Statistics Marshall Islands 
Marshall Islands in the World
Marshall Islands - Introduction 1992
top of pageBackground: 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.
Area
Total: 181.3 km²
Land:
181.3 km²; includes the atolls of Bikini, Eniwetok, and
Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: claims US territory of Wake Island
Land use: arable land: 0%; permanent crops: 60%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 40%
Marshall Islands - People 1992
top of pageLanguages: English universally spoken and is the official language; two major Marshallese dialects from Malayo-Polynesian family; Japanese
Environment
Current issues: occasionally subject to typhoons; two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands
Current issues note:
located 3,825 km southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and Papua New Guinea; Bikini and
Eniwetok are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War
II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range
Eniwetok are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War
II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range
Marshall Islands - Government 1992
top of pageGovernment type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
Independence:
21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship; formerly the Marshall Islands District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)
Islands)
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Parliament: last held 18 November 1991 (next to be held November 1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (33 total)
President:
last held 6 January 1992 (next to be held NA; results -
President Amata KABUA was reelected
President Amata KABUA was reelected
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Wilfred I. KENDALL; Chancery at 2,433 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20,008; telephone (202) 234-5,414
US: Ambassador William BODDE, Jr.; Embassy at NA address (mailing address is P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96,960-1379); telephone (011) 692-4,011; FAX (011) 692-4,012
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
Marshall Islands - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy 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.
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.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $63 million, per capita $1,500; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)
Industries: copra, fish, tourism; craft items from shell, wood, and pearls; offshore banking (embryonic)
Exports: $2.5 million (f.o.b., 1985)
Commodoties: copra, copra oil, agricultural products, handicrafts
Partners: NA
Imports: $29.2 million (c.i.f., 1985)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, beverages, building materials
Partners: NA
Marshall Islands - Energy 1992
top of pageMarshall Islands - Communication 1992
top of pageMarshall Islands - Military 1992
top of pageMarshall Islands - Transportation 1992
top of pageMerchant marine:
32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,347,312
GRT/4,630,172 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 container, 9 petroleum tanker, 18 bulk carrier, 2 combination ore/oil; note - a flag of convenience registry
GRT/4,630,172 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 container, 9 petroleum tanker, 18 bulk carrier, 2 combination ore/oil; note - a flag of convenience registry
Marshall Islands - Transnational issues 1992
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