The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 37,548 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,058 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.
Population statistics:
- Papua New Guinea's population is 314 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
- The Marshall Islands is ranked the 192nd most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
- The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
- For the last 10 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average growth rate of -2.69% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
- Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35.1K (32.6% decline), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).
Marshall Islands vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Marshall Islands
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | 23,457 | 18,802,138 |
| 2099 | 23,536 | 18,790,040 |
| 2098 | 23,626 | 18,776,265 |
| 2097 | 23,720 | 18,758,897 |
| 2096 | 23,797 | 18,737,707 |
| 2095 | 23,879 | 18,714,219 |
| 2094 | 23,947 | 18,687,257 |
| 2093 | 24,022 | 18,658,233 |
| 2092 | 24,092 | 18,625,772 |
| 2091 | 24,150 | 18,590,001 |
| 2090 | 24,198 | 18,549,501 |
| 2089 | 24,253 | 18,510,463 |
| 2088 | 24,284 | 18,468,827 |
| 2087 | 24,314 | 18,424,378 |
| 2086 | 24,329 | 18,376,043 |
| 2085 | 24,347 | 18,325,641 |
| 2084 | 24,355 | 18,274,394 |
| 2083 | 24,343 | 18,218,709 |
| 2082 | 24,328 | 18,163,177 |
| 2081 | 24,317 | 18,104,285 |
| 2080 | 24,290 | 18,039,008 |
| 2079 | 24,269 | 17,975,778 |
| 2078 | 24,226 | 17,908,670 |
| 2077 | 24,185 | 17,840,781 |
| 2076 | 24,151 | 17,771,791 |
| 2075 | 24,096 | 17,699,428 |
| 2074 | 24,061 | 17,625,044 |
| 2073 | 24,013 | 17,548,128 |
| 2072 | 23,982 | 17,466,649 |
| 2071 | 23,943 | 17,381,598 |
| 2070 | 23,902 | 17,295,105 |
| 2069 | 23,869 | 17,205,503 |
| 2068 | 23,827 | 17,112,154 |
| 2067 | 23,808 | 17,015,090 |
| 2066 | 23,775 | 16,915,436 |
| 2065 | 23,774 | 16,812,946 |
| 2064 | 23,778 | 16,708,669 |
| 2063 | 23,791 | 16,604,296 |
| 2062 | 23,830 | 16,497,292 |
| 2061 | 23,881 | 16,386,905 |
| 2060 | 23,929 | 16,270,535 |
| 2059 | 23,993 | 16,152,614 |
| 2058 | 24,041 | 16,032,684 |
| 2057 | 24,118 | 15,909,649 |
| 2056 | 24,207 | 15,784,519 |
| 2055 | 24,318 | 15,656,542 |
| 2054 | 24,424 | 15,523,143 |
| 2053 | 24,515 | 15,389,244 |
| 2052 | 24,615 | 15,250,715 |
| 2051 | 24,727 | 15,110,389 |
| 2050 | 24,824 | 14,968,530 |
| 2049 | 24,948 | 14,821,865 |
| 2048 | 25,060 | 14,673,459 |
| 2047 | 25,169 | 14,522,926 |
| 2046 | 25,281 | 14,370,120 |
| 2045 | 25,407 | 14,213,585 |
| 2044 | 25,544 | 14,056,036 |
| 2043 | 25,701 | 13,897,765 |
| 2042 | 25,860 | 13,738,690 |
| 2041 | 26,047 | 13,577,382 |
| 2040 | 26,263 | 13,413,396 |
| 2039 | 26,507 | 13,247,486 |
| 2038 | 26,773 | 13,079,352 |
| 2037 | 27,104 | 12,909,735 |
| 2036 | 27,461 | 12,738,223 |
| 2035 | 27,889 | 12,566,543 |
| 2034 | 28,379 | 12,392,476 |
| 2033 | 28,934 | 12,218,246 |
| 2032 | 29,558 | 12,042,345 |
| 2031 | 30,266 | 11,865,316 |
| 2030 | 31,070 | 11,685,599 |
| 2029 | 31,960 | 11,504,890 |
| 2028 | 32,896 | 11,322,573 |
| 2027 | 33,927 | 11,138,409 |
| 2026 | 35,058 | 10,952,454 |
| 2025 | 36,301 | 10,765,048 |
| 2024 | 37,548 | 10,576,502 |
| 2023 | 38,827 | 10,389,635 |
| 2022 | 40,077 | 10,203,169 |
| 2021 | 41,367 | 10,012,896 |
| 2020 | 42,706 | 9,815,746 |
| 2019 | 44,007 | 9,609,010 |
| 2018 | 45,285 | 9,394,513 |
| 2017 | 46,529 | 9,178,714 |
| 2016 | 47,709 | 8,961,718 |
| 2015 | 48,800 | 8,743,246 |
| 2014 | 49,796 | 8,523,441 |
| 2013 | 50,681 | 8,302,698 |
| 2012 | 51,419 | 8,081,390 |
| 2011 | 51,907 | 7,859,346 |
| 2010 | 52,044 | 7,633,523 |
| 2009 | 52,019 | 7,406,438 |
| 2008 | 52,030 | 7,183,002 |
| 2007 | 52,035 | 6,963,345 |
| 2006 | 51,992 | 6,747,720 |
| 2005 | 51,906 | 6,535,905 |
| 2004 | 51,791 | 6,328,041 |
| 2003 | 51,639 | 6,123,997 |
| 2002 | 51,425 | 5,924,003 |
| 2001 | 51,123 | 5,728,435 |
| 2000 | 50,706 | 5,537,064 |
| 1999 | 50,202 | 5,349,333 |
| 1998 | 49,717 | 5,166,390 |
| 1997 | 49,259 | 4,987,883 |
| 1996 | 48,775 | 4,813,361 |
| 1995 | 48,266 | 4,644,278 |
| 1994 | 47,712 | 4,480,208 |
| 1993 | 47,093 | 4,320,872 |
| 1992 | 46,388 | 4,166,699 |
| 1991 | 45,568 | 4,021,837 |
| 1990 | 44,629 | 3,896,481 |
| 1989 | 43,586 | 3,796,078 |
| 1988 | 42,321 | 3,711,880 |
| 1987 | 40,828 | 3,632,543 |
| 1986 | 39,286 | 3,554,793 |
| 1985 | 37,761 | 3,478,936 |
| 1984 | 36,264 | 3,405,198 |
| 1983 | 34,811 | 3,333,633 |
| 1982 | 33,397 | 3,264,291 |
| 1981 | 32,017 | 3,197,019 |
| 1980 | 30,774 | 3,131,512 |
| 1979 | 29,738 | 3,067,341 |
| 1978 | 28,809 | 3,003,714 |
| 1977 | 27,906 | 2,940,327 |
| 1976 | 27,021 | 2,877,327 |
| 1975 | 26,154 | 2,814,820 |
| 1974 | 25,296 | 2,752,671 |
| 1973 | 24,581 | 2,690,629 |
| 1972 | 23,992 | 2,628,432 |
| 1971 | 23,366 | 2,566,421 |
| 1970 | 22,530 | 2,505,628 |
| 1969 | 21,305 | 2,446,927 |
| 1968 | 19,862 | 2,390,803 |
| 1967 | 18,655 | 2,337,532 |
| 1966 | 17,927 | 2,285,774 |
| 1965 | 17,402 | 2,235,820 |
| 1964 | 16,852 | 2,188,325 |
| 1963 | 16,302 | 2,141,376 |
| 1962 | 15,755 | 2,093,919 |
| 1961 | 15,219 | 2,046,127 |
| 1960 | 14,703 | 1,995,110 |
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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Marshall Islands decreased by 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Marshall Islands lost 12,651 people (a 26.5% decline), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).
The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th most populous country in 2006 and is 192nd in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.
Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M 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
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | 0.06% |
| 2099 | -0.38% | 0.07% |
| 2098 | -0.4% | 0.09% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | 0.11% |
| 2096 | -0.35% | 0.13% |
| 2095 | -0.28% | 0.14% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | 0.16% |
| 2093 | -0.29% | 0.17% |
| 2092 | -0.24% | 0.19% |
| 2091 | -0.2% | 0.22% |
| 2090 | -0.23% | 0.21% |
| 2089 | -0.13% | 0.23% |
| 2088 | -0.12% | 0.24% |
| 2087 | -0.06% | 0.26% |
| 2086 | -0.08% | 0.28% |
| 2085 | -0.03% | 0.28% |
| 2084 | 0.05% | 0.31% |
| 2083 | 0.06% | 0.31% |
| 2082 | 0.04% | 0.33% |
| 2081 | 0.11% | 0.36% |
| 2080 | 0.09% | 0.35% |
| 2079 | 0.17% | 0.37% |
| 2078 | 0.17% | 0.38% |
| 2077 | 0.14% | 0.39% |
| 2076 | 0.23% | 0.41% |
| 2075 | 0.14% | 0.42% |
| 2074 | 0.2% | 0.44% |
| 2073 | 0.13% | 0.47% |
| 2072 | 0.16% | 0.49% |
| 2071 | 0.17% | 0.5% |
| 2070 | 0.14% | 0.52% |
| 2069 | 0.18% | 0.55% |
| 2068 | 0.08% | 0.57% |
| 2067 | 0.14% | 0.59% |
| 2066 | 0.004% | 0.61% |
| 2065 | -0.02% | 0.62% |
| 2064 | -0.05% | 0.63% |
| 2063 | -0.17% | 0.65% |
| 2062 | -0.21% | 0.67% |
| 2061 | -0.2% | 0.72% |
| 2060 | -0.27% | 0.73% |
| 2059 | -0.2% | 0.75% |
| 2058 | -0.32% | 0.77% |
| 2057 | -0.37% | 0.79% |
| 2056 | -0.46% | 0.82% |
| 2055 | -0.43% | 0.86% |
| 2054 | -0.37% | 0.87% |
| 2053 | -0.41% | 0.91% |
| 2052 | -0.45% | 0.93% |
| 2051 | -0.39% | 0.95% |
| 2050 | -0.5% | 0.99% |
| 2049 | -0.45% | 1.01% |
| 2048 | -0.43% | 1.04% |
| 2047 | -0.44% | 1.06% |
| 2046 | -0.5% | 1.1% |
| 2045 | -0.54% | 1.12% |
| 2044 | -0.61% | 1.14% |
| 2043 | -0.62% | 1.16% |
| 2042 | -0.72% | 1.19% |
| 2041 | -0.82% | 1.22% |
| 2040 | -0.92% | 1.25% |
| 2039 | -1% | 1.29% |
| 2038 | -1.22% | 1.31% |
| 2037 | -1.3% | 1.35% |
| 2036 | -1.53% | 1.37% |
| 2035 | -1.73% | 1.4% |
| 2034 | -1.92% | 1.43% |
| 2033 | -2.11% | 1.46% |
| 2032 | -2.34% | 1.49% |
| 2031 | -2.59% | 1.54% |
| 2030 | -2.78% | 1.57% |
| 2029 | -2.85% | 1.61% |
| 2028 | -3.04% | 1.65% |
| 2027 | -3.23% | 1.7% |
| 2026 | -3.42% | 1.74% |
| 2025 | -3.32% | 1.78% |
| 2024 | -3.29% | 1.8% |
| 2023 | -3.12% | 1.83% |
| 2022 | -3.12% | 1.9% |
| 2021 | -3.14% | 2.01% |
| 2020 | -2.96% | 2.15% |
| 2019 | -2.82% | 2.28% |
| 2018 | -2.67% | 2.35% |
| 2017 | -2.47% | 2.42% |
| 2016 | -2.24% | 2.5% |
| 2015 | -2% | 2.58% |
| 2014 | -1.75% | 2.66% |
| 2013 | -1.44% | 2.74% |
| 2012 | -0.94% | 2.83% |
| 2011 | -0.26% | 2.96% |
| 2010 | 0.05% | 3.07% |
| 2009 | -0.02% | 3.11% |
| 2008 | -0.01% | 3.15% |
| 2007 | 0.08% | 3.2% |
| 2006 | 0.17% | 3.24% |
| 2005 | 0.22% | 3.28% |
| 2004 | 0.29% | 3.33% |
| 2003 | 0.42% | 3.38% |
| 2002 | 0.59% | 3.41% |
| 2001 | 0.82% | 3.46% |
| 2000 | 1% | 3.51% |
| 1999 | 0.98% | 3.54% |
| 1998 | 0.93% | 3.58% |
| 1997 | 0.99% | 3.63% |
| 1996 | 1.05% | 3.64% |
| 1995 | 1.16% | 3.66% |
| 1994 | 1.31% | 3.69% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 3.7% |
| 1992 | 1.8% | 3.6% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | 3.22% |
| 1990 | 2.39% | 2.64% |
| 1989 | 2.99% | 2.27% |
| 1988 | 3.66% | 2.18% |
| 1987 | 3.93% | 2.19% |
| 1986 | 4.04% | 2.18% |
| 1985 | 4.13% | 2.17% |
| 1984 | 4.17% | 2.15% |
| 1983 | 4.23% | 2.12% |
| 1982 | 4.31% | 2.1% |
| 1981 | 4.04% | 2.09% |
| 1980 | 3.48% | 2.09% |
| 1979 | 3.22% | 2.12% |
| 1978 | 3.24% | 2.16% |
| 1977 | 3.28% | 2.19% |
| 1976 | 3.31% | 2.22% |
| 1975 | 3.39% | 2.26% |
| 1974 | 2.91% | 2.31% |
| 1973 | 2.45% | 2.37% |
| 1972 | 2.68% | 2.42% |
| 1971 | 3.71% | 2.43% |
| 1970 | 5.75% | 2.4% |
| 1969 | 7.27% | 2.35% |
| 1968 | 6.47% | 2.28% |
| 1967 | 4.06% | 2.26% |
| 1966 | 3.02% | 2.23% |
| 1965 | 3.26% | 2.17% |
| 1964 | 3.37% | 2.19% |
| 1963 | 3.47% | 2.27% |
| 1962 | 3.52% | 2.34% |
| 1961 | 3.51% | 2.56% |
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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.29%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.
Live population counters
|
Marshall Islands
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
35058
|
11002753
|
| Population rank | 192/197 | 89/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0004% | 0.13% |
| One net population change |
6.85 hours
|
2.81 minutes
|
| One birth every |
10.7 hours
|
2.06 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.35 days
|
7.76 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | -4 | +512 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,279 | +186,867 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -3.29% | +1.8% |
| Population growth rate rank | 197/197 | 59/197 |
| One migration net change every |
5.17 hours
|
1.29 days
|
| Annual migration change | -1,698 | -284 |
| Net migration rank | 97/196 | 87/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,309 | 31,171 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 189/195 | 163/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.8% | 0.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 71/195 | 183/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,698 | - | -284 |
| 2024 | - | -1,765 | - | -707 |
| 2023 | 550 | -1,832 | 187,637 | -787 |
| 2022 | 606 | -1,829 | 186,861 | -787 |
| 2021 | 653 | -2,016 | 183,766 | 10,703 |
| 2020 | 689 | -2,004 | 189,130 | 10,703 |
| 2019 | 746 | -2,030 | 190,662 | 22,978 |
| 2018 | 785 | -2,058 | 190,662 | 24,684 |
| 2017 | 826 | -2,040 | 189,715 | 26,513 |
| 2016 | 866 | -2,003 | 189,281 | 28,473 |
| 2015 | 912 | -1,964 | 188,600 | 30,580 |
| 2014 | 959 | -1,906 | 187,592 | 32,840 |
| 2013 | 1,014 | -1,825 | 185,790 | 35,280 |
| 2012 | 1,097 | -1,759 | 183,658 | 37,893 |
| 2011 | 1,185 | -1,512 | 181,842 | 40,690 |
| 2010 | 1,273 | -1,221 | 178,998 | 50,106 |
| 2009 | 1,365 | -1,361 | 175,421 | 49,647 |
| 2008 | 1,443 | -1,467 | 172,823 | 48,985 |
| 2007 | 1,507 | -1,491 | 169,306 | 48,203 |
| 2006 | 1,556 | -1,491 | 166,540 | 47,191 |
| 2005 | 1,586 | -1,482 | 163,888 | 46,014 |
| 2004 | 1,595 | -1,466 | 161,023 | 44,811 |
| 2003 | 1,600 | -1,427 | 158,611 | 43,639 |
| 2002 | 1,594 | -1,345 | 155,091 | 42,657 |
| 2001 | 1,596 | -1,237 | 151,431 | 41,962 |
| 2000 | 1,592 | -1,110 | 147,496 | 41,855 |
| 1999 | 1,590 | -1,068 | 143,592 | 42,519 |
| 1998 | 1,576 | -1,124 | 136,677 | 43,091 |
| 1997 | 1,564 | -1,097 | 134,458 | 42,787 |
| 1996 | 1,542 | -1,050 | 129,802 | 41,994 |
| 1995 | 1,522 | -991 | 125,410 | 40,962 |
| 1994 | 1,524 | -942 | 122,113 | 39,669 |
| 1993 | 1,524 | -869 | 118,668 | 38,220 |
| 1992 | 1,525 | -769 | 114,818 | 36,622 |
| 1991 | 1,540 | -661 | 111,453 | 26,830 |
| 1990 | 1,556 | -562 | 110,033 | 2,398 |
| 1989 | 1,574 | -479 | 108,199 | -19,824 |
| 1988 | 1,575 | -140 | 106,256 | -26,232 |
| 1987 | 1,566 | -16 | 104,367 | -25,720 |
| 1986 | 1,544 | -8 | 102,346 | -25,495 |
| 1985 | 1,511 | -1 | 100,333 | -25,470 |
| 1984 | 1,470 | 6 | 98,103 | -25,487 |
| 1983 | 1,422 | 12 | 95,982 | -25,465 |
| 1982 | 1,375 | 23 | 93,522 | -25,355 |
| 1981 | 1,328 | 31 | 91,767 | -25,383 |
| 1980 | 1,287 | -155 | 90,266 | -25,638 |
| 1979 | 1,250 | -316 | 89,330 | -25,618 |
| 1978 | 1,207 | -286 | 88,747 | -25,208 |
| 1977 | 1,160 | -264 | 87,954 | -24,722 |
| 1976 | 1,109 | -233 | 86,965 | -24,198 |
| 1975 | 1,055 | -193 | 85,809 | -23,562 |
| 1974 | 1,000 | -145 | 84,829 | -22,771 |
| 1973 | 954 | -383 | 83,821 | -21,803 |
| 1972 | 913 | -306 | 82,672 | -20,303 |
| 1971 | 877 | -232 | 80,599 | -18,945 |
| 1970 | 819 | 201 | 78,712 | -18,773 |
| 1969 | 747 | 690 | 76,454 | -18,994 |
| 1968 | 685 | 769 | 73,983 | -19,188 |
| 1967 | 636 | 308 | 71,519 | -19,767 |
| 1966 | 603 | -89 | 69,206 | -17,454 |
| 1965 | 566 | -22 | 66,693 | -18,532 |
| 1964 | 536 | 16 | 64,558 | -17,730 |
| 1963 | 509 | 42 | 62,260 | -15,189 |
| 1962 | 488 | 54 | 59,974 | -12,141 |
| 1961 | 469 | 56 | 58,151 | -10,409 |
| 1960 | 452 | 63 | 56,326 | -2,034 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).
As of 2024, 3,309 residents or 8.8% of the population were not native-born in the Marshall Islands, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Majuro | 30K |
| Djarrit | 7.1K |
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Moresby | 317K |
| Lae | 101K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between the Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea
|
Marshall Islands
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.3 years | 66.5 years |
| Average age | 27.5 years | 26.7 years |
| Median age | 21.8 years | 23.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 51.4:48.6 |
| Fertility rate | 2.92 births per woman | 3.1 births per woman |
| Population density | 504 ppl/mi² | 62.6 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/papua-new-guinea | 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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