Total population (thousands) in Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands: Total population (thousands) was 36.91 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
36.91 thousands
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
218th
of 233 countries
All-time high
52.07 thousands
in 2011
All-time low
22.02 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Marshall Islands, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Marshall Islands recorded 36.91 thousands for total population in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Marshall Islands peaked at 52.07 thousands in 2011 and was at its lowest, 22.02 thousands, in 1970.
Marshall Islands ranks 218th of 233 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Marshall Islands, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 22.02 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 23.04 thousands | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 23.69 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 24.3 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 24.87 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 25.73 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 26.58 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 27.46 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 28.35 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 29.27 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 30.21 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 31.34 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 32.69 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 34.1 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 35.52 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 37.01 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 38.52 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 40.05 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 41.6 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 43.04 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 44.13 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 45.13 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 46.01 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 46.77 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 47.42 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 48 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 48.53 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 49.02 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 49.5 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 49.94 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 50.47 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 50.95 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 51.3 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 51.55 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 51.73 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 51.86 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 51.95 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 52.03 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 52.04 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 52.02 thousands | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 52.02 thousands | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 52.07 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 51.74 thousands | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 51.09 thousands | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 50.27 thousands | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 49.32 thousands | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 48.28 thousands | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 47.14 thousands | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 45.92 thousands | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 44.65 thousands | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 43.36 thousands | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 42.05 thousands | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 40.68 thousands | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 39.47 thousands | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 38.18 thousands | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 36.91 thousands | -3.3% |
Marshall Islands compared with similar countries
- Marshall Islands's 36.91 thousands is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,843 thousands, 1% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Marshall Islands's 36.91 thousands is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,410 thousands, 3% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.53 thousands | 22.02 thousands | 29.27 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 36.41 thousands | 30.21 thousands | 43.04 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.44 thousands | 44.13 thousands | 49.94 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.59 thousands | 50.47 thousands | 52.04 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.25 thousands | 44.65 thousands | 52.07 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.11 thousands | 36.91 thousands | 43.36 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Marshall Islands
- 215 Gibraltar 39.74 thousands compare
- 216 British Virgin Islands 39.62 thousands compare
- 217 Monaco 38.48 thousands compare
- 219 San Marino 33.55 thousands compare
- 220 Saint Martin (French part) 25.49 thousands compare
- 221 Palau 17.68 thousands compare
More population data for Marshall Islands
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.393 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.393 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3323 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 51.21 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8454 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3799 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Population density 132.37 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1,311 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Marshall Islands?
- Total population in Marshall Islands was 36.91 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Marshall Islands?
- The highest recorded value was 52.07 thousands in 2011.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Marshall Islands?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.02 thousands in 1970.
- How does Marshall Islands rank for total population?
- Marshall Islands ranks 218th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Marshall Islands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Marshall Islands data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release