2010 Edition

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 hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.

Area

land

181 sq km

total

181 sq km

water

0 sq km note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik

Area - comparative

about the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

370.4 km

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 168 00 E

Geography - note

the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

11.11%

other

44.45% (2005)

permanent crops

44.44%

Location

Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

infrequent typhoons

Natural resources

coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Terrain

low coral limestone and sand islands

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.6% (male 12,683/female 12,217) 15-64 years: 58.5% (male 19,302/female 18,459) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 902/female 959) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

29.94 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

12.3% of GDP (2004)

Ethnic groups

Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

21.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

27.61 deaths/1,000 live births

total

24.57 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census) note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.65 years (2010 est.)

male

69.41 years

total population

71.48 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

93.7% (1999)

male

93.6%

total population

93.7%

Median age

female

21.5 years (2010 est.)

male

21.5 years

total

21.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Marshallese

noun

Marshallese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

65,859 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.023% (2010 est.)

Religions

Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2003)

male

13 years

total

13 years

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: 0.94 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.51 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

71% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

7 06 N, 171 23 E

name

Majuro

time difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

1 May 1979

Country name

abbreviation

RMI

conventional long form

Republic of the Marshall Islands

conventional short form

Marshall Islands

former

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District

local long form

Republic of the Marshall Islands

local short form

Marshall Islands

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Martha L. CAMPBELL

embassy

Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro

FAX

[692] 247-4012

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 DEBRUM

consulate(s) general

Honolulu

FAX

[1] (202) 232-3236

telephone

[1] (202) 234-5414

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of the legislature (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Jurelang ZEDKAIA (since 2 November 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Litokwa TOMEING removed as president by no confidence vote on 21 October 2009; legislature elects ZEDKAIA president on 26 October 2009

elections

president elected by Nitijela (legislature) from among its members for a four-year term; election last held on 7 January 2008 (next to be held in 2012)

head of government

President Jurelang ZEDKAIA (since 2 November 2009)

Flag description

blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north

Government type

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court

Legal system

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral legislature 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 - independents 4 note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice

elections

last held on 19 November 2007 (next to be held by November 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Amata KABUA note: adopted 1981

name

"Forever Marshall Islands"

National holiday

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

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 - Aelon Kein Ad Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Debt - external

$87 million (2008 est.) $86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Economy - overview

US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. The Marshall Islands received more than $1 billion in aid from the US from 1986-2002. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, 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 Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$19.4 million (2008 est.) $9.1 million (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

31.7%

industry

14.9%

services

53.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,500 (2008 est.) $2,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-0.3% (2008 est.) 3.5% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$161.7 million (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$133.5 million (2008 est.) $115 million (2001 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$79.4 million (2008 est.) $54.7 million (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.9% (2008 est.) 3% (2005 est.)

Labor force

14,680 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

21.4%

industry

20.9%

services

57.7% (2000)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

36% (2006 est.) 30.9% (2000 est.)

Broadcast media

no television broadcast station; a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4 radio broadcast stations; American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and television service to Kwajalein Atoll (2009)

Internet country code

.mh

Internet hosts

3 (2010)

Internet users

2,200 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones

general assessment

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

international

country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2005)

Telephones - main lines in use

4,400 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,000 (2009)

Airports

15 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

11 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 415, cargo 63, chemical tanker 314, combination ore/oil 2, container 206, liquefied gas 83, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 259, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 7

foreign-owned

1,284 (Australia 1, Bermuda 34, Brazil 1, Canada 4, China 16, Croatia 12, Cyprus 38, Denmark 7, Egypt 1, Germany 247, Greece 358, Hong Kong 3, India 8, Iraq 2, Isle of Man 2, Israel 1, Italy 1, Japan 41, Jersey 9, Latvia 18, Malaysia 11, Mexico 4, Monaco 21, Netherlands 16, Norway 57, Pakistan 1, Qatar 24, Romania 2, Russia 6, Singapore 28, Slovenia 6, South Korea 25, Switzerland 12, Taiwan 2, Turkey 72, UAE 17, UK 7, Ukraine 1, US 168) (2010)

total

1,381

Ports and terminals

Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro

Roadways

total

2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 16,138 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 13,277 females age 16-49: 13,374 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

580 (2010 est.)

male

602

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military branches

no regular military forces; under the 1983 Compact of Free Association, the US has full authority and responsibility for security and defense of the Marshall Islands; Marshall Islands Police (2009)

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

claims US territory of Wake Island page last updated on January 11, 2011 ======================================================================