|
|
|
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. |
|
Location:
|
Oceania,
group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean,
about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
9 00 N,
168 00 E |
|
Map references:
|
Oceania
|
|
Area:
|
total:
181.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak,
Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik |
|
Area - comparative:
|
about the
size of Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
370.4 km
|
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
|
Climate:
|
tropical;
hot and humid; wet season from May to November; islands
border typhoon belt |
|
Terrain:
|
low coral
limestone and sand islands |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
|
|
Natural resources:
|
coconut
products, marine products, deep seabed minerals |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 38.89%
other: 44.44% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
0 sq km
|
|
Natural hazards:
|
infrequent typhoons |
|
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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
|
Geography - note:
|
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 |
|
Population:
|
59,071
(July 2005 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 38.2% (male 11,488/female 11,071)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 17,887/female 17,023)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 771/female 831)
(2005 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
19.95 years
male: 19.98 years
female: 19.92 years (2005 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
2.27%
(2005 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
33.52
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
4.88
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
-5.91
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
29.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 70.01 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 72.06 years (2005 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
3.93
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
NA |
|
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) |
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall
Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
former: Marshall Islands District (Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands) |
|
Government type:
|
constitutional government in free association with the
US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force
21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into
force in May 2004 |
|
Capital:
|
Majuro
|
|
Administrative divisions:
|
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 |
|
Independence:
|
21
October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
|
|
National holiday:
|
Constitution Day, 1 May (1979) |
|
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 branch:
|
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 November
2007)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected
president; percent of Parliament vote - 100% |
|
Legislative branch:
|
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)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - NA
note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body
that advises on matters affecting customary law and
practice |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme
Court; High Court |
|
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 - Kabua Party
[Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP
[Litokwa TOMEING] |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
NA |
|
International organization participation:
|
ACP,
AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, WHO |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRIS
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 |
|
Flag description:
|
blue with
two stripes radiating from the lower 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 - overview:
|
US
Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny
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 (purchasing power parity):
|
$115
million (2001 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
1% (2001
est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% (2000 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
28,700
(1996 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7% |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
30.9%
(1999 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
NA |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
2% (2001
est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (1999) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
coconuts,
tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs,
chickens |
|
Industries:
|
copra,
tuna processing, tourism, craft items from shell, wood,
and pearls |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
NA |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil
fuel: 99%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1% (solar) |
|
Exports:
|
$9
million f.o.b. (2000) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
copra
cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish |
|
Exports - partners:
|
US,
Japan, Australia, China (2000) |
|
Imports:
|
$54
million f.o.b. (2000) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages
and tobacco |
|
Imports - partners:
|
US,
Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China,
Philippines (2000) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$86.5
million (FY99/00 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
more than
$1 billion from the US, 1986-2002 |
|
Currency (code):
|
US dollar
(USD) |
|
Currency code:
|
USD |
|
Exchange rates:
|
the US
dollar is the legal tender |
|
Fiscal year:
|
1 October
- 30 September |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
4,500
(2003) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
600
(2002) |
|
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 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) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
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) |
|
Radios:
|
NA |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
2 (both
are US military stations) (2002) |
|
Televisions:
|
NA |
|
Internet country code:
|
.mh |
|
Internet hosts:
|
6 (2003)
|
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
1 (2002)
|
|
Internet users:
|
1,400
(2003) |
|
Highways:
|
total:
64.5 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) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Majuro
|
|
Merchant marine:
|
total:
540 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,954,092 GRT/28,176,762
DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 83, cargo
47, chemical tanker 77, combination ore/oil 12,
container 88, liquefied gas 16, passenger 8, petroleum
tanker 192, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 6,
vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 462 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1,
Bermuda 1, Canada 4, Chile 2, Croatia 2, Cyprus 7,
Denmark 2, Georgia 1, Germany 124, Greece 106, Hong Kong
7, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 5, Latvia 6, Monaco 9,
Netherlands 4, New Zealand 1, Norway 21, Philippines 1,
Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, Spain
1, Switzerland 5, Taiwan 1, Turkey 11, Ukraine 1, UAE 3,
United Kingdom 15, United States 112) (2005) |
|
Airports:
|
15 (2004
est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
no
regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
NA |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
NA |
|
Military - note:
|
defense
is the responsibility of the US |
|
Disputes - international:
|
claims US
territory of Wake Island |
|
This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
|
|
| |
|
|
