from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Marshall Islands
Introduction
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 (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key
installation in the US missile defense network.
Geography
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 one-half of
the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic 9 00 N, 168 00 E
coordinates:
Map Oceania
references:
Area: total: 11,854.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 11,673 sq km (note - lagoon waters)
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak,
Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik
Area - about the size of Washington, DC
comparative:
Land 0 km
boundaries:
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November;
islands border typhoon belt
Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
resources:
Land use: arable land: 11.11%
permanent crops: 44.44%
other: 44.45% (2005)
Irrigated 0 sq km
land:
Natural infrequent typhoons
hazards:
Environment - inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of
current Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from
issues: fishing vessels
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous
agreements: Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;
note: Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is
used as a US missile test range; 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
People
Population: 60,422 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38.1% (male 11,720/female 11,295)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 18,305/female 17,445)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 801/female 856) (2006
est.)
Median age: total: 20.3 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 20.3 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.25% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 33.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 4.78 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -5.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: 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: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 28.43 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 31.93 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 24.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 70.31 years
expectancy at male: 68.33 years
birth: female: 72.39 years (2006 est.)
Total 3.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - NA
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
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)
Languages: Marshallese 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)
note: English widely spoken as a second language; both
Marshallese and English are official languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)
Government
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
Government constitutional government in free association with the
type: US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force
21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into
force in May 2004
Capital: name: Majuro
geographic coordinates: 7 05 N, 171 08 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk,
divisions: 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
Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN
trusteeship)
National Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
holiday:
Constitution: 1 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5
branch: 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)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among
the members of the legislature
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 November 2007)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president;
percent of Parliament vote - 100%
Legislative unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members
branch: elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held
by November 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - NA
note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member
body comprised of tribal chiefs that advises on matters
affecting customary law and practice
Judicial Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court
branch:
Political traditionally there have been no formally organized
parties and political parties; what has existed more closely
leaders: 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 NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC,
organization IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC,
participation: UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
representation chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRIS
representation embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
from the US: mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of
the Marshall Islands 96960-1379
telephone: [692] 247-4011
FAX: [692] 247-4012
Flag blue with two stripes radiating from the lower
description: hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a
white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on
the hoist side above the two stripes
Economy
Economy - US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny
overview: island economy. Agricultural production, primarily
subsistence, 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 Amended Compact of Free Association, the
US will provide millions of dollars per year to the
Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a
Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will
begin perpetual annual payouts. 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.
GDP $115 million (2001 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $144 million
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 3.5% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $2,900 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 31.7%
composition by industry: 14.9%
sector: services: 53.4% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 14,680 (2000)
Labor force - agriculture: 21.4%
by occupation: industry: 20.9%
services: 57.7%
Unemployment 30.9% (2000 est.)
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 3% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million; including capital
expenditures of $NA (1999)
Agriculture - coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits;
products: pigs, chickens
Industries: copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from
seashells, wood, and pearls
Industrial NA%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 99%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 1% (solar)
Exports: $9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
commodities:
Exports - US, Japan, Australia, China (2004)
partners:
Imports: $54.7 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages
commodities: and tobacco
Imports - US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China,
partners: Philippines (2004)
Debt - $86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $51.1 million more than $1 billion from the US,
recipient: 1986-2002
Currency US dollar (USD)
(code):
Currency code: USD
Exchange the US dollar is used
rates:
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications
Telephones - 5,510 (2004)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 1,198 (2004)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern
system: 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 (2001)
Radio AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
broadcast note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and
stations: Television Services (Central Pacific Network) operate
one FM and one AM station on Kwajalein (2005)
Radios: NA
Television 2 (both are US military stations)
broadcast note: Marshalls Broadcasting Service (cable company)
stations: operates on Majuro (2005)
Televisions: NA
Internet .mh
country code:
Internet 6 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 1 (2002)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 2,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 15 (2006)
Airports - total: 4
with paved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 11
with unpaved 914 to 1,523 m: 10
runways: under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 64.5 km
paved: 64.5 km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein),
otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads
and tracks (2002)
Merchant total: 795 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,772,611 GRT/
marine: 50,987,293 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 178, cargo 53,
chemical tanker 133, container 147, liquefied gas 25,
passenger 7, petroleum tanker 234, refrigerated cargo
2, roll on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 2, vehicle
carrier 5
foreign-owned: 730 (Australia 2, Bermuda 4, Brazil 1,
Canada 6, Chile 1, Croatia 2, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1,
Finland 2, Germany 194, Greece 199, Hong Kong 7, Isle
of Man 1, Italy 1, Japan 7, South Korea 1, Latvia 7,
Monaco 8, Netherlands 1, Norway 65, Russia 1, Saudi
Arabia 1, Singapore 6, Slovenia 3, Spain 3, Switzerland
13, Turkey 20, UAE 3, UK 12, US 143)
registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)
Ports and Majuro
terminals:
Military
Military no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police
branches:
Manpower males age 18-49: 13,465 (2005 est.)
available for
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 10,792 (2005 est.)
for military
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 726 (2005 est.)
reaching
military
service age
annually:
Military NA
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military NA
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Military - defense is the responsibility of the US
note:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - claims US territory of Wake Island
international: