MigrantoImmigrants in the Marshall Islands
2.9K foreigners live in the Marshall Islands — 8% of the country's population
Immigrants in the Marshall Islands by country
The 3 largest groups make up 78% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| USA | 1446 |
| Philippines | 543 |
| China | 319 |
| Kiribati | 276 |
| Micronesia | 247 |
| Fiji | 117 |
By region of origin
49% of immigrants come from North America
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Key facts
Immigrants in the Marshall Islands in numbers
Americans are the largest group by a wide margin
49% of all immigrants were born in the USA, while the next group accounts for just 18%.
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 62% to 49%.
The share of immigrants from Asia has grown since 1990
15.7% of immigrants came from Asia in 1990, compared with 29.2% today.
1 in 13 residents of the Marshall Islands was born abroad
2.9K of 37.5K residents were born abroad — 7.9% of the population.
Immigrant population in the Marshall Islands over time
Foreigners living in the Marshall Islands, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1022 |
| 1995 | 1305 |
| 2000 | 1684 |
| 2005 | 2148 |
| 2010 | 2749 |
| 2015 | 2924 |
| 2020 | 2938 |
| 2024 | 2948 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in the Marshall Islands, by year
| Year | Americans | Filipinos | Chinese | I-Kiribati | Micronesians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 633 | 120 | 40 | 94 | 92 |
| 1995 | 716 | 209 | 89 | 123 | 112 |
| 2000 | 856 | 311 | 153 | 158 | 139 |
| 2005 | 1053 | 398 | 231 | 202 | 178 |
| 2010 | 1346 | 509 | 296 | 259 | 228 |
| 2015 | 1430 | 541 | 318 | 275 | 242 |
| 2020 | 1441 | 541 | 318 | 275 | 246 |
| 2024 | 1446 | 543 | 319 | 276 | 247 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in the Marshall Islands
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in the Marshall Islands
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in the Marshall Islands?
Around 2.9K immigrants live in the Marshall Islands — the world's #214 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of the Marshall Islands are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 8% of the population of the Marshall Islands — that's 2.9K out of a total population of 37.5K.
Where do most immigrants in the Marshall Islands come from?
Most immigrants in the Marshall Islands come from USA, Philippines and China — these three countries account for about 78% of all immigrants.
How many Americans live in the Marshall Islands?
Around 1.4K Americans live in the Marshall Islands — about 49% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in the Marshall Islands growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in the Marshall Islands has changed from 2.9K to 2.9K, about 1%.
Where does the data on immigrants in the Marshall Islands come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in the Marshall Islands. Their children born in the Marshall Islands are not included.
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Living in the Marshall Islands
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