2018 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 Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network. Kwajalein also hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory)).

Area

land

181 sq km

note

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

total

181 sq km

water

0 sq km

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

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean

mean elevation

2 m

note

14 highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll

Environment Current Issues

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

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 (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

arable land: 7.8% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 31.2% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 11.7% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

50.7% (2011 est.)

forest

49.3% (2011 est.)

other

0% (2011 est.)

Location

Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets (about 1,225 total), and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway 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

Population Distribution

most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye

Terrain

low coral limestone and sand islands

Age Structure

0-14 years

34.26% (male 13,224 /female 12,706)

15-24 years

18.49% (male 7,117 /female 6,875)

25-54 years

37.15% (male 14,318 /female 13,800)

55-64 years

5.86% (male 2,221 /female 2,215)

65 years and over

4.24% (male 1,580 /female 1,628) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

23.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 93.5% of population

rural: 97.6% of population

total: 94.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 6.5% of population

rural: 2.4% of population

total: 5.4% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic Groups

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

Health Expenditures

17.1% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Hospital Bed Density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

16.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

21.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

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

76 years (2018 est.)

male

71.4 years (2018 est.)

total population

73.6 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2011 est.)

female

98.2% (2011 est.)

male

98.3% (2011 est.)

total population

98.3% (2011 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Major Urban Areas Population

31,000 MAJURO (capital) (2018)

Median Age

female

23.2 years (2018 est.)

male

23 years

total

23.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Marshallese

noun

Marshallese (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

-4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

52.9% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

75,684 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.5% (2018 est.)

Religions

Protestant 80.5% (United Church of Christ 47%, Assembly of God 16.2%, Bukot Nan Jesus 5.4%, Full Gospel 3.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 3%, Salvation Army 1.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, Meram in Jesus 1.2%, other Protestant 1.1%), Roman Catholic 8.5%, Mormon 7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%,  other 1.2%, none 1.1% (2011 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 84.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 56.2% of population (2015 est.)

total: 76.9% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 15.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 43.8% of population (2015 est.)

total: 23.1% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.98 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

8.7% (2010 est.)

male

12.2% (2010 est.)

total

11% (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.61% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

77% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namdrik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje

Capital

geographic coordinates

7 06 N, 171 23 E

name

Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of the Marshall Islands

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the National Parliament or by a constitutional convention; passage by Parliament requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership in each of two readings and approval by a majority of votes in a referendum; amendments submitted by a constitutional convention require approval of at least two-thirds of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 1995 (2018)

history

effective 1 May 1979 (2018)

Country Name

abbreviation

RMI

conventional long form

Republic of the Marshall Islands

conventional short form

Marshall Islands

etymology

named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788

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 Karen Brevard STEWART (since 25 July 2016)

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, 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Gerald M. ZACKIOS (since 16 September 2016)

consulate(s)

Agana (Guam)

consulate(s) general

Honolulu, Springdale (AR)

FAX

[1] (202) 232-3236

telephone

[1] (202) 234-5414

Executive Branch

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker

chief of state

President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Hilda C. HEINE elected president; Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE 24, she was the only candidate

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 January 2016 (next to be held in 2020)

head of government

President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016)

note

Hilda C. HEINE is the first female elected head of state of any Pacific island nation

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

presidential republic in free association with the US

Independence

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

International Law Organization Participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

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

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges as prescribed by law)

judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the Cabinet upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission and upon the approval of the Nitijela; judges appointed until retirement, normally at age 72

subordinate courts

High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts

Legal System

mixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral National Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members in single- and multi-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij, a 12-member group of tribal leaders advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 33; composition - men 28, women 5, percent of women 15.2%

elections

last held on 16 November 2015 (next to be held by November 2019)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Amata KABUA

name

Forever Marshall Islands

note

adopted 1981

National Holiday

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

National Symbol S

a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange

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 [Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

113.9 million (2013 est.)

revenues

116.7 million (2013 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

1.3% (of GDP) (2013 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$1 million (2017 est.)

$15 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$97.96 million (2013 est.)

$87 million (2008 est.)

Economy Overview

US assistance and lease payments for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base are the mainstay of this small island country. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. Tourism holds some potential. The islands and atolls have few natural resources, and imports exceed exports.The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during the period 1986-2001 under the original Compact of Free Association (Compact). In 2002 and 2003, the US and the Marshall Islands renegotiated the Compact's financial package for a 20-year period, 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact, the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. Under the amended Compact, the US and Marshall Islands are also jointly funding a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024, when direct Compact aid ends.

Exchange Rates

note

the US dollar is used

Exports

$0 (2013 est.)

Exports Commodities

copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Fiscal Year

1 October - 30 September

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

52.9% (2016 est.)

government consumption

50% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services

-102.3% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.8% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories

0.2% (2016 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

4.4% (2013 est.)

industry

9.9% (2013 est.)

services

85.7% (2013 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$222 million (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$3,600 (2017 est.)

$3,500 (2016 est.)

$3,400 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$196 million (2017 est.)

$191.3 million (2016 est.)

$184.6 million (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

2.5% (2017 est.)

3.6% (2016 est.)

2% (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$103.8 million (2016 est.)

$133.7 million (2013 est.)

Imports Commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages, tobacco

Industrial Production Growth Rate

NA

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

0% (2017 est.)

-1.5% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

10,670 (2013 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

11%

industry

16.3%

services

72.7% (2011 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

NA

Public Debt

25.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

30% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

52.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)

Unemployment Rate

36% (2006 est.)

30.9% (2000 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

293,700 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

45% (2012)

electrification - total population

59% (2012)

electrification - urban areas

65% (2012)

population without electricity

30,084 (2012)

Electricity Consumption

604.5 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

81% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

52,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

650 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

2,060 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2017 est.)

total

1,000 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

no TV 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)

Communications Note

Kwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory))

Internet Country Code

.mh

Internet Users

percent of population

29.8% (July 2016 est.)

total

21,857 (July 2016 est.)

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 (2016)

general assessment

some telecom infrastructure improvements made in recent years; modern services include telex, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits (2016)

international

country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

2,361 (July 2016 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

16,000 (July 2016 est.)

Airports

15 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

total

4 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

10 (2013)

total

11 (2013)

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

V7 (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 1263, container ship 260, general cargo 80, oil tanker 775, other 821 (2017)

total

3,199 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

86,868 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

1 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro

Roadways

note

roads are mostly unimproved

paved

75 km (2007)

total

2,028 km (2007)

Military Branches

no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police (2012)

Military Note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes International

claims US territory of Wake Island

Trafficking In Persons

current situation

The Marshall Islands is a source and destination country for Marshallese women and girls and women from East Asia subjected to sex trafficking; Marshallese and foreign women are forced into prostitution in businesses frequented by crew members of fishing and transshipping vessels that dock in Majuro; some Chinese women are recruited to the Marshall Islands with promises of legitimate work and are subsequently forced into prostitution

tier rating

Tier 3 – The Marshall Islands do not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government made no anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, including developing a written plan to combat trafficking; no new trafficking investigations were opened in 2014, and no prosecutions or convictions were made for the fourth consecutive year; no efforts were made to identify trafficking victims, especially among women in prostitution or men working on foreign fishing vessels in Marshallese waters, and no attempt was made to ensure their access to protective services; limited awareness-raising events were conducted by an international organization (2015)