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Population in the Marshall Islands compared to Vanuatu: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 37,548 in 2024 vs 327,777 people in Vanuatu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,058 people compared to 344,750 in Vanuatu.

Population statistics:

  • Vanuatu's population is 9.83 times bigger than the Marshall Islands'.
  • The Marshall Islands is ranked the 192nd most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
  • The countries together account for 0.005% of the world: 0.0004% for the Marshall Islands vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
  • For the last 10 years, the Marshall Islands has had an average growth rate of -2.69% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35.1K (32.6% decline), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 345K (59.7% growth).

Marshall Islands vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast

Marshall Islands
Factual

Projection
Vanuatu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Marshall Islands Vanuatu
2100 23,457 883,219
2099 23,536 878,572
2098 23,626 873,798
2097 23,720 868,872
2096 23,797 863,899
2095 23,879 858,713
2094 23,947 853,379
2093 24,022 847,908
2092 24,092 842,392
2091 24,150 836,807
2090 24,198 831,106
2089 24,253 825,333
2088 24,284 819,413
2087 24,314 813,386
2086 24,329 807,304
2085 24,347 801,030
2084 24,355 794,642
2083 24,343 788,195
2082 24,328 781,693
2081 24,317 775,091
2080 24,290 768,410
2079 24,269 761,593
2078 24,226 754,638
2077 24,185 747,679
2076 24,151 740,583
2075 24,096 733,404
2074 24,061 726,144
2073 24,013 718,748
2072 23,982 711,260
2071 23,943 703,705
2070 23,902 696,123
2069 23,869 688,506
2068 23,827 680,826
2067 23,808 673,074
2066 23,775 665,248
2065 23,774 657,389
2064 23,778 649,466
2063 23,791 641,532
2062 23,830 633,599
2061 23,881 625,729
2060 23,929 617,794
2059 23,993 609,801
2058 24,041 601,770
2057 24,118 593,715
2056 24,207 585,658
2055 24,318 577,507
2054 24,424 569,335
2053 24,515 561,113
2052 24,615 552,889
2051 24,727 544,646
2050 24,824 536,304
2049 24,948 527,975
2048 25,060 519,610
2047 25,169 511,256
2046 25,281 502,817
2045 25,407 494,393
2044 25,544 485,933
2043 25,701 477,540
2042 25,860 469,142
2041 26,047 460,812
2040 26,263 452,499
2039 26,507 444,231
2038 26,773 435,987
2037 27,104 427,825
2036 27,461 419,744
2035 27,889 411,746
2034 28,379 403,811
2033 28,934 395,944
2032 29,558 388,203
2031 30,266 380,500
2030 31,070 372,841
2029 31,960 365,246
2028 32,896 357,704
2027 33,927 350,204
2026 35,058 342,728
2025 36,301 335,246
2024 37,548 327,777
2023 38,827 320,409
2022 40,077 313,046
2021 41,367 305,868
2020 42,706 298,858
2019 44,007 291,985
2018 45,285 285,259
2017 46,529 278,507
2016 47,709 272,087
2015 48,800 266,101
2014 49,796 260,240
2013 50,681 254,482
2012 51,419 248,883
2011 51,907 243,474
2010 52,044 238,248
2009 52,019 232,731
2008 52,030 226,896
2007 52,035 221,276
2006 51,992 215,923
2005 51,906 210,760
2004 51,791 205,711
2003 51,639 200,746
2002 51,425 195,863
2001 51,123 191,031
2000 50,706 186,281
1999 50,202 182,048
1998 49,717 178,313
1997 49,259 174,626
1996 48,775 170,911
1995 48,266 167,137
1994 47,712 163,314
1993 47,093 159,463
1992 46,388 155,608
1991 45,568 151,793
1990 44,629 148,063
1989 43,586 144,393
1988 42,321 140,756
1987 40,828 137,187
1986 39,286 133,720
1985 37,761 130,356
1984 36,264 127,109
1983 34,811 123,998
1982 33,397 121,035
1981 32,017 118,249
1980 30,774 115,660
1979 29,738 113,040
1978 28,809 109,963
1977 27,906 106,618
1976 27,021 103,388
1975 26,154 100,269
1974 25,296 97,260
1973 24,581 94,362
1972 23,992 91,562
1971 23,366 88,862
1970 22,530 86,266
1969 21,305 83,755
1968 19,862 81,314
1967 18,655 78,921
1966 17,927 76,590
1965 17,402 74,358
1964 16,852 72,219
1963 16,302 70,159
1962 15,755 68,174
1961 15,219 66,264
1960 14,703 64,431

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/vanuatu | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Marshall Islands decreased by 4,283 people (a 8.24% decline), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Marshall Islands lost 12,651 people (a 26.5% decline), while Vanuatu's population increased by 72,663 people (a 26.7% growth).

The Marshall Islands was ranked 188th most populous country in 2006 and is 192nd in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 55.6% to 536,304 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.

Vanuatu is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 883K 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

Marshall Islands
Factual

Projection
Vanuatu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Marshall Islands Vanuatu
2100 -0.33% 0.53%
2099 -0.38% 0.55%
2098 -0.4% 0.57%
2097 -0.32% 0.58%
2096 -0.35% 0.6%
2095 -0.28% 0.63%
2094 -0.31% 0.65%
2093 -0.29% 0.65%
2092 -0.24% 0.67%
2091 -0.2% 0.69%
2090 -0.23% 0.7%
2089 -0.13% 0.72%
2088 -0.12% 0.74%
2087 -0.06% 0.75%
2086 -0.08% 0.78%
2085 -0.03% 0.8%
2084 0.05% 0.82%
2083 0.06% 0.83%
2082 0.04% 0.85%
2081 0.11% 0.87%
2080 0.09% 0.9%
2079 0.17% 0.92%
2078 0.17% 0.93%
2077 0.14% 0.96%
2076 0.23% 0.98%
2075 0.14% 1%
2074 0.2% 1.03%
2073 0.13% 1.05%
2072 0.16% 1.07%
2071 0.17% 1.09%
2070 0.14% 1.11%
2069 0.18% 1.13%
2068 0.08% 1.15%
2067 0.14% 1.18%
2066 0.004% 1.2%
2065 -0.02% 1.22%
2064 -0.05% 1.24%
2063 -0.17% 1.25%
2062 -0.21% 1.26%
2061 -0.2% 1.28%
2060 -0.27% 1.31%
2059 -0.2% 1.33%
2058 -0.32% 1.36%
2057 -0.37% 1.38%
2056 -0.46% 1.41%
2055 -0.43% 1.44%
2054 -0.37% 1.47%
2053 -0.41% 1.49%
2052 -0.45% 1.51%
2051 -0.39% 1.56%
2050 -0.5% 1.58%
2049 -0.45% 1.61%
2048 -0.43% 1.63%
2047 -0.44% 1.68%
2046 -0.5% 1.7%
2045 -0.54% 1.74%
2044 -0.61% 1.76%
2043 -0.62% 1.79%
2042 -0.72% 1.81%
2041 -0.82% 1.84%
2040 -0.92% 1.86%
2039 -1% 1.89%
2038 -1.22% 1.91%
2037 -1.3% 1.93%
2036 -1.53% 1.94%
2035 -1.73% 1.97%
2034 -1.92% 1.99%
2033 -2.11% 1.99%
2032 -2.34% 2.02%
2031 -2.59% 2.05%
2030 -2.78% 2.08%
2029 -2.85% 2.11%
2028 -3.04% 2.14%
2027 -3.23% 2.18%
2026 -3.42% 2.23%
2025 -3.32% 2.28%
2024 -3.29% 2.3%
2023 -3.12% 2.35%
2022 -3.12% 2.35%
2021 -3.14% 2.35%
2020 -2.96% 2.35%
2019 -2.82% 2.36%
2018 -2.67% 2.42%
2017 -2.47% 2.36%
2016 -2.24% 2.25%
2015 -2% 2.25%
2014 -1.75% 2.26%
2013 -1.44% 2.25%
2012 -0.94% 2.22%
2011 -0.26% 2.19%
2010 0.05% 2.37%
2009 -0.02% 2.57%
2008 -0.01% 2.54%
2007 0.08% 2.48%
2006 0.17% 2.45%
2005 0.22% 2.45%
2004 0.29% 2.47%
2003 0.42% 2.49%
2002 0.59% 2.53%
2001 0.82% 2.55%
2000 1% 2.33%
1999 0.98% 2.09%
1998 0.93% 2.11%
1997 0.99% 2.17%
1996 1.05% 2.26%
1995 1.16% 2.34%
1994 1.31% 2.41%
1993 1.52% 2.48%
1992 1.8% 2.51%
1991 2.1% 2.52%
1990 2.39% 2.54%
1989 2.99% 2.58%
1988 3.66% 2.6%
1987 3.93% 2.59%
1986 4.04% 2.58%
1985 4.13% 2.55%
1984 4.17% 2.51%
1983 4.23% 2.45%
1982 4.31% 2.36%
1981 4.04% 2.24%
1980 3.48% 2.32%
1979 3.22% 2.8%
1978 3.24% 3.14%
1977 3.28% 3.12%
1976 3.31% 3.11%
1975 3.39% 3.09%
1974 2.91% 3.07%
1973 2.45% 3.06%
1972 2.68% 3.04%
1971 3.71% 3.01%
1970 5.75% 3%
1969 7.27% 3%
1968 6.47% 3.03%
1967 4.06% 3.04%
1966 3.02% 3%
1965 3.26% 2.96%
1964 3.37% 2.94%
1963 3.47% 2.91%
1962 3.52% 2.88%
1961 3.51% 2.84%

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/vanuatu | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.29%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.3%.

Live population counters

Marshall Islands Vanuatu
Current population
35058
344750
Population rank 192/197 174/197
Percent of world population 0.0004% 0.004%
One net population change
6.85 hours
1.19 hours
One birth every
10.7 hours
58.5 minutes
One death every
1.35 days
5.38 hours
Daily growth/decline -4 +20
Annual growth/decline -1,279 +7,368
Annual growth/decline rate -3.29% +2.3%
Population growth rate rank 197/197 38/197
One migration net change every
5.17 hours
1.01 weeks
Annual migration change -1,698 -52
Net migration rank 97/196 80/196
Foreign-born residents 3,309 3,315
Foreign-born residents rank 189/195 188/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.8% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 71/195 155/195

Natural population change vs migration

Marshall Islands
Natural

Migration
Vanuatu
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Marshall Islands Vanuatu
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,698 - -52
2024 - -1,765 - -43
2023 550 -1,832 7,359 0
2022 606 -1,829 7,358 0
2021 653 -2,016 7,199 -201
2020 689 -2,004 7,233 -201
2019 746 -2,030 7,364 -652
2018 785 -2,058 7,379 -638
2017 826 -2,040 7,371 -610
2016 866 -2,003 7,315 -1,235
2015 912 -1,964 7,220 -1,324
2014 959 -1,906 7,143 -1,320
2013 1,014 -1,825 7,036 -1,343
2012 1,097 -1,759 6,877 -1,369
2011 1,185 -1,512 6,715 -1,395
2010 1,273 -1,221 6,548 -1,413
2009 1,365 -1,361 6,362 -467
2008 1,443 -1,467 6,138 -372
2007 1,507 -1,491 5,842 -374
2006 1,556 -1,491 5,606 -364
2005 1,586 -1,482 5,454 -364
2004 1,595 -1,466 5,353 -349
2003 1,600 -1,427 5,258 -342
2002 1,594 -1,345 5,181 -329
2001 1,596 -1,237 5,144 -328
2000 1,592 -1,110 5,026 -339
1999 1,590 -1,068 4,871 -1,090
1998 1,576 -1,124 4,866 -1,178
1997 1,564 -1,097 4,854 -1,166
1996 1,542 -1,050 4,897 -1,154
1995 1,522 -991 4,945 -1,140
1994 1,524 -942 4,973 -1,132
1993 1,524 -869 4,973 -1,115
1992 1,525 -769 4,941 -1,095
1991 1,540 -661 4,859 -1,078
1990 1,556 -562 4,762 -1,072
1989 1,574 -479 4,656 -1,006
1988 1,575 -140 4,577 -959
1987 1,566 -16 4,427 -907
1986 1,544 -8 4,360 -938
1985 1,511 -1 4,219 -916
1984 1,470 6 4,088 -907
1983 1,422 12 3,944 -899
1982 1,375 23 3,778 -897
1981 1,328 31 3,592 -896
1980 1,287 -155 3,383 -896
1979 1,250 -316 3,590 -845
1978 1,207 -286 3,428 -15
1977 1,160 -264 3,285 -3
1976 1,109 -233 3,174 3
1975 1,055 -193 3,074 -15
1974 1,000 -145 2,968 -17
1973 954 -383 2,876 -22
1972 913 -306 2,775 -28
1971 877 -232 2,685 -40
1970 819 201 2,597 -46
1969 747 690 2,529 -53
1968 685 769 2,470 -68
1967 636 308 2,384 0
1966 603 -89 2,278 0
1965 566 -22 2,180 0
1964 536 16 2,098 0
1963 509 42 2,025 0
1962 488 54 1,947 0
1961 469 56 1,872 0
1960 452 63 1,796 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 92.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 72,941 people) and 7.81% is from migration (a loss of 6,181 people).

As of 2024, 3,309 residents or 8.8% of the population were not native-born in the Marshall Islands, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.

Biggest cities by population

Marshall Islands
City Population
Majuro 30K
Djarrit 7.1K
Vanuatu
City Population
Port Vila 49K
Luganville 17.7K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/vanuatu | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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