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 islands between 1947 and 1962.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 370.4 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands

Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Land use: 0% arable land; 60% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 40% other

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Population: 43,417 (July 1990), growth rate 3.2% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Marshallese; adjective--Marshallese

Ethnic groups: almost entirely Micronesian

Languages: English universally spoken and is the official language; two major Marshallese dialects from Malayo-Polynesian family; Japanese

Religions: predominantly Christian, mostly Protestant

Birth rate: 39 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1000 population (1990)

Environment
Current issues: occasionally subject to typhoons; two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands

Infant mortality rate: 43 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 5.9 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: 90%

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986

Capital: Majuro

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship; formerly the Marshall Islands District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 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: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government--President Amata KABUA (since 1979)

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Nitijela)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: SPF, ESCAP (associate)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Representative Wilfred I. KENDALL; Representative Office at Suite 1004, 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,006; telephone (202) 223-4,952; US--Representative Samuel B. THOMSEN; US Office at NA address (mailing address is P. O. Box 680, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96,960; telephone 692-9-3,348

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: Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. A few cattle ranches supply the domestic meat market. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry is the primary source of foreign exchange and employs about 10% of the labor force. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. In 1987 the US Government provided grants of $40 million out of the Marshallese budget of $55 million.

Agriculture products: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits, copra; pigs, chickens

Industries: copra, fish, tourism; craft items from shell, wood, and pearl; offshore banking (embryonic)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 4,800 (1986)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $55 million; expenditures NA, including capital expenditures of NA (1987 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

Exports: $2.5 million (f.o.b., 1985)
Commodities: copra, copra oil, agricultural products, handicrafts
Partners: NA

Imports: $29.2 million (c.i.f., 1985)
Commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, building materials
Partners: NA

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Electricity
Capacity: 12,000 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 240 kWh per capita (1989)

Airports: 5 total, 5 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 475,968 GRT/949,888 DWT; includes 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 bulk carrier; note--a flag of convenience registry

Disputes international: claims US-administered Wake Island