
| 2036 | -1.53% | 0.37% |
| 2035 | -1.73% | 0.37% |
| 2034 | -1.92% | 0.41% |
| 2033 | -2.11% | 0.42% |
| 2032 | -2.34% | 0.45% |
| 2031 | -2.59% | 0.47% |
| 2030 | -2.78% | 0.52% |
| 2029 | -2.85% | 0.56% |
| 2028 | -3.04% | 0.61% |
| 2027 | -3.23% | 0.65% |
| 2026 | -3.42% | 0.7% |
| 2025 | -3.32% | 0.76% |
| 2024 | -3.29% | 1.68% |
| 2023 | -3.12% | 2.33% |
| 2022 | -3.12% | -0.06% |
| 2021 | -3.14% | 0.24% |
| 2020 | -2.96% | 2.05% |
| 2019 | -2.82% | 1.42% |
| 2018 | -2.67% | 1.81% |
| 2017 | -2.47% | 2.11% |
| 2016 | -2.24% | 2.27% |
| 2015 | -2% | 2.06% |
| 2014 | -1.75% | 1.67% |
| 2013 | -1.44% | 0.77% |
| 2012 | -0.94% | 0.55% |
| 2011 | -0.26% | 0.77% |
| 2010 | 0.05% | 1.12% |
| 2009 | -0.02% | 1% |
| 2008 | -0.01% | 0.85% |
| 2007 | 0.08% | 0.94% |
| 2006 | 0.17% | 1.23% |
| 2005 | 0.22% | 1.14% |
| 2004 | 0.29% | 1.5% |
| 2003 | 0.42% | 1.99% |
| 2002 | 0.59% | 1.75% |
| 2001 | 0.82% | 0.59% |
| 2000 | 1% | 0.59% |
| 1999 | 0.98% | 0.53% |
| 1998 | 0.93% | 0.89% |
| 1997 | 0.99% | 1.32% |
| 1996 | 1.05% | 1.6% |
| 1995 | 1.16% | 1.48% |
| 1994 | 1.31% | 1.34% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 1.15% |
| 1992 | 1.8% | 1.05% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | 4.96% |
| 1990 | 2.39% | 0.93% |
| 1989 | 2.99% | 0.48% |
| 1988 | 3.66% | 0.27% |
| 1987 | 3.93% | 0.87% |
| 1986 | 4.04% | -0.02% |
| 1985 | 4.13% | 0.62% |
| 1984 | 4.17% | 0.87% |
| 1983 | 4.23% | 1.37% |
| 1982 | 4.31% | 1% |
| 1981 | 4.04% | 0.39% |
| 1980 | 3.48% | 0.13% |
| 1979 | 3.22% | -0.39% |
| 1978 | 3.24% | 0.03% |
| 1977 | 3.28% | 0.31% |
| 1976 | 3.31% | 0.89% |
| 1975 | 3.39% | 1.96% |
| 1974 | 2.91% | 2.11% |
| 1973 | 2.45% | 1.98% |
| 1972 | 2.68% | 1.78% |
| 1971 | 3.71% | 1.5% |
| 1970 | 5.75% | 1.37% |
| 1969 | 7.27% | 0.9% |
| 1968 | 6.47% | 0.88% |
| 1967 | 4.06% | 1.8% |
| 1966 | 3.02% | 1.81% |
| 1965 | 3.26% | 1.66% |
| 1964 | 3.37% | 2.12% |
| 1963 | 3.47% | 2.01% |
| 1962 | 3.52% | 2.57% |
| 1961 | 3.51% | 2.02% |
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/new-zealand | CC BY
In 2024, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.29%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.
Live population counters
|
Marshall Islands
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
35058
|
5374272
|
| Population rank | 192/197 | 124/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0004% | 0.06% |
| One net population change |
6.85 hours
|
6.01 minutes
|
| One birth every |
10.7 hours
|
9.31 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.35 days
|
14 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | -4 | +240 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,279 | +87,500 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -3.29% | +1.68% |
| Population growth rate rank | 197/197 | 65/197 |
| One migration net change every |
5.17 hours
|
30.3 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -1,698 | +17,403 |
| Net migration rank | 97/196 | 35/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,309 | 1,467,989 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 189/195 | 45/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.8% | 28.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 71/195 | 20/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
New Zealand
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,698 | - | 17,403 |
| 2024 | - | -1,765 | - | 18,766 |
| 2023 | 550 | -1,832 | 18,876 | 21,404 |
| 2022 | 606 | -1,829 | 20,123 | 21,404 |
| 2021 | 653 | -2,016 | 23,644 | -14,944 |
| 2020 | 689 | -2,004 | 24,905 | 42,124 |
| 2019 | 746 | -2,030 | 25,299 | 69,770 |
| 2018 | 785 | -2,058 | 24,797 | 59,139 |
| 2017 | 826 | -2,040 | 26,282 | 68,349 |
| 2016 | 866 | -2,003 | 28,237 | 75,512 |
| 2015 | 912 | -1,964 | 29,408 | 70,870 |
| 2014 | 959 | -1,906 | 26,196 | 57,974 |
| 2013 | 1,014 | -1,825 | 29,096 | 26,385 |
| 2012 | 1,097 | -1,759 | 31,077 | -1,015 |
| 2011 | 1,185 | -1,512 | 31,302 | -2,196 |
| 2010 | 1,273 | -1,221 | 35,458 | 6,722 |
| 2009 | 1,365 | -1,361 | 33,560 | 12,700 |
| 2008 | 1,443 | -1,467 | 35,143 | 4,804 |
| 2007 | 1,507 | -1,491 | 35,480 | 3,053 |
| 2006 | 1,556 | -1,491 | 30,924 | 14,542 |
| 2005 | 1,586 | -1,482 | 30,674 | 19,212 |
| 2004 | 1,595 | -1,466 | 29,634 | 24,521 |
| 2003 | 1,600 | -1,427 | 28,150 | 42,456 |
| 2002 | 1,594 | -1,345 | 25,941 | 48,195 |
| 2001 | 1,596 | -1,237 | 27,939 | 17,793 |
| 2000 | 1,592 | -1,110 | 29,897 | -6,604 |
| 1999 | 1,590 | -1,068 | 28,916 | -7,634 |
| 1998 | 1,576 | -1,124 | 29,146 | -1,387 |
| 1997 | 1,564 | -1,097 | 30,137 | 12,040 |
| 1996 | 1,542 | -1,050 | 28,997 | 25,169 |
| 1995 | 1,522 | -991 | 29,828 | 26,743 |
| 1994 | 1,524 | -942 | 30,372 | 20,420 |
| 1993 | 1,524 | -869 | 31,685 | 12,638 |
| 1992 | 1,525 | -769 | 32,067 | 6,460 |
| 1991 | 1,540 | -661 | 33,518 | 31,156 |
| 1990 | 1,556 | -562 | 33,298 | 70,432 |
| 1989 | 1,574 | -479 | 30,749 | -8,818 |
| 1988 | 1,575 | -140 | 29,846 | -17,005 |
| 1987 | 1,566 | -16 | 27,603 | -7,631 |
| 1986 | 1,544 | -8 | 25,549 | -10,234 |
| 1985 | 1,511 | -1 | 24,126 | -13,462 |
| 1984 | 1,470 | 6 | 26,043 | -901 |
| 1983 | 1,422 | 12 | 24,315 | 11,464 |
| 1982 | 1,375 | 23 | 24,207 | 7,982 |
| 1981 | 1,328 | 31 | 25,374 | -7,606 |
| 1980 | 1,287 | -155 | 23,658 | -15,423 |
| 1979 | 1,250 | -316 | 26,675 | -26,694 |
| 1978 | 1,207 | -286 | 26,156 | -28,783 |
| 1977 | 1,160 | -264 | 28,020 | -22,697 |
| 1976 | 1,109 | -233 | 29,456 | -9,138 |
| 1975 | 1,055 | -193 | 31,355 | 13,196 |
| 1974 | 1,000 | -145 | 33,896 | 27,580 |
| 1973 | 954 | -383 | 35,239 | 28,261 |
| 1972 | 913 | -306 | 38,244 | 17,779 |
| 1971 | 877 | -232 | 40,000 | 7,547 |
| 1970 | 819 | 201 | 37,101 | 4,511 |
| 1969 | 747 | 690 | 38,098 | -5,212 |
| 1968 | 685 | 769 | 37,594 | -11,853 |
| 1967 | 636 | 308 | 37,974 | -2,289 |
| 1966 | 603 | -89 | 36,151 | 9,161 |
| 1965 | 566 | -22 | 36,982 | 9,245 |
| 1964 | 536 | 16 | 39,375 | 9,806 |
| 1963 | 509 | 42 | 42,027 | 10,226 |
| 1962 | 488 | 54 | 42,865 | 12,697 |
| 1961 | 469 | 56 | 43,482 | 10,689 |
| 1960 | 452 | 63 | 41,791 | 3,846 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).
As of 2024, 3,309 residents or 8.8% of the population were not native-born in the Marshall Islands, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.
Biggest cities by population
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Majuro | 30K |
| Djarrit | 7.1K |
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Auckland | 1.47M |
| Christchurch | 383K |
| Wellington | 216K |
| Hamilton | 176K |
| Tauranga | 151K |
| Dunedin | 106K |
| Lower Hutt | 103K |
| Palmerston North | 81.5K |
| Napier | 66.3K |
| Hibiscus Coast | 59.8K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between the Marshall Islands and New Zealand
|
Marshall Islands
|
New Zealand
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.3 years | 82.5 years |
| Average age | 27.5 years | 39.8 years |
| Median age | 21.8 years | 38.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 2.92 births per woman | 1.56 births per woman |
| Population density | 504 ppl/mi² | 52.8 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/new-zealand | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
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)
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.