About 38,000 people live in the Marshall Islands, and roughly half of them are crowded into Majuro. The population is young — the median age is around 20 — and largely Micronesian. Marshallese (92%) and a small percentage of mixed heritage make up nearly all residents.
Marshallese culture is matrilineal. Land is inherited through the mother's line, and clan membership — with its complex web of rights and obligations — still shapes daily life in ways that outsiders may not immediately notice. High chiefs (Iroij) retain significant social and political influence alongside the elected government.
Both Marshallese and English are official languages. Marshallese is a complex Austronesian language with two main dialects corresponding roughly to the two chains of atolls: Ralik (Sunset) in the west and Ratak (Sunrise) in the east. English is widely spoken, especially in Majuro and among younger people.
The vast majority of Marshallese are Christian, mostly Protestant, reflecting the strong missionary presence that arrived in the 19th century. Churches are central to community life on the outer islands.
One significant demographic reality: a substantial portion of the Marshallese diaspora has moved to the United States, particularly Hawaii and Arkansas, partly because of the Compact of Free Association and partly because of economic pressure and climate anxiety. More Marshallese now live in the US than in the Marshall Islands itself. This migration is ongoing, and for many families it is less a choice than a calculation about the future.