Marshall Islands

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

total: 1,700 | percent of population: 2.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210

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

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 high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones | international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2005)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2,400 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 15,500 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Television broadcast stations

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $116.7 million | expenditures: $113.9 million (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Current account balance

-$34 million (2014 est.) | -$26 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72

Debt - external

$97.96 million (2013 est.) | $87 million (2008 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

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) | country comparison to the world: 200

Exports - commodities

copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

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 | country comparison to the world: 221

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 | country comparison to the world: 181

GDP - real growth rate

0.5% (2014 est.) | 3% (2013 est.) | 4.7% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$133.7 million (2013 est.) | $120.9 million (2012) | country comparison to the world: 214

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.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Labor force

10,670 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 217

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) | country comparison to the world: 69

Taxes and other revenues

60.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5

Unemployment rate

36% (2006 est.) | 30.9% (2000 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Area

total: 181 sq km | land: 181 sq km | water: 0 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 | country comparison to the world: 217

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

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 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

agricultural land: 50.7% | arable land 7.8%; permanent crops 31.2%; permanent pasture 11.7% | 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

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

infrequent typhoons

Natural resources

coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Terrain

low coral limestone and sand islands

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

name: Majuro | geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E | 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

conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands | conventional short form: Marshall Islands | local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands | local short form: Marshall Islands | abbreviation: RMI | former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas H. ARMBRUSTER (since 16 August 2012) | 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles R. PAUL (since 6 September 2011) | chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 | FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 | consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AK) | consulate(s): Agana (Guam)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Christopher J. LOEAK (since 17 January 2012); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Christopher J. LOEAK (since 17 January 2012) | cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker | 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) | election results: Christopher J. LOEAK elected president; Parliament vote - Christopher J. LOEAK (AKA) 21, Jurelang ZEDKAIA (UDP) 11

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) | elections: last held on 21 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2015) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 33

National anthem

name: "Forever Marshall Islands" | lyrics/music: Amata KABUA | 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

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 16,446 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 13,568 | females age 16-49: 13,606 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 653 | female: 631 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military branches

no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police (2012)

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.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Contraceptive prevalence rate

44.6% (2007)

Death rate

4.21 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

16.5% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 2

Hospital bed density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 20.66 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 23.29 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 17.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.84 years | male: 70.67 years | female: 75.13 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Major urban areas - population

MAJURO (capital) 31,000 (2014)

Median age

total: 22.6 years | male: 22.5 years | female: 22.7 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) | adjective: Marshallese

Net migration rate

-4.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

42.3% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 9

Physicians density

0.44 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

72,191 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Population growth rate

1.66% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

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

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 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 | total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.15 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Urbanization

urban population: 72.7% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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)

Airports

15 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 146

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 11 | 914 to 1,523 m: 10 | 1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 1,593 | 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) | country comparison to the world: 7

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro

Roadways

total: 2,028 km | paved: 75 km | note: roads are mostly unimproved (2007) | country comparison to the world: 176