2003 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: 39.1% (male 11,233; female 10,819) 15-64 years: 58.2% (male 16,857; female 16,003) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 726; female 791) (2003 est.)

Area

land

181.3 sq km

note

includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik

total

181.3 sq km

water

0 sq km

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 atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands have been home to the US Army Base Kwajalein (USAKA) since 1964. Geography Marshall Islands

Birth rate

34.18 births/1,000 population (2003 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

5.03 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels

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

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 People Marshall Islands

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

female

27.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

35.38 deaths/1,000 live births

total

31.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

16.67%

other

83.33% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

English (widely spoken as a second language, both English and Marshallese are official languages), 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

female

71.4 years (2003 est.)

male

67.49 years

total population

69.39 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93.7% (1999) Government Marshall Islands

male

93.6%

total population

93.7%

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

19.2 years (2002)

male

19.3 years

total

19.3 years

National holiday

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Nationality

adjective

Marshallese

noun

Marshallese (singular and plural)

Natural hazards

infrequent typhoons

Natural resources

coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Net migration rate

-6.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

56,429 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

2.3% (2003 est.)

Religions

Christian (mostly Protestant)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Terrain

low coral limestone and sand islands

Total fertility rate

4.12 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

15 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

11 914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m

1 (2002) Military Marshall Islands

Budget

expenditures

$40 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)

revenues

$42 million

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

$86.5 million (FY 99/00 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael J. SENKO

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

chancery

2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Banny DE BRUM

consulate(s) general

Honolulu

Disputes - international

claims US territory of Wake Island This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002

Economy - overview

US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is primarily subsistence and is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna 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 has provided more than $1 billion in aid since 1986. Negotiations have continued for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

1% (solar)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is the legal tender

Exports

$9 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities

copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Exports - partners

US, Japan, Australia, China (2000)

FAX

[1] (202) 232-3236

[692] 247-4012

telephone

[1] (202) 234-5414

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September Communications Marshall Islands

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 Economy Marshall Islands

GDP

purchasing power parity - $115 million (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

14%

industry

16%

services

70% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2001 est.)

Highways

note

paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)

paved

64.5 km

total

NA km

unpaved

NA km

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$54 million f.o.b. (2000)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco

Imports - partners

US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2001 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.mh

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

900 (2002) Transportation Marshall Islands

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; High Court

Labor force

28,698

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7%

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA

elections

last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held not later than November 2007)

note

the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice

Merchant marine

note

the ship's register of the Marshall Islands is a flag of convenience register since essentially none of the vessels on it is owned domestically; includes the following foreign-owned ships

registered here as a flag of convenience

China 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 9, Germany 70, Greece 54, Hong Kong 2, Japan 4, Monaco 8, Netherlands 8, UK 3, US 87, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)

ships by type

bulk 86, cargo 18, chemical tanker 31, combination bulk 4, combination ore/oil 7, container 69, liquefied gas 8, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 106, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 4

total

342 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,471,690 GRT/23,802,896 DWT

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US Transnational Issues Marshall Islands

Military branches

no regular military forces; 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 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

note

additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station on Kwajalein (2002)

Radios

NA

Railways

0 km

Telephone system

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)

general assessment

digital switching equipment; modern services include telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2001)

Telephones - main lines in use

4,186 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

489 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

2 (both are US military stations) (2002)

Televisions

NA

Unemployment rate

30.9% (1999 est.)

Waterways

none