Photo: Matt Kieffer · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands places highest on Political Stability and Absence of Violence (top 1% worldwide) and lowest on GovTech Maturity Index (bottom 4%).
Marshall Islands in the Nations Inquiry Country Index
Marshall Islands appears in 82 of the statistics tracked here, but is not placed in the Country Index: the index needs a standing on three quarters of its topics, and Marshall Islands is measured on too few of them. Every published reading below is unaffected.
At a glance
Population
38,827
people
since 1950
Land area
181
km²
since 1991
GDP per person
7,660
international $, PPP
since 1990
Life expectancy
66.95
years at birth
since 1950
Human development
0.733
HDI, 0–1
since 2011
The newest published figure for each, the year it describes and who published it, with a line showing how it has moved.
01The country
About Marshall Islands
Key facts about Marshall Islands
- Capital
- Majuro
- Official languages
- English, Marshallese
- Currencies
- United States dollar (USD), SOV
- ISO code
- MHL · MH
- Domain · dialling
- .mh · +692
As Wikidata records them. Official languages are the least consistent — some countries list only a national language, others every regional one. Sources and licences.
02Country Index 2026
Where it stands, topic by topic
Strongest first. Each position is Marshall Islands’s place among the countries with a standing on that topic, built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things.
23rdof 198
From 2 of 3 key statistics
joint74thof 171
From 2 of 4 key statistics
69thof 159
From 2 of 2 key statistics
91stof 192
From 3 of 3 key statistics
134thof 196
From 3 of 3 key statistics
joint160thof 200
From 3 of 4 key statistics
167thof 194
From 2 of 4 key statistics
joint191stof 198
From 2 of 3 key statistics
No standing — Marshall Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Marshall Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Marshall Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Marshall Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Marshall Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Marshall Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Marshall Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Marshall Islands holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
Each standing is built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things. Select a subject for Marshall Islands’s readings on it, or see every statistic held for Marshall Islands in the table further down this page.
03Highs and lows
Where Marshall Islands stands out
The two ends of its own record: every statistic on which Marshall Islands sits within ten places of the best or worst in the world, plus its strongest and weakest readings overall. Each is turned into a percentile — its place among every country measured — which is what lets a hunger score and a press-freedom rank be compared at all.
Where Marshall Islands does best6
In the top third of all countries measured. 3 are within ten places of the best in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
- 1stDeaths in Organized Violencetop 35%
Position · derived 59th of 59 · 1 = worst · 0 · 2025
world median 0
- 3rd
Position · derived 3rd of 211 · 1.518 · 2025
world median 0.171 (better) · ▲ 9 pts since 2015
- 9th
Position · derived 130th of 160 · 1 = worst · 320 · 2024
world median 4,750 (better) · ▲ 7 pts since 2014
- Rule of Lawtop 19%
Position · derived 41st of 211 · 0.953 · 2025
world median -0.102 (better) · ▲ 9 pts since 2015
- Expected Years of Schoolingtop 19%
Position · derived 38th of 195 · 16.39 · 2023
world median 13.34 (better) · ▲ 24 pts since 2013
Where Marshall Islands struggles most5
In the bottom third of all countries measured. 1 is within ten places of the worst in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
- 8thGovTech Maturity Indexbottom 4%
Position · derived 189th of 196 · 0.121 · 2025
world median 0.63 (worse) · ▲ 3 pts since 2022
- Statistical Performance Indicatorsbottom 8%
Position · derived 173rd of 188 · 43.54 · 2024
world median 69.3 (worse) · ▲ 8 pts since 2016
- Life Expectancy at Age 65bottom 8%
Position · derived 204th of 222 · 13.12 · 2023
world median 16.39 (worse)
- Government AI Readiness Indexbottom 9%
Rank 177th of 195 · 18.92 · 2025
world median 40.19 (worse) · ▼ 28 pts since 2023
Position · derived 20th of 162 · 1 = worst · 34.78 · 2024
world median 13.8 (worse)
A band is a place among the countries each publisher scores, so Marshall Islands can move because other countries moved. See the Country Index for the full method.
04Over time
Which way it is moving
The published rank in widely quoted reports, edition by edition — each end with the size of that year’s field — and the statistics, not already named above, on which it has gained or lost the most ground.
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
120th
of 192 · 2011
108th
of 193 · 2023
Ranked in 13 of 34 editions
Government AI Readiness Index
Oxford Insights
122nd
of 193 · 2023
177th
of 195 · 2025
Ranked in 3 of 6 editions
Gaining ground
Where Marshall Islands has climbed against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary+48 pts since 2015
- Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate+27 pts since 2015
Losing ground
Where Marshall Islands has slipped against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
- Food Production Index-80 pts since 2012
- Crop Production Index-76 pts since 2012
- Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary-41 pts since 2019
05In context
Marshall Islands and its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place in the world ranking, not within the region.
Shares a land border with
Marshall Islands has no land border with another country.
Across Micronesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its position in the world.
- —
Guamnot placed - —
Kiribatinot placed - —Marshall Islandsnot placed
- —
Micronesianot placed - —
Naurunot placed - —
Northern Mariana Islandsnot placed - —
Palaunot placed
06The evidence
Every statistic we hold for Marshall Islands
Grouped by topic. Each row gives the newest edition’s rank or position, the published value and the year the numbers describe — select a row for the world median, the best in the world and the trend.
Governance & Institutions16
Civic Space Ratings9th of 198position · derived89.68Civic space score (0–100)2025
top 5% of 198 countries measured
CIVICUS · Civic space score (0–100)
Marshall Islands 89.68 · world median 50.46 (better)
Best in the world 100 (Kiribati)
No earlier reading to compare
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)82nd of 192rank0.42ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready)2024
top 42% of 192 countries measured
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready)
Marshall Islands 0.42 · world median 0.387 (better)
Best in the world 0.749 (Singapore)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2014
Completeness of Birth Registrationbottom 24%83.8Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%)2025
bottom 24% of 185 countries measured
UNICEF · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%)
Marshall Islands 83.8 · world median 98.4 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (53 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Control of Corruption76th of 211position · derived0.355Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
top 36% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5)
Marshall Islands 0.355 · world median -0.197 (better)
Best in the world 2.259 (Denmark)
▼ -13 percentile points since 2015
Country Policy and Institutional Assessment66th of 78position · derived2.733IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high)2025
bottom 16% of 78 countries measured
World Bank Group · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high)
Marshall Islands 2.733 · world median 3.246 (worse)
Best in the world 4.225 (Rwanda)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2015
Government AI Readiness Index177th of 195rank18.92AI readiness score (0–100)2025
bottom 9% of 195 countries measured
Oxford Insights · AI readiness score (0–100)
Marshall Islands 18.92 · world median 40.19 (worse)
Best in the world 88.36 (United States)
▼ -28 percentile points since 2023
Government Effectiveness137th of 209position · derived-0.353Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)2025
bottom 35% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Marshall Islands -0.353 · world median 0.101 (worse)
Best in the world 2.092 (Singapore)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2015
Government Funding per Primary Student17th of 68position · derived21.74Government funding per primary student (% of GDP per capita)2022
top 24% of 68 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Government funding per primary student (% of GDP per capita)
Marshall Islands 21.74 · world median 17.81 (better)
Best in the world 34.57 (South Korea)
▼ -23 percentile points since 2019
GovTech Maturity Index189th of 196position · derived0.121GTMI score (0–1)2025
bottom 4% of 196 countries measured
World Bank Group · GTMI score (0–1)
Marshall Islands 0.121 · world median 0.63 (worse)
Best in the world 0.997 (South Korea)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2022
Public Sector Wage Bill3rd of 168position · derived22.4Public sector wage bill (% of GDP)2022
top 1% of 168 countries measured
World Bank Group · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP)
Marshall Islands 22.4 · world median 7.975
Highest 42.65 (Nauru)
No real change since 2012
Regulatory Quality160th of 209position · derived-0.731Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
bottom 24% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5)
Marshall Islands -0.731 · world median -0.093 (worse)
Best in the world 2.113 (Singapore)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2015
Rule of Law41st of 211position · derived0.953Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
top 19% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Marshall Islands 0.953 · world median -0.102 (better)
Best in the world 2.012 (Finland)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2015
Statistical Performance Indicators173rd of 188position · derived43.54SPI overall score (0–100)2024
bottom 8% of 188 countries measured
World Bank Group · SPI overall score (0–100)
Marshall Islands 43.54 · world median 69.3 (worse)
Best in the world 94.14 (Norway)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2016
Voice and Accountability42nd of 206position · derived0.923Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
top 20% of 206 countries measured
World Bank Group · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Marshall Islands 0.923 · world median -0.022 (better)
Best in the world 1.825 (Norway)
No real change since 2015
Women, Business and the Law149th of 190position · derived65.63WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)2024
bottom 21% of 190 countries measured
World Bank Group · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
Marshall Islands 65.63 · world median 81.25 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (14 countries tied)
No real change since 2014
Economy & Innovation11
Crop Production Index169th of 195position · derived90.84Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100)2022
bottom 13% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Marshall Islands 90.84 · world median 106.23 (worse)
Best in the world 189.93 (Senegal)
▼ -76 percentile points since 2012
Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)70th of 138position · derived36.04Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)2025
bottom 50% of 138 countries measured
World Bank Group · Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)
Marshall Islands 36.04 · world median 36.34
Highest 199.76 (Hong Kong)
▼ -18 percentile points since 2015
Food Production Index170th of 195position · derived90.84Food production index (2014–2016 = 100)2022
bottom 13% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Marshall Islands 90.84 · world median 106.08 (worse)
Best in the world 177.49 (Senegal)
▼ -80 percentile points since 2012
Foreign Direct Investment Inflowsbottom 32%1.058FDI inflows (% of GDP)2025
bottom 32% of 202 countries measured
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · FDI inflows (% of GDP)
Marshall Islands 1.058 · world median 1.968
Highest 2,221 (British Virgin Islands)
▲ +30 percentile points since 2015
GDP Growth127th of 186position · derived2.283GDP growth (annual %)2025
bottom 32% of 186 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP growth (annual %)
Marshall Islands 2.283 · world median 3.396 (worse)
Best in the world 19.34 (Guyana)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2015
GDP per Capita (PPP)133rd of 185position · derived7,660GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)2025
bottom 28% of 185 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Marshall Islands 7,660 · world median 17,265 (worse)
Best in the world 139,593 (Singapore)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2015
Gross Savings (% of GDP)11th of 146position · derived38.09Gross savings (% of GDP)2024
top 7% of 146 countries measured
World Bank Group · Gross savings (% of GDP)
Marshall Islands 38.09 · world median 22.06
Highest 47.82 (Macau)
▲ +45 percentile points since 2014
Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)14th of 138position · derived79.87Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)2025
top 9% of 138 countries measured
World Bank Group · Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)
Marshall Islands 79.87 · world median 41.72
Highest 196.89 (Hong Kong)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2015
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index134th of 175rank23.41LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)2026
bottom 22% of 167 countries measured · 167 share 175 positions
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)
Marshall Islands 23.41 · world median 56.21 (worse)
Best in the world 1,319 (China)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2016
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)180th of 180position · derived0Natural resources rents (% of GDP)2021
bottom 4% of 197 countries measured · 197 share 180 positions
World Bank Group · Natural resources rents (% of GDP)
Marshall Islands 0 · world median 1.708
Highest 61.03 (Libya)
No real change since 2011
Trade (% of GDP)34th of 138position · derived115.91Exports plus imports (% of GDP)2025
top 24% of 138 countries measured
World Bank Group · Exports plus imports (% of GDP)
Marshall Islands 115.91 · world median 79.68
Highest 396.65 (Hong Kong)
▼ -12 percentile points since 2015
Work & Labour1
Informal Employment Rate56th of 97position · derived · 1 = worst30.9Informal employment (% of total employment)2025
top 43% of 97 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Informal employment (% of total employment)
Marshall Islands 30.9 · world median 36.83 (better)
Best in the world 0.857 (Hungary)
No earlier reading to compare
Education & Knowledge12
Adult Literacy Rate75th of 172position · derived95.76Adults 15+ who can read and write (%)2024
top 43% of 172 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%)
Marshall Islands 95.76 · world median 93.99 (better)
Best in the world 100 (3 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Expected Years of Schooling38th of 195position · derived16.39Expected years of schooling2023
top 19% of 195 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Expected years of schooling
Marshall Islands 16.39 · world median 13.34 (better)
Best in the world 21.69 (Monaco)
▲ +24 percentile points since 2013
Harmonized Test Scores131st of 172position · derived375.03Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment)2020
bottom 24% of 172 countries measured
World Bank Group · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment)
Marshall Islands 375.03 · world median 414.32 (worse)
Best in the world 575.27 (Singapore)
▲ +17 percentile points since 2018
Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary63rd of 75position · derived1.311Inbound mobility rate, tertiary (%)2024
bottom 17% of 76 countries measured · 76 share 75 positions
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Inbound mobility rate, tertiary (%)
Marshall Islands 1.311 · world median 5.494 (worse)
Best in the world 87.12 (San Marino)
▼ -41 percentile points since 2019
Learning-Adjusted Years of School134th of 172position · derived5.659Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14)2020
bottom 22% of 172 countries measured
World Bank Group · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14)
Marshall Islands 5.659 · world median 7.941 (worse)
Best in the world 12.81 (Singapore)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2018
Mean Years of Schooling50th of 193position · derived11.64Mean years of schooling (adults 25+)2023
top 26% of 193 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+)
Marshall Islands 11.64 · world median 9.933 (better)
Best in the world 14.3 (Germany)
No real change since 2013
Out-of-School Rate, Primary87th of 121position · derived · 1 = worst1.476Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)2024
top 28% of 121 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Marshall Islands 1.476 · world median 3.691 (better)
Best in the world 0.004 (United Arab Emirates)
▲ +48 percentile points since 2015
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate57th of 120position · derived68.41Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%)2024
top 47% of 120 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%)
Marshall Islands 68.41 · world median 65.93 (better)
Best in the world 99.85 (Moldova)
▲ +27 percentile points since 2015
School Life Expectancy44th of 77position · derived14.02School life expectancy, primary to tertiary (years)2024
bottom 43% of 77 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · School life expectancy, primary to tertiary (years)
Marshall Islands 14.02 · world median 14.59 (worse)
Best in the world 21.01 (Monaco)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2016
Secondary School Enrolment78th of 109position · derived85.76Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%)2024
bottom 29% of 109 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%)
Marshall Islands 85.76 · world median 93.19 (worse)
Best in the world 158.55 (Monaco)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2015
Tertiary Enrolment Ratio59th of 95position · derived37.69Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%)2024
bottom 38% of 95 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%)
Marshall Islands 37.69 · world median 52.77 (worse)
Best in the world 141.86 (Macau)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2015
Youth Literacy Ratebottom 40%96.3515–24 year-olds who can read and write (%)2024
bottom 40% of 174 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%)
Marshall Islands 96.35 · world median 98.22 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (6 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Health & Wellbeing10
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months62nd of 136position · derived43.12Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%)2024
top 45% of 136 countries measured
UNICEF · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%)
Marshall Islands 43.12 · world median 40.74 (better)
Best in the world 83.3 (Burundi)
No earlier reading to compare
Global Violent Deaths94th of 206position · derived · 1 = worst4.76Violent deaths per 100,000 people2021
bottom 45% of 209 countries measured · 209 share 206 positions
Small Arms Survey · Violent deaths per 100,000 people
Marshall Islands 4.76 · world median 4.02 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (4 countries tied)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2011
Human Capital Index134th of 172position · derived0.423HCI score (0–1)2020
bottom 22% of 172 countries measured
World Bank Group · HCI score (0–1)
Marshall Islands 0.423 · world median 0.564 (worse)
Best in the world 0.879 (Singapore)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2018
Human Development Index108th of 193rank0.733HDI score (0–1)2023
bottom 44% of 193 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · HDI score (0–1)
Marshall Islands 0.733 · world median 0.762 (worse)
Best in the world 0.972 (Iceland)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2013
Infant Mortality Rate63rd of 200position · derived · 1 = worst22.68Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births)2024
bottom 31% of 200 countries measured
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births)
Marshall Islands 22.68 · world median 12.26 (worse)
Best in the world 1.214 (San Marino)
No real change since 2014
Life Expectancy at Age 65204th of 222position · derived13.12Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates2023
bottom 8% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates
Marshall Islands 13.12 · world median 16.39 (worse)
Best in the world 23.21 (Monaco)
No real change since 2013
Life Expectancy at Birth181st of 222position · derived66.95Years a newborn would live at current death rates2023
bottom 19% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Marshall Islands 66.95 · world median 74.63 (worse)
Best in the world 86.37 (Monaco)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2013
Maternal Mortality Ratio50th of 195position · derived · 1 = worst154.79Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births2023
bottom 25% of 195 countries measured
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG) · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Marshall Islands 154.79 · world median 46.65 (worse)
Best in the world 0.11 (Cook Islands)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2013
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five20th of 162position · derived · 1 = worst34.78Children under 5 who are stunted (%)2024
bottom 12% of 162 countries measured
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Marshall Islands 34.78 · world median 13.8 (worse)
Best in the world 0.518 (Latvia)
No earlier reading to compare
Under-Five Mortality Rate62nd of 200position · derived · 1 = worst26.74Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)2024
bottom 31% of 200 countries measured
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Marshall Islands 26.74 · world median 14.54 (worse)
Best in the world 1.26 (San Marino)
No real change since 2014
Development & Human Capital6
Access to Electricitybottom 33%97.2Population with electricity access (%)2024
bottom 33% of 215 countries measured
World Bank Group · Population with electricity access (%)
Marshall Islands 97.2 · world median 100 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (122 countries tied)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2014
Child Marriage46th of 143position · derived · 1 = worst26.3Women 20–24 married before 18 (%)2025
bottom 31% of 145 countries measured · 145 share 143 positions
UNICEF · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%)
Marshall Islands 26.3 · world median 17.1 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (3 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Coefficient of Human Inequality102nd of 169position · derived · 1 = worst14.31Coefficient of Human Inequality (%)2023
top 40% of 169 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%)
Marshall Islands 14.31 · world median 17.05 (better)
Best in the world 4.865 (Slovenia)
No real change since 2020
Gender Development Index105th of 184position · derived0.96Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity)2023
bottom 43% of 184 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity)
Marshall Islands 0.96 · world median 0.971 (worse)
Best in the world 1 (2 countries tied)
▲ +15 percentile points since 2013
Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index81st of 169position · derived0.626IHDI (0–1)2023
top 48% of 169 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · IHDI (0–1)
Marshall Islands 0.626 · world median 0.609 (better)
Best in the world 0.923 (Iceland)
No real change since 2020
Net Official Development Assistance Received2nd of 130position · derived39.77Net ODA received (% of GNI)2023
top 1% of 130 countries measured
OECD Development Assistance Committee · Net ODA received (% of GNI)
Marshall Islands 39.77 · world median 2.579
Highest 101.78 (Tuvalu)
No real change since 2013
Environment & Sustainability9
Agricultural Emissions193rd of 193position · derived0Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq)2023
bottom 1% of 198 countries measured · 198 share 193 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq)
Marshall Islands 0 · world median 8,635
Highest 1,044,508 (India)
No real change since 2013
Agricultural Land100th of 209position · derived38.89Agricultural land (% of land area)2023
top 48% of 209 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Agricultural land (% of land area)
Marshall Islands 38.89 · world median 37.96
Highest 86.48 (Côte d’Ivoire)
No real change since 2013
Arable Land per Person187th of 206position · derived0.013Arable land (hectares per person)2023
bottom 9% of 206 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Arable land (hectares per person)
Marshall Islands 0.013 · world median 0.109
Highest 1.459 (Kazakhstan)
No real change since 2013
Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)136th of 190rank0.499ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable)2024
bottom 29% of 190 countries measured
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable)
Marshall Islands 0.499 · world median 0.45 (worse)
Best in the world 0.263 (Norway)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2014
CO₂ Emissions per Capita83rd of 210position · derived · 1 = worst4.114Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)2024
bottom 39% of 210 countries measured
Global Carbon Project · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)
Marshall Islands 4.114 · world median 3.21 (worse)
Best in the world 0.054 (DR Congo)
▼ -12 percentile points since 2014
Forest Area46th of 210position · derived52.22Forest area (% of land area)2023
top 21% of 213 countries measured · 213 share 210 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Forest area (% of land area)
Marshall Islands 52.22 · world median 31.08
Highest 94.45 (Suriname)
No real change since 2013
Internal Displacements by Disaster130th of 160position · derived · 1 = worst320New displacements by disaster (people)2024
top 19% of 160 countries measured
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) · New displacements by disaster (people)
Marshall Islands 320 · world median 4,750 (better)
Best in the world 1 (Serbia)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2014
ND-GAIN Country Index102nd of 190rank46.05ND-GAIN Index (0–100, where 100 is best placed to adapt)2024
bottom 47% of 190 countries measured
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · ND-GAIN Index (0–100, where 100 is best placed to adapt)
Marshall Islands 46.05 · world median 47.44 (worse)
Best in the world 71.85 (Norway)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2014
World Risk Index139th of 193position · derived · 1 = worst2.52WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)2025
top 28% of 193 countries measured
Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum · WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)
Marshall Islands 2.52 · world median 4.17 (better)
Best in the world 0.18 (Monaco)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2015
Gender & Equality1
Sex Ratio at Birthtop 12%107Male births per 100 female births2023
top 12% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Male births per 100 female births
Marshall Islands 107 · world median 105.1
Highest 116.3 (Liechtenstein)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2013
Peace & Security4
Deaths in Organized Violence59th of 59position · derived · 1 = worst0Deaths in organized violence (people)2025
top 35% of 196 countries measured · 196 share 59 positions
Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) · Deaths in organized violence (people)
Marshall Islands 0 · world median 0
Best in the world 0 (138 countries tied)
No real change since 2015
INFORM Risk Index103rd of 191position · derived · 1 = worst3.5INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)2025
top 45% of 191 countries measured
European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee · INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)
Marshall Islands 3.5 · world median 3.7 (better)
Best in the world 0.7 (Singapore)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2016
Political Stability and Absence of Violence3rd of 211position · derived1.518Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)2025
top 1% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Marshall Islands 1.518 · world median 0.171 (better)
Best in the world 1.563 (Andorra)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2015
Refugees by Country of Originbottom 2%0Refugees under UNHCR's mandate from this country, end of year (people)2025
bottom 2% of 202 countries measured
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate from this country, end of year (people)
Marshall Islands 0 · world median 1,272
Highest 5,224,131 (Ukraine)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2015
Mobility & Trade1
Net Migration Ratebottom 1%-47.18Net migrants per 1,000 population2023
bottom 1% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Net migrants per 1,000 population
Marshall Islands -47.18 · world median -0.133
Highest 39.62 (South Sudan)
No real change since 2013
Poverty & Inequality1
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty Linesbottom 8%7.2Population below the national poverty line (%)2025
bottom 8% of 160 countries measured
World Bank Group · Population below the national poverty line (%)
Marshall Islands 7.2 · world median 21.8
Highest 82.3 (South Sudan)
No earlier reading to compare
People & Population10
Crude Birth Ratetop 31%21.14Births per 1,000 population2023
top 31% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Births per 1,000 population
Marshall Islands 21.14 · world median 13.79
Highest 46.36 (Central African Republic)
No real change since 2013
Crude Death Ratebottom 43%6.968Deaths per 1,000 population2023
bottom 43% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Deaths per 1,000 population
Marshall Islands 6.968 · world median 7.303
Highest 25.58 (Vatican City)
▲ +11 percentile points since 2013
Median Age of the Populationbottom 21%20.7Median age (years)2023
bottom 21% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Median age (years)
Marshall Islands 20.7 · world median 31.52
Highest 59.63 (Vatican City)
No real change since 2013
Population Aged 65 and Overbottom 29%4.382Share of the total population aged 65 and over (%)2023
bottom 29% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 65 and over (%)
Marshall Islands 4.382 · world median 8.32
Highest 44.7 (Vatican City)
▲ +23 percentile points since 2013
Population Densitytop 29%215.71People per square kilometre of land2023
top 29% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · People per square kilometre of land
Marshall Islands 215.71 · world median 96.92
Highest 26,145 (Monaco)
▼ -10 percentile points since 2013
Population Growth Ratebottom 1%-3.323Population growth (% per year)2023
bottom 1% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Population growth (% per year)
Marshall Islands -3.323 · world median 0.888
Highest 5.862 (South Sudan)
No real change since 2013
Population Under Age 15top 24%34.71Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)2023
top 24% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)
Marshall Islands 34.71 · world median 22.71
Highest 49.17 (Central African Republic)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2013
Sex Ratio of the Total Populationtop 10%105.18Males per 100 females2023
top 10% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Males per 100 females
Marshall Islands 105.18 · world median 98.48
Highest 251.08 (Qatar)
No real change since 2013
Total Dependency Ratiotop 26%64.17People aged 0–14 and 65+ per 100 people aged 15–642023
top 26% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · People aged 0–14 and 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64
Marshall Islands 64.17 · world median 54.73
Highest 105.18 (Central African Republic)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2013
Total Fertility Ratetop 26%2.919Live births per woman2023
top 26% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Live births per woman
Marshall Islands 2.919 · world median 1.962
Highest 6.132 (Somalia)
No real change since 2013
Not currently covered
The newest edition of these reports does not include Marshall Islands. Usually the publisher does not cover it; sometimes it has dropped out of a ranking it used to appear in.
- Academic Freedom Index
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
- Adjusted Net Savings
- Agricultural Irrigated Land
- Agriculture Orientation Index · last seen 2019
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) · last seen 2024
- Asylum-Seekers by Country of Asylum
- Average Time to Clear Exports Through Customs
- Average Weekly Hours Worked
- Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff · last seen 2017
- Business Ready: Operational Efficiency
- Business Ready: Public Services
- Business Ready: Regulatory Framework
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity
- Central Bank Independence Index
- Cereal Import Dependency Ratio · last seen 2021
- Cereal Yield
- Children with Functional Difficulties
- Container Port Traffic · last seen 2019
- Corruption Perceptions Index
- Cost of Sending Remittances
- Debt Service on External Debt
- Deliberative Democracy Index
- Dietary Energy Supply
- Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports · last seen 2023
- Ecological Footprint
- Economic Complexity Index
- Egalitarian Democracy Index
- Employment in Agriculture
- Employment in Industry
- Employment in Services
- Employment-to-Population Ratio
- Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)
- External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)
- Fatal Occupational Injuries
- Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence
- Female Labour Force Participation Rate
- Female Share of Researchers
- Female Share of Senior and Middle Management · last seen 2021
- Fertilizer Consumption per Hectare · last seen 2005
- Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
- Firms with a Female Top Manager
- Freedom of Expression and Alternative Sources of Information Index
- GDP per Person Employed
- Gender Inequality Index
- Gender Social Norms Index
- General Government Consumption · last seen 2024
- Gini Index · last seen 2019
- Global Innovation Index
- Global Militarisation Index
- Global Multidimensional Poverty Index
- Global Report on Food Crises
- GNI per Capita (PPP) · last seen 2024
- Government Censorship of the Media
- Government Internet Shutdowns
- Government Spending on Education · last seen 2022
- Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) · last seen 2024
- Household Consumption · last seen 2024
- ICT Goods Exports
- ICT Services Exports
- Income Share Held by Lowest 20% · last seen 2019
- Income Share Held by Richest 10% · last seen 2019
- Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP) · last seen 2024
- INFORM Severity Index
- Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
- Labour Force Participation Rate
- Labour Income Share
- Labour Productivity per Hour Worked
- Land Under Cereal Production
- Learning Poverty
- Liberal Democracy Index
- Livestock Density
- Livestock Production Index
- Logistics Performance Index
- Low-Carbon Share of Electricity Generation
- Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) · last seen 2024
- Median Daily Income or Consumption per Person · last seen 2019
- Military Dimension Index
- Mobile Phone Ownership
- Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)
- Nuclear Share of Electricity Generation
- Open Data Inventory
- Organic Agricultural Area
- Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary · last seen 2022
- Palma Ratio · last seen 2019
- Participatory Democracy Index
- Pesticide Use per Hectare
- Physical Violence Index
- PISA Mathematics Performance
- PISA Reading Performance
- PISA Science Performance
- Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI
- Political Corruption Index
- Political Violence by Non-State Actors
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day · last seen 2019
- Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day · last seen 2019
- Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day · last seen 2019
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
- Prevalence of Undernourishment
- Primary Completion Rate
- Primary Energy Consumption per Capita
- Prosperity Gap · last seen 2019
- Public Sector Employment
- Refugee Population by Country of Asylum
- Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per Capita
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
- Research and Development Spending
- Researchers per Million Inhabitants
- RISE Energy Efficiency Policy Score
- RISE Renewable Energy Policy Score
- Self-Employment Rate
- Short-Term Share of External Debt
- Smartphone Ownership
- Social Institutions and Gender Index
- Societal Poverty Rate · last seen 2019
- State Authority over Territory
- Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All Products
- Trade Union Density
- Unemployment Rate
- Upper Secondary Attainment · last seen 2019
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate
- V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index
- Violent Discipline of Children
- Vulnerable Employment
- Water Stress
- Water Withdrawal by Sector
- Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generation
- Women's Political Empowerment Index
- Working Poverty Rate
- World Energy Trilemma Index
- Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training · last seen 2021
- Youth Unemployment Rate
07Keep reading
Explore further
08Method
Sources and how to read them
How to read this page
- The scores and ranks belong to their publishers. Nothing is adjusted, rescaled or re-ranked; each is reproduced from the edition named beside it. Where a row says position · derived, the publisher ranks nobody on that measure and the position is ours, made by ordering the published score.
- Each statistic shows its newest edition, which is not always the edition the Country Index uses: the index pins every source to one data year so its average compares like with like.
How a standing is built from percentiles, why Marshall Islands can move because other countries moved, and why publishers measure between 120 and 215 countries each are set out in full in how a standing is made and what a standing cannot tell you.
Sources
- Statistics: 22 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
- Capital, languages, currency, codes: Wikidata, public domain (CC0).
- Map and land borders: Natural Earth, public domain. Borders are de facto — where administration actually changes — not claimed.
Photographs
The photograph of Marshall Islands on this page comes from Wikimedia Commons and is shown in greyscale. The photographer and the licence are named beside each one.
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Marshall Islands: country statistics, rankings and trends. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/marshall-islands