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 Reagan Missile Test Site a key installation in the US missile defense network. Kwajalein also hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas (the others are on Ascension (Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha) Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) and at Cape Canaveral Florida (US)) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system.

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
Rank: 217
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 May to November; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Natural resources: coconut products marine products deep seabed minerals

Land use
Agricultural land: 50.7%
Forest: 49.3%
Other: 0%

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: 72,191 (July 2015 est.)
Rank: 203
Growth rate: 1.66% (2015 est.)
Growth rate rank: 71
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Marshallese
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)
Note: English widely spoken as a second language

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
0-14 years: 36.02%
15-24 years: 17.4%
25-54 years: 37.25%
55-64 years: 5.73%
65 years and over: 3.6% (2015 est.)

Median age
Total: 22.6 years
Male: 22.5 years
Female: 22.7 years

Population growth rate: 1.66% (2015 est.)
Rank: 71

Birth rate: 25.6 births/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 48

Death rate: 4.21 deaths/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 206

Net migration rate: -4.83 migrant(s)/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 192

Urbanization
Urban population: 72.7% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: MAJURO (capital) 31,000 (2014)

Environment
Current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male/female
55-64 years: 1.05 male/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male/female
Total population: 1.04 male/female

Infant mortality rate
Total: 20.66 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 23.29 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 17.9 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 85

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.84 years
Male: 70.67 years
Female: 75.13 years
Rank: 136

Total fertility rate: 3.15 children born/woman (2015 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: 42.3% (2014)
Rank: 9

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
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
Name: Majuro
Geographic coordinates: 7 06 N 171 23 E
Time difference: UTC+12

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 1995 (2015)

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 Christopher J. LOEAK ; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Christopher J. LOEAK
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela appointed by Nitijela speaker
Electionsappointments: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term ; election last held on 3 January 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
Election results: Christopher J. LOEAK elected president; Parliament vote - Christopher J. LOEAK 21 Jurelang ZEDKAIA (UDP) 11

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral legislature consists of the Council of Iroij and the National Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice)
Elections: last held on 21 November 2011
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 33

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court
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 ICCt IDA IFAD IFC ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM ITU OPCW PIF Sparteca SPC UN UNCTAD UNESCO WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Charles R. PAUL
In the us chancery: 2,433 Massachusetts Avenue NW 1st Floor Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 234-5,414
In the us FAX: [1] 232-3,236
In the us consulate general: Honolulu Springdale
In the us consulate: Agana
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas H. ARMBRUSTER
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 symbols: a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue white orange

National anthem
Name: 'Forever Marshall Islands'
Lyrics and music: Amata KABUA
Note: adopted 1981

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:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 221

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 192

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 181

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.4%
Industry: 9.9%
Services: 85.7%

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: 10,670 (2013 est.)
Rank: 217
By occupation agriculture: 11%
By occupation industry: 16.3%
By occupation services: 72.7%

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 193

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Budget
Revenues: $116.7 million
Expenditures: $113.9 million
Surplus or deficit: 1.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 22

Taxes and other revenues: 60.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 5

Public debt: 51.3% of GDP (2013)
Rank: 69

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 70

Current account balance:
Rank: 72

Exports:
Rank: 200
Commodities: copra cake coconut oil handicrafts fish

Imports:
Rank: 214
Commodities: foodstuffs machinery and equipment fuels beverages tobacco

Debt external:
Rank: 194

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 2,400
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3
Fixed lines rank: 213
Mobile cellular total: 15,500
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22
Mobile cellular rank: 212

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 high frequency radiotelephone and mini-satellite telephones
International: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat ; 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
Users total: 1700
Users percent of population: 2.4%
Users rank: 210

Airports: 15 (2013)
Rank: 146
With paved runways total: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 11
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 10
With unpaved runways: 1 (2013)

Roadways
Total: 2,028 km
Paved: 75 km
Note: roads are mostly unimproved
Rank: 176

Merchant marine
Total: 1593
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: 1465 (2010)
Rank: 7

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Enitwetak Island Kwajalein Majuro

Disputes international: claims US territory of Wake Island