Photo: Matt Kieffer · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Marshall Islands: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Marshall Islands is placed 134th of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 25.2 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 154.79 (2023).
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Development & Human Capital
134th
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Marshall Islands on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
154.79
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Marshall Islands: 154.79. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Micronesia
- 79.76 Kiribati
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.733
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 108th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Marshall Islands: 0.733. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Micronesia
- 0.786 Palau
02Over time
Which way Marshall Islands is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
Marshall IslandsWorld median
Marshall Islands fell from 250.65 in 2000 to 154.79 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Marshall Islands World median 2023 155 46.7 2022 174 53.0 2021 206 76.6 2020 178 56.0 2019 168 48.4 2018 167 49.3 2017 179 47.2 2016 183 50.6 2015 184 51.9 2014 199 52.8 2013 201 53.3 2012 207 54.6 2011 209 55.0 2010 212 56.1 2009 224 56.3 2008 226 55.8 2007 229 56.8 2006 233 58.1 2005 234 60.1 2004 238 63.0 2003 221 66.8 2002 223 66.0 2001 231 68.1 2000 251 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
Marshall IslandsWorld median
Marshall Islands rose from 0.666 in 2011 to 0.733 in 2023; the world median went from 0.725 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Marshall Islands World median 2023 0.733 0.7620 2022 0.732 0.7610 2021 0.723 0.7450 2020 0.722 0.7425 2019 0.722 0.7515 2018 0.710 0.7520 2017 0.702 0.7480 2016 0.696 0.7500 2015 0.691 0.7430 2014 0.681 0.7410 2013 0.676 0.7390 2012 0.668 0.7350 2011 0.666 0.7250 2010 — 0.7250 2009 — 0.7220 2008 — 0.7180 2007 — 0.7100 2006 — 0.7045 2005 — 0.6960 2004 — 0.6960 2003 — 0.6910 2002 — 0.6845 2001 — 0.6770 2000 — 0.6720
03In context
Marshall Islands beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Marshall Islands and Micronesia
Marshall Islands has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Palau | 81st | 93.2 | 89.42 | 0.786 |
 Nauru | 125th | 65.8 | 273.38 | 0.703 |
| Marshall Islands | 134th | 25.2 | 154.79 | 0.733 |
 Kiribati | 139th | 21 | 79.76 | 0.644 |
 Micronesia | =147th | 20 | 128.75 | 0.615 |
 Guam | not placed | — | — | — |
 Northern Mariana Islands | not placed | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Micronesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Marshall Islands in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Marshall Islands is ahead of the world, and behind
32 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median8
Statistics on which Marshall Islands does better than the middle country measured.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6541.0318.65No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 41.03 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3416.3913.34▲ Improved since 2013
Marshall Islands: 16.39 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 38th of 195 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93311.649.933No real change since 2013
Marshall Islands: 11.64 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 50th of 193 · derived.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0514.3117.05No real change since 2020
Marshall Islands: 14.31 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 102nd of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2522.2534.252No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 2.253 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 93rd of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7443.1240.74No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 43.12 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 62nd of 136 · derived.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.11.742.1▲ Improved since 2014
Marshall Islands: 1.74 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.6260.609No real change since 2020
Marshall Islands: 0.626 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 81st of 169 · derived.
Behind the world median21
Statistics on which Marshall Islands does worse than the middle country measured.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6746.5446.67▲ Improved since 2012
Marshall Islands: 46.54 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 99th of 195 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 908890▲ Improved since 2015
Marshall Islands: 88 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.960.971▲ Improved since 2013
Marshall Islands: 0.96 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 105th of 184 · derived.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.862.780.8No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 62.7 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1639.988.163▲ Improved since 2013
Marshall Islands: 9.98 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 76th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13412.458.134▲ Improved since 2014
Marshall Islands: 12.45 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 69th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10096.3100No real change since 2014
Marshall Islands: 96.3 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 918591▲ Improved since 2015
Marshall Islands: 85 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10097.2100▼ Worsened since 2014
Marshall Islands: 97.2 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.126.317.1No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 26.3 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 46th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2622.6812.26No real change since 2014
Marshall Islands: 22.68 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 63rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.5426.7414.54No real change since 2014
Marshall Islands: 26.74 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 62nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
GDP per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 17,2657,66017,265▲ Improved since 2015
Marshall Islands: 7,660 · world median 17,265 · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,067 to 139,593; higher is better.
Position 133rd of 185 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8585.5132.858No real change since 2014
Marshall Islands: 5.513 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 54th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.483.898.4No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 83.8 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.4230.564▲ Improved since 2018
Marshall Islands: 0.423 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 134th of 172 · derived.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6366.9574.63▼ Worsened since 2013
Marshall Islands: 66.95 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 181st of 222 · derived.
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2462.7333.246▲ Improved since 2015
Marshall Islands: 2.733 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.
Position 66th of 78 · derived.
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 13.834.7813.8No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 34.78 · world median 13.8 · Children under 5 who are stunted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.518 to 52.8; lower is better.
Position 20th of 162 · derived, 1st = worst.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.343.5469.3▲ Improved since 2016
Marshall Islands: 43.54 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 173rd of 188 · derived.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.75023.75No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 0 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5463.5463.546No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 3.546 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 82nd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Marshall Islands: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end1
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 2023 · world median 2.57939.772.579No real change since 2013
Marshall Islands: 39.77 · world median 2.579 · Net ODA received (% of GNI). OECD Development Assistance Committee, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -0.001 to 101.78.
Position 2nd of 130 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Marshall Islands
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Cereal Yield, Children with Functional Difficulties, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Disability Benefit Coverage, Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Foundational ID Ownership, Gender Inequality Index, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2019), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2019), Prosperity Gap (last 2019) and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Marshall Islands’s 8 topics
Development & Human Capital is Marshall Islands’s 5th best-placed topic of 8. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Democracy & Civil Liberties24th of 1982/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge57th of 1982/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality72nd of 1592/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience89th of 1933/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital134th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing162nd of 2003/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions167th of 1942/4 keys
- Digital & Technology196th of 1982/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Work & Labour, Environment & Sustainability, Gender & Equality, Peace & Security, Mobility & Trade, Food & Agriculture, Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Marshall Islands can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Cook Islands1st2/3 keysHighest in Micronesia
Palau81st3/3 keysThis page
Marshall Islands134th3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Marshall Islands and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Marshall Islands on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Marshall Islands rank on development & human capital?
Marshall Islands is placed 134th of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Marshall Islands?
25.2 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Marshall Islands?
154.79 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How have Marshall Islands’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 250.65 in 2000 to 154.79 in 2023; Human Development Index rose from 0.666 in 2011 to 0.733 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Marshall Islands?
No current reading is published for Marshall Islands on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Cereal Yield, Children with Functional Difficulties, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Disability Benefit Coverage, Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Foundational ID Ownership, Gender Inequality Index, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 32 statistics on this page come from 10 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Marshall Islands’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Marshall Islands (banner) — Matt Kieffer, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Marshall Islands: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/marshall-islands/development