2019 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 conducted on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962 (67 tests total). 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

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

Highest Point

East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m

Lowest Point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Mean Elevation

2 m

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

Agricultural Land

50.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

7.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

31.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

11.7% (2011 est.)

Forest

49.3% (2011 est.)

Other

0% (2011 est.)

Location

Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the Ratak (Sunrise) group and the Ralik (Sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited

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.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

11.9% (2017)

Current Health Expenditure

23.3% (2016)

Death Rate

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

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

97.6% of population

Improved Total

94.6% of population

Improved Urban

93.5% of population

Unimproved Rural

2.4% of population

Unimproved Total

5.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

6.5% of population

Ethnic Groups

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

Hospital Bed Density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

16.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

21.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

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

Languages

Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

76 years

Male

71.4 years

Total Population

73.6 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

98.2% (2011)

Male

98.3%

Total Population

98.3%

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

Male

23 years

Total

23.1 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Marshallese

Noun

Marshallese (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

-4.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 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 Rural

56.2% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

76.9% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

84.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

43.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

23.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

15.5% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.97 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.03 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.98 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

8.7% (2010 est.)

Male

12.2%

Total

11%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

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

Urban Population

77.4% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, 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

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 votes, 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)

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

mixed presidential-parliamentary system 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 2 associate justices)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

judges appointed by the Cabinet upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (consists of the chief justice of the High Court, the attorney general and a private citizen selected by the Cabinet) and upon approval of the Nitijela; the current chief justice, appointed in 2013, serves for 10 years; Marshallese citizens appointed as justices serve until retirement 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

bicameral National Parliament consists of: Council of Iroij, a 12-member group of tribal leaders advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice); members appointed to serve 1-year terms Nitijela (33 seats; members in 19 single- and 5 multi-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - legislative power resides in the Nitijela

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

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

2016

$15 million

2017

-$1 million

Debt External

2008

$87 million

2013

$97.96 million

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

the US dollar is used

Exports

2013

$0

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.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$3,400

2016

$3,500

2017

$3,600

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$184.6 million

2016

$191.3 million

2017

$196 million

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

2%

2016

3.6%

2017

2.5%

Imports

2013

$133.7 million

2016

$103.8 million

Imports Commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages, tobacco

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

-1.5%

2017

0%

Labor Force

10,670 (2013 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

11%

Industry

16.3%

Services

72.7% (2011 est.)

Public Debt

2016

30% of GDP

2017

25.5% of GDP

Taxes And Other Revenues

52.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2000

30.9%

2006

36%

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

89.1% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

93.1% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

94.6% (2016)

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

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 (2019)

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

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; fixed-line 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is 21 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

some telecom infrastructure improvements made in recent years; modern services include fiber optic cable service, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits; the US Government, World Bank, UN and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), have aided in improvements and monetary aid to the islands telecom; mobile penetrations is around 30%; radio communication is especially vital to remote islands (2018)

International

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

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

3 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

2,361

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

21 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

16,000

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 1437, container ship 256, general cargo 68, oil tanker 837, other 821 (2018)

Total

3,419

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

Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro

Roadways

Paved

75 km (2007)

Total

2,028 km (2007)

Unpaved

1,953 km

Military And Security Forces

no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police Department (2019)

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)