The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 37,548 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,058 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.
Population statistics:
- South Korea's population is 1,473 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
- The Marshall Islands is ranked the 192nd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
- The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands vs 0.62% for South Korea.
- For the last 10 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average growth rate of -2.69% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
- Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35.1K (32.6% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).
Marshall Islands vs South Korea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Marshall Islands
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 23,457 | 22,012,503 |
| 2099 | 23,536 | 22,335,528 |
| 2098 | 23,626 | 22,668,719 |
| 2097 | 23,720 | 23,009,661 |
| 2096 | 23,797 | 23,360,151 |
| 2095 | 23,879 | 23,722,747 |
| 2094 | 23,947 | 24,093,391 |
| 2093 | 24,022 | 24,473,038 |
| 2092 | 24,092 | 24,860,975 |
| 2091 | 24,150 | 25,255,379 |
| 2090 | 24,198 | 25,655,577 |
| 2089 | 24,253 | 26,060,945 |
| 2088 | 24,284 | 26,470,073 |
| 2087 | 24,314 | 26,884,813 |
| 2086 | 24,329 | 27,301,913 |
| 2085 | 24,347 | 27,723,736 |
| 2084 | 24,355 | 28,147,480 |
| 2083 | 24,343 | 28,578,182 |
| 2082 | 24,328 | 29,012,953 |
| 2081 | 24,317 | 29,456,022 |
| 2080 | 24,290 | 29,901,880 |
| 2079 | 24,269 | 30,352,062 |
| 2078 | 24,226 | 30,809,176 |
| 2077 | 24,185 | 31,273,700 |
| 2076 | 24,151 | 31,744,480 |
| 2075 | 24,096 | 32,221,226 |
| 2074 | 24,061 | 32,706,020 |
| 2073 | 24,013 | 33,196,556 |
| 2072 | 23,982 | 33,696,490 |
| 2071 | 23,943 | 34,203,935 |
| 2070 | 23,902 | 34,719,324 |
| 2069 | 23,869 | 35,241,850 |
| 2068 | 23,827 | 35,762,799 |
| 2067 | 23,808 | 36,292,307 |
| 2066 | 23,775 | 36,826,655 |
| 2065 | 23,774 | 37,368,086 |
| 2064 | 23,778 | 37,916,439 |
| 2063 | 23,791 | 38,469,051 |
| 2062 | 23,830 | 39,028,473 |
| 2061 | 23,881 | 39,584,621 |
| 2060 | 23,929 | 40,149,830 |
| 2059 | 23,993 | 40,712,514 |
| 2058 | 24,041 | 41,277,134 |
| 2057 | 24,118 | 41,833,887 |
| 2056 | 24,207 | 42,377,427 |
| 2055 | 24,318 | 42,909,302 |
| 2054 | 24,424 | 43,427,254 |
| 2053 | 24,515 | 43,938,741 |
| 2052 | 24,615 | 44,441,106 |
| 2051 | 24,727 | 44,923,604 |
| 2050 | 24,824 | 45,385,311 |
| 2049 | 24,948 | 45,832,153 |
| 2048 | 25,060 | 46,258,529 |
| 2047 | 25,169 | 46,668,898 |
| 2046 | 25,281 | 47,056,404 |
| 2045 | 25,407 | 47,433,205 |
| 2044 | 25,544 | 47,797,411 |
| 2043 | 25,701 | 48,144,730 |
| 2042 | 25,860 | 48,478,991 |
| 2041 | 26,047 | 48,806,273 |
| 2040 | 26,263 | 49,115,658 |
| 2039 | 26,507 | 49,412,830 |
| 2038 | 26,773 | 49,694,340 |
| 2037 | 27,104 | 49,957,504 |
| 2036 | 27,461 | 50,200,702 |
| 2035 | 27,889 | 50,426,000 |
| 2034 | 28,379 | 50,632,962 |
| 2033 | 28,934 | 50,821,090 |
| 2032 | 29,558 | 50,987,020 |
| 2031 | 30,266 | 51,134,940 |
| 2030 | 31,070 | 51,267,908 |
| 2029 | 31,960 | 51,385,868 |
| 2028 | 32,896 | 51,486,791 |
| 2027 | 33,927 | 51,576,746 |
| 2026 | 35,058 | 51,649,918 |
| 2025 | 36,301 | 51,710,062 |
| 2024 | 37,548 | 51,751,065 |
| 2023 | 38,827 | 51,712,619 |
| 2022 | 40,077 | 51,672,569 |
| 2021 | 41,367 | 51,769,539 |
| 2020 | 42,706 | 51,836,239 |
| 2019 | 44,007 | 51,764,822 |
| 2018 | 45,285 | 51,585,058 |
| 2017 | 46,529 | 51,361,911 |
| 2016 | 47,709 | 51,217,803 |
| 2015 | 48,800 | 51,014,947 |
| 2014 | 49,796 | 50,746,659 |
| 2013 | 50,681 | 50,428,893 |
| 2012 | 51,419 | 50,199,853 |
| 2011 | 51,907 | 49,936,638 |
| 2010 | 52,044 | 49,554,112 |
| 2009 | 52,019 | 49,307,835 |
| 2008 | 52,030 | 49,054,708 |
| 2007 | 52,035 | 48,683,638 |
| 2006 | 51,992 | 48,438,292 |
| 2005 | 51,906 | 48,184,561 |
| 2004 | 51,791 | 48,082,519 |
| 2003 | 51,639 | 47,892,330 |
| 2002 | 51,425 | 47,644,736 |
| 2001 | 51,123 | 47,370,164 |
| 2000 | 50,706 | 47,008,111 |
| 1999 | 50,202 | 46,616,677 |
| 1998 | 49,717 | 46,286,503 |
| 1997 | 49,259 | 45,953,580 |
| 1996 | 48,775 | 45,524,681 |
| 1995 | 48,266 | 45,092,991 |
| 1994 | 47,712 | 44,641,540 |
| 1993 | 47,093 | 44,194,628 |
| 1992 | 46,388 | 43,747,962 |
| 1991 | 45,568 | 43,295,704 |
| 1990 | 44,629 | 42,869,283 |
| 1989 | 43,586 | 42,449,038 |
| 1988 | 42,321 | 42,031,247 |
| 1987 | 40,828 | 41,621,690 |
| 1986 | 39,286 | 41,213,674 |
| 1985 | 37,761 | 40,805,744 |
| 1984 | 36,264 | 40,405,956 |
| 1983 | 34,811 | 39,910,403 |
| 1982 | 33,397 | 39,326,352 |
| 1981 | 32,017 | 38,723,248 |
| 1980 | 30,774 | 38,123,775 |
| 1979 | 29,738 | 37,534,236 |
| 1978 | 28,809 | 36,969,185 |
| 1977 | 27,906 | 36,411,795 |
| 1976 | 27,021 | 35,848,523 |
| 1975 | 26,154 | 35,280,725 |
| 1974 | 25,296 | 34,692,266 |
| 1973 | 24,581 | 34,103,149 |
| 1972 | 23,992 | 33,505,406 |
| 1971 | 23,366 | 32,882,704 |
| 1970 | 22,530 | 32,240,827 |
| 1969 | 21,305 | 31,544,266 |
| 1968 | 19,862 | 30,838,302 |
| 1967 | 18,655 | 30,130,983 |
| 1966 | 17,927 | 29,435,571 |
| 1965 | 17,402 | 28,704,674 |
| 1964 | 16,852 | 27,984,155 |
| 1963 | 16,302 | 27,261,747 |
| 1962 | 15,755 | 26,513,030 |
| 1961 | 15,219 | 25,765,673 |
| 1960 | 14,703 | 25,012,374 |
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/south-korea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Marshall Islands decreased by 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Marshall Islands lost 12,651 people (a 26.5% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).
The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th most populous country in 2006 and is 192nd in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.
Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 31.1% of the population in the Marshall Islands and 38.5% in South Korea.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | -1.45% |
| 2099 | -0.38% | -1.47% |
| 2098 | -0.4% | -1.48% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | -1.5% |
| 2096 | -0.35% | -1.53% |
| 2095 | -0.28% | -1.54% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | -1.55% |
| 2093 | -0.29% | -1.56% |
| 2092 | -0.24% | -1.56% |
| 2091 | -0.2% | -1.56% |
| 2090 | -0.23% | -1.56% |
| 2089 | -0.13% | -1.55% |
| 2088 | -0.12% | -1.54% |
| 2087 | -0.06% | -1.53% |
| 2086 | -0.08% | -1.52% |
| 2085 | -0.03% | -1.51% |
| 2084 | 0.05% | -1.51% |
| 2083 | 0.06% | -1.5% |
| 2082 | 0.04% | -1.5% |
| 2081 | 0.11% | -1.49% |
| 2080 | 0.09% | -1.48% |
| 2079 | 0.17% | -1.48% |
| 2078 | 0.17% | -1.49% |
| 2077 | 0.14% | -1.48% |
| 2076 | 0.23% | -1.48% |
| 2075 | 0.14% | -1.48% |
| 2074 | 0.2% | -1.48% |
| 2073 | 0.13% | -1.48% |
| 2072 | 0.16% | -1.48% |
| 2071 | 0.17% | -1.48% |
| 2070 | 0.14% | -1.48% |
| 2069 | 0.18% | -1.46% |
| 2068 | 0.08% | -1.46% |
| 2067 | 0.14% | -1.45% |
| 2066 | 0.004% | -1.45% |
| 2065 | -0.02% | -1.45% |
| 2064 | -0.05% | -1.44% |
| 2063 | -0.17% | -1.43% |
| 2062 | -0.21% | -1.4% |
| 2061 | -0.2% | -1.41% |
| 2060 | -0.27% | -1.38% |
| 2059 | -0.2% | -1.37% |
| 2058 | -0.32% | -1.33% |
| 2057 | -0.37% | -1.28% |
| 2056 | -0.46% | -1.24% |
| 2055 | -0.43% | -1.19% |
| 2054 | -0.37% | -1.16% |
| 2053 | -0.41% | -1.13% |
| 2052 | -0.45% | -1.07% |
| 2051 | -0.39% | -1.02% |
| 2050 | -0.5% | -0.97% |
| 2049 | -0.45% | -0.92% |
| 2048 | -0.43% | -0.88% |
| 2047 | -0.44% | -0.82% |
| 2046 | -0.5% | -0.79% |
| 2045 | -0.54% | -0.76% |
| 2044 | -0.61% | -0.72% |
| 2043 | -0.62% | -0.69% |
| 2042 | -0.72% | -0.67% |
| 2041 | -0.82% | -0.63% |
| 2040 | -0.92% | -0.6% |
| 2039 | -1% | -0.57% |
| 2038 | -1.22% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | -1.3% | -0.48% |
| 2036 | -1.53% | -0.45% |
| 2035 | -1.73% | -0.41% |
| 2034 | -1.92% | -0.37% |
| 2033 | -2.11% | -0.33% |
| 2032 | -2.34% | -0.29% |
| 2031 | -2.59% | -0.26% |
| 2030 | -2.78% | -0.23% |
| 2029 | -2.85% | -0.2% |
| 2028 | -3.04% | -0.17% |
| 2027 | -3.23% | -0.14% |
| 2026 | -3.42% | -0.12% |
| 2025 | -3.32% | -0.08% |
| 2024 | -3.29% | 0.07% |
| 2023 | -3.12% | 0.08% |
| 2022 | -3.12% | -0.19% |
| 2021 | -3.14% | -0.13% |
| 2020 | -2.96% | 0.14% |
| 2019 | -2.82% | 0.35% |
| 2018 | -2.67% | 0.43% |
| 2017 | -2.47% | 0.28% |
| 2016 | -2.24% | 0.4% |
| 2015 | -2% | 0.53% |
| 2014 | -1.75% | 0.63% |
| 2013 | -1.44% | 0.46% |
| 2012 | -0.94% | 0.53% |
| 2011 | -0.26% | 0.77% |
| 2010 | 0.05% | 0.5% |
| 2009 | -0.02% | 0.52% |
| 2008 | -0.01% | 0.76% |
| 2007 | 0.08% | 0.51% |
| 2006 | 0.17% | 0.53% |
| 2005 | 0.22% | 0.21% |
| 2004 | 0.29% | 0.4% |
| 2003 | 0.42% | 0.52% |
| 2002 | 0.59% | 0.58% |
| 2001 | 0.82% | 0.77% |
| 2000 | 1% | 0.84% |
| 1999 | 0.98% | 0.71% |
| 1998 | 0.93% | 0.72% |
| 1997 | 0.99% | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 1.05% | 0.96% |
| 1995 | 1.16% | 1.01% |
| 1994 | 1.31% | 1.01% |
| 1993 | 1.52% | 1.02% |
| 1992 | 1.8% | 1.04% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | 0.99% |
| 1990 | 2.39% | 0.99% |
| 1989 | 2.99% | 0.99% |
| 1988 | 3.66% | 0.98% |
| 1987 | 3.93% | 0.99% |
| 1986 | 4.04% | 1% |
| 1985 | 4.13% | 0.99% |
| 1984 | 4.17% | 1.24% |
| 1983 | 4.23% | 1.49% |
| 1982 | 4.31% | 1.56% |
| 1981 | 4.04% | 1.57% |
| 1980 | 3.48% | 1.57% |
| 1979 | 3.22% | 1.53% |
| 1978 | 3.24% | 1.53% |
| 1977 | 3.28% | 1.57% |
| 1976 | 3.31% | 1.61% |
| 1975 | 3.39% | 1.7% |
| 1974 | 2.91% | 1.73% |
| 1973 | 2.45% | 1.78% |
| 1972 | 2.68% | 1.89% |
| 1971 | 3.71% | 1.99% |
| 1970 | 5.75% | 2.21% |
| 1969 | 7.27% | 2.29% |
| 1968 | 6.47% | 2.35% |
| 1967 | 4.06% | 2.36% |
| 1966 | 3.02% | 2.55% |
| 1965 | 3.26% | 2.57% |
| 1964 | 3.37% | 2.65% |
| 1963 | 3.47% | 2.82% |
| 1962 | 3.52% | 2.9% |
| 1961 | 3.51% | 3.01% |
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/south-korea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.29%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.
Live population counters
|
Marshall Islands
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
35058
|
51649918
|
| Population rank | 192/197 | 31/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0004% | 0.62% |
| One net population change |
6.85 hours
|
13.7 minutes
|
| One birth every |
10.7 hours
|
2.26 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.35 days
|
1.69 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | -4 | +105 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,279 | +38,446 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -3.29% | +0.07% |
| Population growth rate rank | 197/197 | 160/197 |
| One migration net change every |
5.17 hours
|
8.02 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -1,698 | +65,731 |
| Net migration rank | 97/196 | 20/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,309 | 1,811,507 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 189/195 | 40/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.8% | 3.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 71/195 | 111/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
South Korea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,698 | - | 65,731 |
| 2024 | - | -1,765 | - | 75,963 |
| 2023 | 550 | -1,832 | -77,569 | 87,800 |
| 2022 | 606 | -1,829 | -124,014 | 87,800 |
| 2021 | 653 | -2,016 | -56,947 | -16,778 |
| 2020 | 689 | -2,004 | -31,101 | 112,631 |
| 2019 | 746 | -2,030 | 10,353 | 128,622 |
| 2018 | 785 | -2,058 | 30,951 | 118,220 |
| 2017 | 826 | -2,040 | 71,907 | 104,029 |
| 2016 | 866 | -2,003 | 122,923 | 91,568 |
| 2015 | 912 | -1,964 | 163,248 | 276,427 |
| 2014 | 959 | -1,906 | 167,464 | 308,037 |
| 2013 | 1,014 | -1,825 | 166,415 | 301,926 |
| 2012 | 1,097 | -1,759 | 215,859 | 281,866 |
| 2011 | 1,185 | -1,512 | 214,728 | 269,958 |
| 2010 | 1,273 | -1,221 | 213,083 | 52,042 |
| 2009 | 1,365 | -1,361 | 197,231 | 5,308 |
| 2008 | 1,443 | -1,467 | 215,841 | -19,630 |
| 2007 | 1,507 | -1,491 | 248,286 | -42,293 |
| 2006 | 1,556 | -1,491 | 203,441 | -28,434 |
| 2005 | 1,586 | -1,482 | 187,920 | -47,821 |
| 2004 | 1,595 | -1,466 | 225,988 | -42,549 |
| 2003 | 1,600 | -1,427 | 244,251 | -31,994 |
| 2002 | 1,594 | -1,345 | 247,752 | -18,105 |
| 2001 | 1,596 | -1,237 | 312,643 | -28,006 |
| 2000 | 1,592 | -1,110 | 390,167 | -84,960 |
| 1999 | 1,590 | -1,068 | 368,272 | -107,448 |
| 1998 | 1,576 | -1,124 | 393,436 | -98,044 |
| 1997 | 1,564 | -1,097 | 422,773 | -109,130 |
| 1996 | 1,542 | -1,050 | 446,142 | -115,705 |
| 1995 | 1,522 | -991 | 468,967 | -208,491 |
| 1994 | 1,524 | -942 | 473,200 | -208,309 |
| 1993 | 1,524 | -869 | 477,302 | -222,802 |
| 1992 | 1,525 | -769 | 494,352 | -265,849 |
| 1991 | 1,540 | -661 | 467,594 | -270,754 |
| 1990 | 1,556 | -562 | 411,546 | 79,294 |
| 1989 | 1,574 | -479 | 403,266 | 186,120 |
| 1988 | 1,575 | -140 | 399,297 | 192,534 |
| 1987 | 1,566 | -16 | 378,758 | 198,057 |
| 1986 | 1,544 | -8 | 395,651 | 189,782 |
| 1985 | 1,511 | -1 | 416,219 | 97,949 |
| 1984 | 1,470 | 6 | 436,384 | 101,394 |
| 1983 | 1,422 | 12 | 514,844 | 102,167 |
| 1982 | 1,375 | 23 | 605,626 | 48,638 |
| 1981 | 1,328 | 31 | 631,189 | 18,442 |
| 1980 | 1,287 | -155 | 583,294 | -148,341 |
| 1979 | 1,250 | -316 | 623,068 | -139,566 |
| 1978 | 1,207 | -286 | 499,084 | -85,721 |
| 1977 | 1,160 | -264 | 578,947 | -90,737 |
| 1976 | 1,109 | -233 | 530,558 | -92,314 |
| 1975 | 1,055 | -193 | 603,300 | -52,332 |
| 1974 | 1,000 | -145 | 673,030 | 27,005 |
| 1973 | 954 | -383 | 699,115 | 35,779 |
| 1972 | 913 | -306 | 740,469 | 25,382 |
| 1971 | 877 | -232 | 789,185 | -6,326 |
| 1970 | 819 | 201 | 747,987 | -27,999 |
| 1969 | 747 | 690 | 694,227 | -21,175 |
| 1968 | 685 | 769 | 684,487 | -16,868 |
| 1967 | 636 | 308 | 692,169 | -16,484 |
| 1966 | 603 | -89 | 623,534 | -16,688 |
| 1965 | 566 | -22 | 641,090 | -146,386 |
| 1964 | 536 | 16 | 655,501 | -102,284 |
| 1963 | 509 | 42 | 685,824 | -80,226 |
| 1962 | 488 | 54 | 712,590 | -94,606 |
| 1961 | 469 | 56 | 730,173 | -93,179 |
| 1960 | 452 | 63 | 728,010 | 47,245 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).
As of 2024, 3,309 residents or 8.8% of the population were not native-born in the Marshall Islands, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Marshall Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Majuro | 30K |
| Djarrit | 7.1K |
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Seoul | 9.67M |
| Busan | 3.45M |
| Incheon | 3.05M |
| Daegu | 2.38M |
| Daejeon | 1.48M |
| Gwangju | 1.41M |
| Suwon | 1.23M |
| Ulsan | 1.13M |
| Yongin | 1.08M |
| Goyang | 1.06M |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between the Marshall Islands and South Korea
|
Marshall Islands
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.3 years | 84.6 years |
| Average age | 27.5 years | 44.8 years |
| Median age | 21.8 years | 46.1 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 2.92 births per woman | 0.72 births per woman |
| Population density | 504 ppl/mi² | 1,371 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/south-korea | 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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