The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 36,282 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,039 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 1,879 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
- The Marshall Islands is ranked the 192nd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.79% of the world: 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average growth rate of -2.84% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35K (32.6% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).
Marshall Islands vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Marshall Islands
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 23,445 | 94,734,082 |
| 2099 | 23,524 | 94,523,360 |
| 2098 | 23,613 | 94,316,049 |
| 2097 | 23,708 | 94,125,043 |
| 2096 | 23,784 | 93,927,246 |
| 2095 | 23,867 | 93,719,451 |
| 2094 | 23,935 | 93,494,697 |
| 2093 | 24,009 | 93,267,274 |
| 2092 | 24,079 | 93,041,793 |
| 2091 | 24,137 | 92,793,249 |
| 2090 | 24,185 | 92,561,159 |
| 2089 | 24,240 | 92,322,396 |
| 2088 | 24,272 | 92,080,212 |
| 2087 | 24,301 | 91,833,409 |
| 2086 | 24,316 | 91,581,639 |
| 2085 | 24,335 | 91,352,906 |
| 2084 | 24,342 | 91,106,961 |
| 2083 | 24,331 | 90,845,161 |
| 2082 | 24,315 | 90,583,188 |
| 2081 | 24,304 | 90,313,417 |
| 2080 | 24,278 | 90,039,857 |
| 2079 | 24,256 | 89,770,116 |
| 2078 | 24,214 | 89,494,440 |
| 2077 | 24,172 | 89,217,520 |
| 2076 | 24,138 | 88,954,522 |
| 2075 | 24,083 | 88,681,719 |
| 2074 | 24,049 | 88,397,221 |
| 2073 | 24,000 | 88,118,589 |
| 2072 | 23,969 | 87,835,051 |
| 2071 | 23,931 | 87,509,098 |
| 2070 | 23,889 | 87,178,463 |
| 2069 | 23,857 | 86,870,660 |
| 2068 | 23,815 | 86,558,000 |
| 2067 | 23,795 | 86,237,764 |
| 2066 | 23,763 | 85,904,801 |
| 2065 | 23,762 | 85,573,984 |
| 2064 | 23,766 | 85,214,686 |
| 2063 | 23,778 | 84,845,370 |
| 2062 | 23,818 | 84,473,236 |
| 2061 | 23,869 | 84,103,016 |
| 2060 | 23,917 | 83,719,266 |
| 2059 | 23,981 | 83,325,330 |
| 2058 | 24,028 | 82,918,226 |
| 2057 | 24,106 | 82,508,742 |
| 2056 | 24,194 | 82,098,320 |
| 2055 | 24,305 | 81,669,191 |
| 2054 | 24,411 | 81,227,019 |
| 2053 | 24,502 | 80,789,939 |
| 2052 | 24,602 | 80,338,877 |
| 2051 | 24,714 | 79,858,310 |
| 2050 | 24,811 | 79,383,784 |
| 2049 | 24,935 | 78,897,472 |
| 2048 | 25,047 | 78,409,829 |
| 2047 | 25,155 | 77,894,547 |
| 2046 | 25,267 | 77,369,819 |
| 2045 | 25,394 | 76,852,544 |
| 2044 | 25,531 | 76,330,046 |
| 2043 | 25,687 | 75,800,788 |
| 2042 | 25,846 | 75,264,885 |
| 2041 | 26,033 | 74,721,871 |
| 2040 | 26,249 | 74,179,185 |
| 2039 | 26,493 | 73,636,894 |
| 2038 | 26,759 | 73,079,976 |
| 2037 | 27,090 | 72,506,991 |
| 2036 | 27,446 | 71,930,701 |
| 2035 | 27,874 | 71,337,219 |
| 2034 | 28,364 | 70,737,692 |
| 2033 | 28,919 | 70,128,299 |
| 2032 | 29,543 | 69,502,726 |
| 2031 | 30,251 | 68,865,544 |
| 2030 | 31,054 | 68,221,143 |
| 2029 | 31,943 | 67,549,189 |
| 2028 | 32,879 | 66,860,631 |
| 2027 | 33,909 | 66,166,759 |
| 2026 | 35,039 | 65,473,024 |
| 2025 | 36,282 | 64,747,319 |
| 2024 | 37,548 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 38,827 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 40,077 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 41,367 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 42,706 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 44,007 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 45,285 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 46,529 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 47,709 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 48,800 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 49,796 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 50,681 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 51,419 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 51,907 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 52,044 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 52,019 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 52,030 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 52,035 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 51,992 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 51,906 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 51,791 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 51,639 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 51,425 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 51,123 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 50,706 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 50,202 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 49,717 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 49,259 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 48,775 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 48,266 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 47,712 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 47,093 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 46,388 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 45,568 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 44,629 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 43,586 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 42,321 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 40,828 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 39,286 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 37,761 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 36,264 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 34,811 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 33,397 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 32,017 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 30,774 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 29,738 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 28,809 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 27,906 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 27,021 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 26,154 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 25,296 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 24,581 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 23,992 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 23,366 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 22,530 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 21,305 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 19,862 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 18,655 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 17,927 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 17,402 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 16,852 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 16,302 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 15,755 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 15,219 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 14,703 | 16,440,172 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Marshall Islands decreased by 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Marshall Islands lost 12,670 people (a 26.6% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).
The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th most populous country in 2006 and is 192nd in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Marshall Islands' population will shrink by 29.2% to 24,811 people with a rank change from 192nd to 193rd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M people, while the Marshall Islands' population already peaked in 2010 at 52K people and is projected to decrease to 23.4K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.38% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | -0.4% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | -0.35% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | -0.28% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | -0.29% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | -0.24% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | -0.2% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | -0.23% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | -0.13% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | -0.12% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | -0.06% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | -0.08% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | -0.03% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | 0.05% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | 0.06% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | 0.04% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | 0.11% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | 0.09% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | 0.17% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | 0.17% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | 0.14% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | 0.23% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | 0.14% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | 0.2% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | 0.13% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | 0.16% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | 0.17% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | 0.14% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | 0.18% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | 0.08% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | 0.14% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | 0.004% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | -0.02% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | -0.05% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | -0.17% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | -0.21% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | -0.2% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | -0.27% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | -0.2% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | -0.32% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | -0.37% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | -0.46% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | -0.43% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | -0.37% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | -0.41% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | -0.45% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | -0.39% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | -0.5% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | -0.45% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | -0.43% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | -0.44% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | -0.5% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | -0.54% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | -0.61% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | -0.62% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | -0.72% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | -0.82% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | -0.92% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | -1% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | -1.22% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | -1.3% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | -1.53% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | -1.73% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | -1.92% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | -2.11% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | -2.34% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | -2.59% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | -2.78% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | -2.85% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | -3.04% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | -3.23% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | -3.42% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | -3.37% | 1.16% |
| 2024 | -3.29% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | -3.12% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | -3.12% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | -3.14% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | -2.96% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | -2.82% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | -2.67% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | -2.47% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | -2.24% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | -2% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | -1.75% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | -1.44% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | -0.94% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | -0.26% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | 0.05% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | -0.02% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | -0.01% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | 0.08% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | 0.17% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | 0.22% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 0.29% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 0.42% | 1% |
| 2002 | 0.59% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 0.82% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 1% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 0.98% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 0.93% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 0.99% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 1.05% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 1.16% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 1.31% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 1.8% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 2.39% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 2.99% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 3.66% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 3.93% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 4.04% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 4.13% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 4.17% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | 4.23% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 4.31% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 4.04% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | 3.48% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | 3.22% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 3.24% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | 3.28% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 3.31% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | 3.39% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | 2.91% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | 2.45% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | 2.68% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 3.71% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | 5.75% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | 7.27% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 6.47% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | 4.06% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 3.02% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | 3.26% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | 3.37% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 3.47% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | 3.52% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | 3.51% | 2.85% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/south-africa | CC BY
In 2025, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.37%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.
Live population counters
|
Marshall Islands
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
35039
|
65829368
|
| Population rank | 192/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0004% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
6.94 hours
|
42.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
11.6 hours
|
26.7 seconds
|
| One death every |
1.37 days
|
53.3 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | -3 | +2,028 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,266 | +740,132 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -3.37% | +1.16% |
| Population growth rate rank | 197/197 | 91/197 |
| One migration net change every |
5.17 hours
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -1,698 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 97/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,309 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 189/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.8% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 71/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,698 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | 487 | -1,765 | 591,618 | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 550 | -1,832 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 606 | -1,829 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 653 | -2,016 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 689 | -2,004 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 746 | -2,030 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 785 | -2,058 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 826 | -2,040 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 866 | -2,003 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 912 | -1,964 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 959 | -1,906 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 1,014 | -1,825 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 1,097 | -1,759 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 1,185 | -1,512 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 1,273 | -1,221 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 1,365 | -1,361 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 1,443 | -1,467 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 1,507 | -1,491 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 1,556 | -1,491 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 1,586 | -1,482 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 1,595 | -1,466 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 1,600 | -1,427 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 1,594 | -1,345 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 1,596 | -1,237 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 1,592 | -1,110 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 1,590 | -1,068 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 1,576 | -1,124 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 1,564 | -1,097 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 1,542 | -1,050 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 1,522 | -991 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 1,524 | -942 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 1,524 | -869 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 1,525 | -769 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 1,540 | -661 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 1,556 | -562 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 1,574 | -479 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 1,575 | -140 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 1,566 | -16 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 1,544 | -8 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 1,511 | -1 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 1,470 | 6 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 1,422 | 12 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 1,375 | 23 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 1,328 | 31 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 1,287 | -155 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 1,250 | -316 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 1,207 | -286 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 1,160 | -264 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 1,109 | -233 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 1,055 | -193 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 1,000 | -145 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 954 | -383 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 913 | -306 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 877 | -232 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 819 | 201 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 747 | 690 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 685 | 769 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 636 | 308 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 603 | -89 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 566 | -22 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 536 | 16 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 509 | 42 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 488 | 54 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 469 | 56 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 452 | 63 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/south-africa | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 26.7% of the population change in the Marshall Islands is from natural causes (a gain of 7,120 people) and 73.3% is from migration (a loss of 19,541 people). In South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).
As of 2024, 3,309 residents or 8.8% of the population were not native-born in the Marshall Islands, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Majuro | 30K |
| Djarrit | 7.1K |
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Johannesburg | 4.8M |
| Cape Town | 3.78M |
| Soweto | 1.27M |
| Pretoria | 742K |
| Pietermaritzburg | 619K |
| Durban | 595K |
| Rustenburg | 550K |
| Randburg | 337K |
| Port Elizabeth | 312K |
| East London | 267K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between the Marshall Islands and South Africa
|
Marshall Islands
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.3 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 27.8 years | 31.3 years |
| Median age | 21.8 years | 29.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 2.86 births per woman | 2.21 births per woman |
| Population density | 504 ppl/mi² | 139.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/south-africa | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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