Map of Marshall Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the Ratak (Sunrise) group and the Ralik (Sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited

Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 181 km²
Land: 181 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: the archipelago includes 11,673 km² of lagoon waters and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik
Comparative: about the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 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 May to November; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation
Highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 2 m

Natural resources: coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Land use
Agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 7.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 31.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 11.7% (2018 est.)
Forest: 49.3% (2018 est.)
Other: 0% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Natural hazards: infrequent typhoons

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


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Population
Distribution: most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye: 80,966 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: NA

Nationality
Noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Marshallese

Ethnic groups: Marshallese 95.6%, Filipino 1.1%, other 3.3% (2021 est.)

Languages: Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 est.)
Major-language samples:

Religions: Protestant 79.3% (United Church of Christ 47.9%, Assembly of God 14.1%, Full Gospel 5%, Bukot Nan Jesus 3%, Salvation Army 2.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 2.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, New Beginning Church 1.4%, other Protestant 1.6%), Roman Catholic 9.3%, Church of Jesus Christ 5.7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, other 3.3%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.65% (male 12,642/female 12,175)
15-64 years: 63.83% (male 26,237/female 25,445)
65 years and over: 5.52% (2023 est.) (male 2,187/female 2,280)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 59.9
Youth dependency ratio: 53
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.8
Potential support ratio: 14.7 (2021)

Median age
Total: 25.1 years (2023 est.)
Male: 25 years
Female: 25.2 years

Population growth rate: 1.3% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 21.6 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye

Urbanization
Urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 31,000 MAJURO (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels; sea level rise
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 7.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.14 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.03 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.9 years (2023 est.)
Male: 72.7 years
Female: 77.3 years

Total fertility rate: 2.72 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 100% of population
Improved rural: 99.8% of population
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: 0% of population
Unimproved rural: 0.2% of population
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure: 13% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density: 0.42 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 52.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use
Total: 28.5% (2020 est.)
Male: 48.7% (2020 est.)
Female: 8.3% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.9% (2017)

Education expenditures: 13.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98.3%
Male: 98.3%
Female: 98.2% (2011)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 10 years
Male: 10 years
Female: 10 years (2019)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 26% (2019 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 31%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 14.2%


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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
Former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District
Abbreviation: RMI
Etymology: named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788

Government type: mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US

Capital
Name: Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands on the eastern side of the atoll: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap
Geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E
Time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: Majuro means "two openings" or "two eyes" and refers to the two major northern passages through the atoll into the Majuro lagoon

Administrative divisions: 24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje

Dependent areas

Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Constitution
History: effective 1 May 1979
Amendments: proposed by the National Parliament or by a constitutional convention; passage by Parliament requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership in each of two readings and approval by a majority of votes in a referendum; amendments submitted by a constitutional convention require approval of at least two thirds of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018

Legal system: mixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023)
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 2 January 2023 (next to be held in 2,027)
Election results: Hilda C. HEINE elected president; National Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE 17, David KABUA 16

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections: last held on 20 November 2023 (next to be held in November 2,027)
Election results:

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)
Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Cabinet upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (consists of the chief justice of the High Court, the attorney general and a private citizen selected by the Cabinet) and upon approval of the Nitijela; the current chief justice, appointed in 2013, serves for 10 years; Marshallese citizens appointed as justices serve until retirement at age 72
Subordinate courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts

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

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, UNHRC, WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Dixie LOMAE (since 1 September 2023)
In the us chancery: 2,433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-5,414
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 232-3,236
In the us email address and website: info@rmiembassyus.org
In the us consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AR)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lance POSEY (since 18 August 2023)
From the us embassy: Mejen Weto, Ocean Side, Majuro
From the us mailing address: 4,380 Majuro Place, Washington DC 20,521-4,380
From the us telephone: [692] 247-4,011
From the us FAX: [692] 247-4,012
From the us email address and website:

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

National symbols: a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange

National anthem
Name: "Forever Marshall Islands"
Lyrics/music: Amata KABUA
Note: adopted 1981

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview: upper middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance; large public sector; coconut oil production as diesel fuel substitute; growing offshore banking locale; fishing rights seller; import-dependent

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 50% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 17.8% (2016 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.2% (2016 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 52.9% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -102.3% (2016 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.4% (2013 est.)
Industry: 9.9% (2013 est.)
Services: 85.7% (2013 est.)

Agriculture products: coconuts

Industries: copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)

Industrial production growth rate: -3.66% (2021 est.) NA

Labor force: 10,670 (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 26% (2019 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 31%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 14.2%

Population below poverty line: NA

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 35.5 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $148 million (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $153 million (2019 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: 1.3% (of GDP) (2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 17.16% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance:

Exports:
Note: data are in current year dollars
Partners: Denmark 33%, South Korea 20%, Germany 15%, Poland 9%, Cyprus 4% (2021)
Commodities: ships, recreational boats, skipjack, tuna, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2021)

Imports:
Note: data are in current year dollars
Partners: South Korea 33%, China 30%, Japan 11%, Greece 3%, Cyprus 3% (2021)
Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, centrifuges, recreational boats, boat propellers (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used


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Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 99.7% (2021)
Access electrification-urban areas: 96% (2021)
Access electrification-rural areas: 92% (2020)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 2,060 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 293,700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2017 est.)

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 2,361 (2014 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2014 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 16,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

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 (2019)

Internet
Country code: .mh
Users total: 16,254 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 38.7% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the national police (Marshall Islands Police Department, MIPD), local police forces, and the Sea Patrol (maritime police) maintain internal security; the MIPD and Sea Patrol report to the Ministry of Justice; local police report to their respective local government councils (2023)

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 24,313 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 130,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V7

Airports: 15 (2021)
With paved runways: 4
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 11
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 2,028 km (2007)
Paved: 75 km (2007)
Unpaved: 1,953 km

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 4,042 (2022)
By type: bulk carrier 1,879 container ship 276, general cargo 62, oil tanker 1023, other 802

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro


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Disputes international: Marshall Islands-US: claims US territory of Wake Island; the Marshall Islands put its claim on record with the UN in 2016

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs