Prangli island emerged from the sea around 3500 years ago.The island is mentioned for the first time in 1387 (Rango) it is considered that the island was populated by swedes at the end of 13. and the beginning of 14. centuries, later with finns and estonians who were fishermen and seal hunters. Prangli island estonified, in 17. century it was part of Kallavere manor from 1397-1549 it was part of Maardu manor and from then up to 1847 to Haljava manor. Merchants Girard de Soucantons managed Prangli and Aksi as half-manors from 1847- 1899.
 
The population of the island has declined nearly five times during the last century. According Gustav Vilbaste 700-800 people lived here in the beginning of the last century, in 1934 there were 469 people living on the island, 1994 there were only 146 inhabitants. Nowdays there are less than 100 people living all-year-round on the island of Prangli.

 The ecology of the island has changed substantially because of the decline in population figures as well as farming animals.There were few trees in the beginning of the last century, nowadays there is a thick forest and juniper bushes covering most of the islands old meadows.

The northern part is under state environmental protection, on the east bank there is a memorial to those who died on the vessel "Eesti Rand"  which was sank nearby Prangli in 1941.