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.

Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N 168 00 E

Area
Rank: 217
Land: 181 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 370.4 km

Maritime 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
Extremes highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Natural resources: coconut products marine products deep seabed minerals

Land use
Permanent crops: 44.44%
Other: 44.44% (2011)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2011)

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

Population: 69,747 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 203
Growth rate: 1.79% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 67
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Adjective: Marshallese

Ethnic groups: Marshallese 92.1% mixed Marshallese 5.9% other 2% (2006)

Languages: Marshallese (official) 98.2% other languages 1.8% (1999 census)

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)

Age structure
15-24 years: 17.5% (male 6,222/female 5,997)
25-54 years: 36.5% (male 12,931/female 12,499)
55-64 years: 5.5% (male 2014/female 1852)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1111/female 1164) (2013 est.)

Median age
Male: 22.4 years
Female: 22.4 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.79% (2013 est.)
Rank: 67

Birth rate: 27.21 births/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 47

Death rate: 4.27 deaths/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 207

Net migration rate: -5 migrant(s)/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 192

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: MAJURO (capital) 30,000 (2009)

Environment
Current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 85
Male: 24.93 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 19.22 deaths/1000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 134
Male: 70.18 years
Female: 74.55 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.29 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Rank: 52

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 44.6% (2007)

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.44 physicians/1000 population (2010)

Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 45.4% (2008)
Rank: 9

Education expenditures: 12.2% of GDP (2004)
Rank: 3

Literacy
Total population: 93.7%
Male: 93.6%
Female: 93.7% (1999)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 11 years
Female: 12 years (2003)

Country name
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 type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Capital
Geographic coordinates: 7 06 N 171 23 E
Time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

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

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

National holiday: Constitution Day 1 May (1979)

Constitution: effective 1 May 1979; amended several times last in 1990 (2005)

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: President Christopher J. LOEAK (since 17 January 2012)
Cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of the legislature
Elections: president elected by Nitijela (legislature) from among its members for a four-year term; election last held on 3 January 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
Election results: Nitijela elected Christopher J. LOEAK president on 3 January 2012

Legislative branch: unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 21 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2015)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 33

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Cabinet on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission and upon the approval of the Nitijela; judges appointed until retirement normally 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; 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]

International organization participation: ACP ADB AOSIS FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO IDA IFAD IFC ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC ITU OPCW PIF Sparteca SPC UN UNCTAD UNESCO WHO

Diplomatic representation
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 consulate general: Honolulu Springdale (AR)
From the us embassy: Oceanside Mejen Weto Long Island Majuro
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 1379 Majuro Republic of the Marshall Islands 96,960-1379
From the us telephone: [692] 247-4,011
From the us FAX: [692] 247-4,012

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 anthem
Lyrics and music: Amata KABUA

Economy overview: US assistance and lease payments for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base are the mainstay of this small island country. The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during 1986-2001 under the original Compact of Free Association (Compact). In 2002 and 2003 the US and the Marshall Islands renegotiated the Compact's financial package for a 20-year period from 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. Agricultural production primarily subsistence is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Industry is limited to handicrafts tuna processing and copra. Tourism holds some potential. The islands and atolls have few natural resources and imports exceed exports. Under the amended Compact the US is also funding jointly with the Marshall Islands a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024 when direct Compact aid is to end.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 216

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 141

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 126

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 13.9%
Services: 71.8% (2011 est.)

Agriculture products: coconuts tomatoes melons taro breadfruit fruits; pigs chickens

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 10,480 (2011 est.)
Rank: 216
By occupation industry: 16.3%
By occupation services: 72.7% (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30.9% (2000 est.)
Rank: 186

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Budget
Expenditures: $104.7 million (FY09 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 0.4% of GDP (FY09 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 40

Taxes and other revenues: 58.7% of GDP (FY09 est.)
Rank: 6

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3% (2005 est.)
Rank: 209

Exports: $9.1 million (2000 est.)
Rank: 196
Commodities: copra cake coconut oil handicrafts fish

Imports: $54.7 million (2000 est.)
Rank: 210
Commodities: foodstuffs machinery and equipment fuels beverages tobacco

Debt external: $86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
Rank: 191

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Telephones
Main lines in use: 4,400 (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 212
Mobile cellular: 3,800 (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 215

Telephone system
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 (2005)

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 (2009)

Internet
Country code: .mh
Hosts: 3 (2012)
Hosts rank: 232
Users: 2,200 (2009)
Users rank: 210

Military expenditures: NA

Airports: 15 (2013)
Rank: 146
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 10
With unpaved runways: 1 (2013)

Roadways
Rank: 175

Merchant marine
Rank: 7
By type: barge carrier 1 bulk carrier 524 cargo 65 carrier 1 chemical tanker 351 container 226 liquefied gas 88 passenger 7 passenger/cargo 1 petroleum tanker 297 refrigerated cargo 13 roll on/roll off 9 vehicle carrier 10
Foreign owned: 1468 (Belgium 1 Bermuda 35 Brazil 1 Canada 8 China 14 Croatia 12 Cyprus 40 Denmark 7 Egypt 1 France 7 Germany 248 Greece 408 Hong Kong 3 India 10 Indonesia 1 Iraq 2 Ireland 6 Italy 1 Japan 59 Jersey 11 Kuwait 2 Latvia 19 Malaysia 11 Mexico 2 Monaco 30 Netherlands 21 Norway 75 Pakistan 1 Qatar 29 Romania 2 Russia 5 Singapore 30 Slovenia 6 South Korea 41 Sweden 1 Switzerland 12 Taiwan 8 Turkey 70 UAE 12 UK 12 Ukraine 1 US 200) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Enitwetak Island Kwajalein Majuro

Disputes international: claims US territory of Wake Island