2001 Edition

Administrative divisions

33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Wotho, Wotje

Age structure

0-14 years: 49.29% (male 17,808; female 17,101) 15-64 years: 48.61% (male 17,573; female 16,853) 65 years and over: 2.1% (male 707; female 780) (2001 est.)

Area

total: 181.3 sq km land: 181.3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein

Area - comparative

about the size of Washington, DC

Background

After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the islands between 1947 and 1962. Marshall Islands Geography

Birth rate

45.07 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Capital

Majuro

Climate

wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt

Coastline

370.4 km

Constitution

1 May 1979

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands conventional short form: Marshall Islands former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Death rate

6.23 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Environment - current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Ethnic groups

Micronesian

Executive branch

chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 168 00 E

Geography - note

two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range Marshall Islands People

Government type

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Independence

21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Infant mortality rate

39.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 60% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 40%

Languages

English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese

Legal system

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.84 years male: 64.04 years female: 67.73 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 100% female: 88% (1980 est.) Marshall Islands Government

Location

Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

National holiday

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Nationality

noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese

Natural hazards

occasional typhoons

Natural resources

phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

70,822 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

3.88% (2001 est.)

Religions

Christian (mostly Protestant)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Terrain

low coral limestone and sand islands

Total fertility rate

6.55 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, tomatoes, melons, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens

Airports

16 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.) Marshall Islands Military

Budget

revenues: $80.1 million expenditures: $77.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5 million (FY95/96 est.)

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

$125 million (FY96/97 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379 telephone: [692] 247-4011

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414

Disputes - international

claims US territory of Wake Island

Economic aid - recipient

approximately $65 million annually from the US

Economy - overview

US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $65 million in annual aid. Negotiations were underway in 1999 for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$28 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, coconut oil, trochus shells

Exports - partners

US, Japan, Australia

FAX

[1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu

[692] 247-4012

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September Marshall Islands Communications

Flag description

blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes Marshall Islands Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $105 million (1998 est.), supplemented by approximately $65 million annual US aid

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 15% industry: 13% services: 72% (1995)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,670 (1998 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-5% (1998 est.)

Highways

total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$58 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco

Imports - partners

US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Guam, Singapore

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (1997)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Internet country code

.mh

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

500 (2000) Marshall Islands Transportation

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; High Court

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 15 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice

Merchant marine

total: 212 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,768,406 GRT/16,242,699 DWT ships by type: bulk 63, cargo 9, chemical tanker 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 29, liquefied gas 10, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 87, vehicle carrier 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Cyprus 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, US 6 (2000 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US Marshall Islands Transnational Issues

Military branches

no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Political parties and leaders

traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Kabua Party [Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Ports and harbors

Majuro

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

NA

Railways

0 km

Telephone system

general assessment: telex services domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein

Telephones - main lines in use

3,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

365 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

3 (of which two are US military stations) (1997)

Televisions

NA

Unemployment rate

16% (1991 est.)

Waterways

none