The latest officially reported population of the Marshall Islands was 36,282 in 2025 vs 335,169 people in Vanuatu in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Marshall Islands' population is 35,039 people compared to 346,488 in Vanuatu.
Population statistics:
- Vanuatu's population is 9.89 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 -2.84% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
- Since 2006, the population of the Marshall Islands has decreased from 52K people to 35K (32.6% decline), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 346K (60.5% growth).
Marshall Islands vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Marshall Islands
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 23,445 | 883,016 |
| 2099 | 23,524 | 878,369 |
| 2098 | 23,613 | 873,597 |
| 2097 | 23,708 | 868,672 |
| 2096 | 23,784 | 863,700 |
| 2095 | 23,867 | 858,515 |
| 2094 | 23,935 | 853,182 |
| 2093 | 24,009 | 847,713 |
| 2092 | 24,079 | 842,198 |
| 2091 | 24,137 | 836,615 |
| 2090 | 24,185 | 830,915 |
| 2089 | 24,240 | 825,143 |
| 2088 | 24,272 | 819,225 |
| 2087 | 24,301 | 813,199 |
| 2086 | 24,316 | 807,118 |
| 2085 | 24,335 | 800,846 |
| 2084 | 24,342 | 794,459 |
| 2083 | 24,331 | 788,013 |
| 2082 | 24,315 | 781,513 |
| 2081 | 24,304 | 774,913 |
| 2080 | 24,278 | 768,233 |
| 2079 | 24,256 | 761,418 |
| 2078 | 24,214 | 754,464 |
| 2077 | 24,172 | 747,507 |
| 2076 | 24,138 | 740,413 |
| 2075 | 24,083 | 733,236 |
| 2074 | 24,049 | 725,977 |
| 2073 | 24,000 | 718,583 |
| 2072 | 23,969 | 711,096 |
| 2071 | 23,931 | 703,543 |
| 2070 | 23,889 | 695,963 |
| 2069 | 23,857 | 688,347 |
| 2068 | 23,815 | 680,670 |
| 2067 | 23,795 | 672,919 |
| 2066 | 23,763 | 665,095 |
| 2065 | 23,762 | 657,238 |
| 2064 | 23,766 | 649,317 |
| 2063 | 23,778 | 641,384 |
| 2062 | 23,818 | 633,453 |
| 2061 | 23,869 | 625,585 |
| 2060 | 23,917 | 617,652 |
| 2059 | 23,981 | 609,661 |
| 2058 | 24,028 | 601,631 |
| 2057 | 24,106 | 593,578 |
| 2056 | 24,194 | 585,523 |
| 2055 | 24,305 | 577,375 |
| 2054 | 24,411 | 569,204 |
| 2053 | 24,502 | 560,984 |
| 2052 | 24,602 | 552,762 |
| 2051 | 24,714 | 544,521 |
| 2050 | 24,811 | 536,181 |
| 2049 | 24,935 | 527,854 |
| 2048 | 25,047 | 519,491 |
| 2047 | 25,155 | 511,139 |
| 2046 | 25,267 | 502,701 |
| 2045 | 25,394 | 494,279 |
| 2044 | 25,531 | 485,821 |
| 2043 | 25,687 | 477,431 |
| 2042 | 25,846 | 469,034 |
| 2041 | 26,033 | 460,706 |
| 2040 | 26,249 | 452,395 |
| 2039 | 26,493 | 444,129 |
| 2038 | 26,759 | 435,887 |
| 2037 | 27,090 | 427,727 |
| 2036 | 27,446 | 419,648 |
| 2035 | 27,874 | 411,652 |
| 2034 | 28,364 | 403,718 |
| 2033 | 28,919 | 395,853 |
| 2032 | 29,543 | 388,114 |
| 2031 | 30,251 | 380,413 |
| 2030 | 31,054 | 372,755 |
| 2029 | 31,943 | 365,162 |
| 2028 | 32,879 | 357,621 |
| 2027 | 33,909 | 350,124 |
| 2026 | 35,039 | 342,649 |
| 2025 | 36,282 | 335,169 |
| 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
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 12,670 people (a 26.6% decline), while Vanuatu's population increased by 74,401 people (a 27.3% 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 24,811 people with a rank change from 192nd to 193rd. The population of Vanuatu will increase by 54.7% to 536,181 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 23.4K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| 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 | -3.37% | 2.26% |
| 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/vanuatu | CC BY
In 2025, the population of the Marshall Islands declined by 3.37%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.26%.
Live population counters
|
Marshall Islands
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
35039
|
346488
|
| Population rank | 192/197 | 174/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0004% | 0.004% |
| One net population change |
6.94 hours
|
1.19 hours
|
| One birth every |
11.6 hours
|
58 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.37 days
|
5.33 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | -3 | +20 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,266 | +7,392 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -3.37% | +2.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 197/197 | 36/197 |
| 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
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marshall Islands
|
Vanuatu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,698 | - | -52 |
| 2024 | 487 | -1,765 | 7,419 | -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 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/marshall-islands/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 93.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 73,217 people) and 6.28% is from migration (a loss of 4,904 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 differences between the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu
|
Marshall Islands
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.3 years | 72 years |
| Average age | 27.8 years | 25.7 years |
| Median age | 21.8 years | 21.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 2.86 births per woman | 3.57 births per woman |
| Population density | 504 ppl/mi² | 72.8 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/vanuatu | 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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