Marshall Islands Population
East Asia & Pacific · 212th most populous · Upper middle income
Population right now (estimate)
34,734
The population of Marshall Islands is about 34,734 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 35 thousand for 2026 as a whole — 0.00% of the world's people.
Marshall Islands is ranked 212th of 217 by population. The population is shrinking, by about 3.33% a year. It peaked around 2010 at 52 thousand and is projected to fall to 25 thousand by 2050. That is 2.4 times its 1960 population of 15 thousand. Population density is 194 people per square kilometre. 79% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
35 thousand
Yearly change
−3.33%
World rank
212th
Share of world
0.00%
Density
194/km²
Land area
181 km²
Life expectancy
67.1 yrs
Births per woman
2.86
GDP per capita
$8,489
GDP
$0.3B
Population of Marshall Islands, 1960–2050
Marshall Islands population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 14,703 | — | 81 |
| 1970 | 22,530 | +5.75% | 124 |
| 1980 | 30,774 | +3.48% | 170 |
| 1990 | 44,629 | +2.39% | 247 |
| 2000 | 50,706 | +1.00% | 280 |
| 2010 | 52,044 | +0.05% | 288 |
| 2020 | 42,706 | −2.96% | 236 |
| 2024 | 37,548 | −3.29% | 207 |
| 2026proj. | 35,075 | −3.33% | 194 |
| 2030proj. | 31,186 | −2.69% | 172 |
| 2040proj. | 26,597 | −0.87% | 147 |
| 2050proj. | 25,195 | −0.44% | 139 |
Marshall Islands vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 5,070 times as many people as Marshall Islands. Bangladesh is 7.0 times more densely populated.
Marshall Islands population: questions and answers
What is the population of Marshall Islands in 2026?
About 35,075 (35 thousand), based on World Bank projections.
Is Marshall Islands's population growing?
No — it is falling by about 3.33% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Marshall Islands?
About 194 people per km², with a land area of 181 km².
What will the population of Marshall Islands be in 2050?
About 25 thousand on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Marshall Islands?
Majuro.
What is the life expectancy in Marshall Islands?
67.1 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.