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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. |
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Location:
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Oceania, group of
atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of
the way from Hawaii to Australia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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9 00 N, 168 00 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total:
181.3 sq km
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak,
Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik
water: 0 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about the size of
Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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370.4 km |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot and
humid; wet season from May to November; islands border typhoon
belt |
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Terrain:
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low coral
limestone and sand islands |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m |
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Natural resources:
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coconut products,
marine products, deep seabed minerals |
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Land use:
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arable land:
16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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infrequent
typhoons |
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Environment - current issues:
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inadequate
supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from
household waste and discharges from fishing vessels |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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57,738 (July 2004
est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
38.6% (male 11,347; female 10,934)
15-64 years: 58.7% (male 17,380; female 16,520)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 748; female 809) (2004
est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
19.6 years
male: 19.6 years
female: 19.6 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.29% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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33.88
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.94 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-6.04 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
30.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 34.19 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 69.7 years
male: 67.77 years
female: 71.73 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese |
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Ethnic groups:
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Micronesian |
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Religions:
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Christian
(mostly Protestant) |
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Languages:
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English (widely
spoken as a second language, both English and Marshallese are
official languages), two major Marshallese dialects from the
Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands) |
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Government type:
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constitutional
government in free association with the US; the Compact of
Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 |
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Capital:
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Majuro |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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21 October 1986
(from the US-administered UN trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day,
1 May (1979) |
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Constitution:
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1 May 1979 |
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Legal system:
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based on adapted
Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal,
common, and customary laws |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5
January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among
the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament from among
its own members for a four-year term; election last held 17
November 2003 (next to be held NA November 2007)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president;
percent of Parliament vote - 100% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral
Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
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
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - NA |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court;
High Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
consulate(s) general: Honolulu
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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
FAX: [692] 247-4012 |
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $115 million (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $1,600 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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28,698 (1996
est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture
21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7% |
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Unemployment rate:
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30.9% (1999 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$42 million
expenditures: $40 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1999) |
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Industries:
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copra, fish,
tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
99%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1% (solar) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coconuts,
tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens |
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Exports:
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$9 million f.o.b.
(2000) |
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Exports - commodities:
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copra cake,
coconut oil, handicrafts, fish |
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Exports - partners:
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US, Japan,
Australia, China (2000) |
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Imports:
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$54 million
f.o.b. (2000) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs,
machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco |
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Imports - partners:
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US, Japan,
Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$86.5 million
(FY99/00 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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more than $1
billion from the US, 1986-2002 |
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Currency:
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US dollar (USD) |
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Currency code:
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USD |
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Exchange rates:
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the US dollar is
the legal tender |
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Fiscal year:
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1 October - 30
September |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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4,400 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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600 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services
include telex, cellular, internet, international calling,
caller ID, and leased data circuits
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)
international: country code - 692; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite
communications system on Kwajalein (2001) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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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) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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2 (both are US
military stations) (2002) |
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Internet country code:
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.mh |
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Internet hosts:
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5 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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1,300 (2002) |
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Railways:
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0 km |
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Highways:
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total: NA
km
paved: 64.5 km
unpaved: NA km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein),
otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and
tracks (2002) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Majuro |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 420
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,954,092 GRT/28,176,762 DWT
foreign-owned: Australia 2, Chile 3, Croatia 2, Cyprus
10, Denmark 2, Germany 119, Greece 82, Hong Kong 12, India 2,
Japan 16, Monaco 18, Netherlands 6, New Zealand 1, Norway 5,
Poland 11, Singapore 1, Slovenia 1, Switzerland 4, Thailand 2,
Turkey 8, United Kingdom 10, United States 92
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 81, cargo 25, chemical
tanker 41, combination bulk 4, combination ore/oil 7,
container 77, liquefied gas 9, multi-functional large load
carrier 5, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 149, refrigerated
cargo 4, roll on/roll off 7, vehicle carrier 4
registered in other countries: 50 (2003 est.) |
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Airports:
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15 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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no regular
military forces; Marshall Islands Police |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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NA |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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NA |
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Military - note:
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defense is the
responsibility of the US |
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Disputes - international:
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claims US
territory of Wake Island |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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