Northern Mariana Islands Population
East Asia & Pacific · 207th most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
42,778
The population of Northern Mariana Islands is about 42,778 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 43 thousand for 2026 as a whole — 0.00% of the world's people.
Northern Mariana Islands is ranked 207th of 217 by population. The population is shrinking, by about 1.44% a year. It peaked around 2000 at 68 thousand and is projected to fall to 43 thousand by 2050. That is 4.9 times its 1960 population of 8,736. Population density is 94 people per square kilometre. 92% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
43 thousand
Yearly change
−1.44%
World rank
207th
Share of world
0.00%
Density
94/km²
Land area
457 km²
Life expectancy
78.9 yrs
Births per woman
2.32
GDP per capita
$23,786
GDP
$1.1B
Population of Northern Mariana Islands, 1960–2050
Northern Mariana Islands population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 8,736 | — | 19 |
| 1970 | 10,170 | +1.81% | 22 |
| 1980 | 17,625 | +6.90% | 39 |
| 1990 | 43,342 | +4.94% | 95 |
| 2000 | 68,356 | +3.70% | 150 |
| 2010 | 54,091 | −2.23% | 118 |
| 2020 | 47,528 | −1.25% | 104 |
| 2024 | 44,278 | −1.92% | 97 |
| 2026proj. | 42,914 | −1.44% | 94 |
| 2030proj. | 41,785 | −0.41% | 91 |
| 2040proj. | 42,175 | +0.28% | 92 |
| 2050proj. | 42,764 | +0.01% | 94 |
Northern Mariana Islands vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 4,144 times as many people as Northern Mariana Islands. Bangladesh is 14.5 times more densely populated.
Northern Mariana Islands population: questions and answers
What is the population of Northern Mariana Islands in 2026?
About 42,914 (43 thousand), based on World Bank projections.
Is Northern Mariana Islands's population growing?
No — it is falling by about 1.44% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Northern Mariana Islands?
About 94 people per km², with a land area of 457 km².
What will the population of Northern Mariana Islands be in 2050?
About 43 thousand on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Northern Mariana Islands?
Saipan.
What is the life expectancy in Northern Mariana Islands?
78.9 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.