Population and Demographics of the Marshall Islands
Population declining at 3.29% in 2024 · 4.64% aged 65 or older
The working-age group represents 60.89% of the Marshall Islands' population, while the youngest and oldest broad age groups account for 34.47% and 4.64%. The 29.83-point difference between the under-15 and 65-plus shares shows how strongly the age balance leans younger. Looking ahead, 25.2 thousand is projected for 2050 under the medium scenario, compared with 37.5 thousand in 2024.
Population Over Time in the Marshall Islands
Between 2000 and 2024, the Marshall Islands' population moved from 50.7K to 37.5K, a decrease of about 25.9%. The UN WPP 2024 medium-variant projection places the 2050 population at about 25.2K, roughly 32.9% below the 2024 reference point. The chart uses only the three published reference years shown, with no invented values between them.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
The broad age bands show a young population structure in the Marshall Islands. Under-15s account for 34.47% of residents and people 65+ for 4.64%, leaving 60.89% in the broad 15 to 64 range. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
The 2024 World Bank sex-share indicator gives Marshall Islands a female share of 48.8% and a male share of 51.2%. Males exceed females by 2.4 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Males made up 51.2% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 48.8% females.
What Is Shaping Population Change
For the Marshall Islands, the latest annual population movement is -3.29%, compared with fertility of 2.9, while 34.47% are children, 60.89% are 15 to 64 and 4.64% are older adults.
By 2024, the Marshall Islands had shifted -26.0% from its 2000 population level, and the projected 2024-to-2050 movement is -32.8%; a separate component dataset would be needed to explain how much comes from natural change or migration.
2024 estimate for the Marshall Islands. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Marshall Islands vs. World
The world comparison highlights three contrasts for the Marshall Islands. Annual change is -3.29% versus +0.87% globally, fertility is 2.9 versus 2.25, and median age is 21 versus 30.6 years.
| Indicator | Marshall Islands | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | -3.29% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.9 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 21 | 30.6 | 2024 |
No national-only figure is inserted into this world comparison. The country and global values share the same 2024 table and source context.
Key Takeaways
At 0.038M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of -3.29%.
The 2024 age structure is 34.47% under 15, 60.89% aged 15 to 64 and 4.64% aged 65 or older.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 48.8% female and 51.2% male.
The 2050 medium projection is 0.025M, 32.9% below the 2024 estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of the Marshall Islands?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for the Marshall Islands is 37,548 people.
Is the population of the Marshall Islands growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Marshall Islands' population is declining, with annual change of -3.29%.
What percentage of the population of the Marshall Islands is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 4.64% of the Marshall Islands' 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of the Marshall Islands in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Marshall Islands' 2050 population at 25,195.
What is the fertility rate in the Marshall Islands?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for the Marshall Islands is 2.9 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.