2015 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 (the others are on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US)) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system.

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 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 (2011)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 7.8%; permanent crops 31.2%; permanent pasture 11.7%

agricultural land

50.7%

forest

49.3%

other

0% (2011 est.)

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 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

Terrain

low coral limestone and sand islands

Age structure

0-14 years

36.02% (male 13,256/female 12,749)

15-24 years

17.4% (male 6,391/female 6,171)

25-54 years

37.25% (male 13,681/female 13,210)

55-64 years

5.73% (male 2,120/female 2,017)

65 years and over

3.6% (male 1,276/female 1,320) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

25.6 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

44.6% (2007)

Death rate

4.21 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 93.5% of population

rural: 97.6% of population

total: 94.6% of population

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

16.5% of GDP (2013)

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

17.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

23.29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

20.66 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

75.13 years (2015 est.)

male

70.67 years

total population

72.84 years

Major urban areas - population

MAJURO (capital) 31,000 (2014)

Median age

female

22.7 years (2015 est.)

male

22.5 years

total

22.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Marshallese

noun

Marshallese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-4.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

42.3% (2014)

Physicians density

0.44 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

72,191 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.66% (2015 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)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 84.5% of population

rural: 56.2% of population

total: 76.9% of population

urban: 15.5% of population

rural: 43.8% of population

total: 23.1% 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

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.97 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.15 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

72.7% of total population (2015)

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

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

effective 1 May 1979; amended several times, last in 1995 (2015)

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 Thomas H. ARMBRUSTER (since 16 August 2012)

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 Charles R. PAUL (since 6 September 2011)

consulate(s)

Agana (Guam)

consulate(s) general

Honolulu, Springdale (AK)

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 Christopher J. LOEAK (since 17 January 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Christopher J. LOEAK elected president; Parliament vote - Christopher J. LOEAK (AKA) 21, Jurelang ZEDKAIA (UDP) 11

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 3 January 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

head of government

President Christopher J. LOEAK (since 17 January 2012)

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 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 court(s)

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 on 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

bicameral legislature consists of the Council of Iroij (12 seats; consists of tribal chiefs chosen by holders of the chieftainship among the constituent islands) and the National Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij 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 - independents 33

elections

last held on 21 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2015)

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 [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

Budget

expenditures

$113.9 million (2013 est.)

revenues

$116.7 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$34 million (2014 est.)

-$26 million (2013 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. The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during 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, from 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact, the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. 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. Under the amended Compact, the US is also funding, jointly with the Marshall Islands, a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024 when direct Compact aid is to end.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$53.7 million (2013 est.)

$58.1 million (2012)

Exports - commodities

copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

4.4%

industry

9.9%

services

85.7% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,300 (2014 est.)

$3,300 (2013 est.)

$3,200 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.5% (2014 est.)

3% (2013 est.)

4.7% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$193 million (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$182 million (2014 est.)

$181.1 million (2013 est.)

$175.8 million (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$133.7 million (2013 est.)

$120.9 million (2012)

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)

1.1% (2014 est.)

1.9% (2013 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

51.3% of GDP (2013)

Taxes and other revenues

60.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

36% (2006 est.)

30.9% (2000 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)

Internet country code

.mh

Internet users

percent of population

2.4% (2014 est.)

total

1,700

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (additionally, the American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (Central Pacific Network) operates one FM and one AM station on Kwajalein Island) (2005)

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 - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

2,400

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2014 est.)

total

15,500

Television broadcast stations

2 (both are US military stations; Marshalls Broadcasting Service, a cable company, operates on Majuro) (2005)

Airports

15 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

10

total

11

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 524, cargo 65, carrier 1, chemical tanker 351, container 226, liquefied gas 88, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 297, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 10

foreign-owned

1,465 (Belgium 1, Bermuda 35, Brazil 1, Canada 8, China 14, Croatia 12, Cyprus 40, Denmark 7, Egypt 1, France 7, Germany 248, Greece 408, Hong Kong 3, India 10, Indonesia 1, Iraq 2, Ireland 6, Italy 1, Japan 59, Jersey 11, Kuwait 2, Latvia 19, Malaysia 11, Mexico 2, Monaco 30, Netherlands 21, Norway 75, Pakistan 1, Qatar 29, Romania 2, Russia 5, Singapore 30, Slovenia 6, South Korea 41, Sweden 1, Switzerland 12, Taiwan 8, Turkey 70, UAE 12, UK 12, Ukraine 1, US 200) (2010)

total

1,593

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro

Roadways

note

roads are mostly unimproved (2007)

paved

75 km

total

2,028 km

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

16,446 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

13,606 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

13,568

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

631 (2010 est.)

male

653

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military branches

no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police (2012)

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 reportedly forced into prostitution in businesses frequented by crew members of fishing and transshipping vessels; some Chinese women are recruited to the Marshall Islands with promises of legitimate work and are subsequently forced into prostitution

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – The Marshall Islands do not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; government officials publically acknowledged the existence of human trafficking and an investigation into women being forced into prostitution was initiated in 2013; the government has not provided evidence of implementing 2011 anti-trafficking legislation or providing training to law enforcement or judges on the law; no trafficking prosecutions have been reported since 2011; in 2013, no proactive efforts were made to identify victims among vulnerable groups, such as women in prostitution or foreign men in the fishing industry; several public awareness campaigns were conducted in 2013 (2014)