Marshall Islands Population Pyramid (2026)
The Marshall Islands has a population of 35,075 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 190th-largest population in the world and less than 0.01% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 33.3% of the population and people aged 65 and over 5.1%, with 104.4 males for every 100 females.
Marshall Islands Demographics
The Marshall Islands has 35,075 people in 2026, up 55.7% from 22,530 in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 419 (UN projection for 2026).
Median age 20.5 — the 43rd-lowest of 194 countries.
Under-15 share 33.3% — the 55th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Z — 31.4% (11,025)
All generations in the Marshall Islands →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how the Marshall Islands' population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
The Marshall Islands has 104.4 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 751 (2.1% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:17,913
- Percentage:51.1%
Female Statistics
- Population:17,162
- Percentage:48.9%
- Ratio Format:1:0.958
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of the Marshall Islands indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 682 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 959 | 23.2 | 2.96 | estimate |
| 2022 | 881 | 22.0 | 2.94 | estimate |
| 2023 | 821 | 21.1 | 2.92 | estimate |
| 2024 | 754 | 20.1 | 2.86 | projection |
| 2025 | 715 | 19.7 | 2.82 | projection |
| 2026 | 682 | 19.5 | 2.77 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (682 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
The Marshall Islands' median age is 20.5 years
Half the population is younger than 20.5 years, half is older — indicating a very young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 3,391 | 9.7% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 4,023 | 11.5% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 4,250 | 12.1% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 4,633 | 13.2% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 3,426 | 9.8% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 1,748 | 5.0% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 1,113 | 3.2% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 1,814 | 5.2% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 2,239 | 6.4% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 2,118 | 6.0% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 1,815 | 5.2% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 1,514 | 4.3% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 1,190 | 3.4% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 817 | 2.3% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 551 | 1.6% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 286 | 0.8% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 104 | 0.3% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 30 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 11 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 1 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 0 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 3 (falling birth rate): 2.77 children per woman and 19.5 births per 1,000, with a low death rate (7.5). Read more about Stage 3 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Marshall Islands Total Fertility Rate: 2.77 children per woman
Above the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.96 | 23.2 | |
| 2022 | 2.94 | 22.0 | ↓0.02 |
| 2023 | 2.92 | 21.1 | ↓0.02 |
| 2024 | 2.86 | 20.1 | ↓0.06 |
| 2025 | 2.82 | 19.7 | ↓0.04 |
| 2026 | 2.77 | 19.5 | ↓0.05 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Above global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 2.60
The Marshall Islands' total fertility rate is 2.77 children per woman in 2026 (above replacement), above the replacement level of 2.1. The Marshall Islands ranks 58 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the highest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −64.3% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, the Marshall Islands' population has increased by 169.9%.
The median age has increased from 17.2 in 1950 to 20.5 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding the Marshall Islands' Demographics
The Marshall Islands has an expansive population pyramid — a broad base of children that narrows steadily toward older ages.
Children under 15 make up 33.3% of the population and people aged 65 and over 5.1%.
The largest five-year age band is 15–19, at 13.2% of the population, compared with 9.7% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: the Marshall Islands' Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The working-age share is still rising, from 60.2% in 2016 to 61.6% in 2026 (dependency ratio 62.3).
Fertility Transition Stage
The Marshall Islands is in a period of above replacement, with a total fertility rate of 2.77 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
The Marshall Islands' median age changed by −0.2 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 35,075 |
| Male Population | 17,913(51.1%) |
| Female Population | 17,162(48.9%) |
| Median Age | 20.5 years |
| Sex Ratio | 104.4 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 11,664(33.3%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 21,611(61.6%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 1,800(5.1%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 62.3 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 54.0 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 8.3 |
| Pyramid Type | Expansive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in the Marshall Islands
How long the average person in the Marshall Islands is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
The Marshall Islands is projected to shrink to 25,194 people by 2050 (−28.2% from 2026).
The median age rises from 20.5 in 2026 to 27.6 by 2050.
Marshall Islands' Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 36.6%, growing from 0.0 million in 1970 to 0.0 million by 1980
The median age decreased by 2.3 years, indicating a younger demographic profile during this period
The youth population share expanded by 5.1 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 23K to 31K
- • Growth rate of 36.6% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 16.2 to 13.9 years (−2.3y)
- • 65+ share changed by −0.3 points; under-15 share by +5.1 points
Frequently Asked Questions About the Marshall Islands
How does the Marshall Islands rank globally by population?
The Marshall Islands ranks 190th in the world by population with 35,075 people as of 2026.
What does the Marshall Islands' age structure reveal about its development?
The Marshall Islands' age structure — 33.3% under 15, 61.6% working-age (15–64) and 5.1% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 3 of the demographic transition, with an expansive population pyramid. The median age is 20.5 years.
What is the dependency ratio in the Marshall Islands?
The Marshall Islands has 62.3 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is the Marshall Islands experiencing a demographic dividend?
The Marshall Islands is opening its demographic-dividend window. The working-age share is still rising, from 60.2% in 2016 to 61.6% in 2026 (dependency ratio 62.3). The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in the Marshall Islands' population?
The Marshall Islands has more males than females, with 104.4 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Marshall Islands Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/marshall-islands
View UN World Population Prospects Data →