Statistics Marshall Islands 
Marshall Islands in the World
Marshall Islands - Introduction 2023
top of pageBackground:
Humans arrived in the Marshall Islands in the first millennium B.C. and gradually created permanent settlements on the various atolls. The early inhabitants were skilled navigators who frequently traveled between atolls using stick charts to map the islands. Society became organized under two paramount chiefs, one each for the Ratak (Sunrise) Chain and the Ralik (Sunset) Chain. The traditional hierarchy continued even after contact with Europeans in the early 1500s. Spain formally claimed the islands in 1592, but few other Europeans passed by the islands in the next two centuries. In 1788, British sea captain John MARSHALL undertook an exploratory voyage, and the islands were mapped in the early 1800s by Russian explorers. In the 1850s, US Protestant missionaries began arriving on the islands. Germany established a supply station on Jaluit Atoll and bought the islands from Spain in 1884, although paramount chiefs continued to rule.
Japan seized the Marshall Islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations Mandate to administer the islands in 1920. Japan built large military bases throughout the Marshall Islands, and during World War II, the US captured the bases on Kwajalein, Enewetak, and Majuro Atolls. The Marshall Islands came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) in 1947. Between 1946 and 1958, the US resettled populations from Bikini and Enewetak Atolls and conducted 67 nuclear tests; people from Ailinginae and Rongelap Atolls were also evacuated because of nuclear fallout, and all four atolls remain largely uninhabited. In 1979, the Marshall Islands drafted a constitution separate from the rest of the TTPI and declared independence under President Amata KABUA, a paramount chief. In 2000, Kessai NOTE became the first commoner elected president. In 2016, Hilda HEINE was the first woman elected president.
In 1982, the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the Marshall Islands financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986 and its funding was renewed in 2003. 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 that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory)).
Japan seized the Marshall Islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations Mandate to administer the islands in 1920. Japan built large military bases throughout the Marshall Islands, and during World War II, the US captured the bases on Kwajalein, Enewetak, and Majuro Atolls. The Marshall Islands came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) in 1947. Between 1946 and 1958, the US resettled populations from Bikini and Enewetak Atolls and conducted 67 nuclear tests; people from Ailinginae and Rongelap Atolls were also evacuated because of nuclear fallout, and all four atolls remain largely uninhabited. In 1979, the Marshall Islands drafted a constitution separate from the rest of the TTPI and declared independence under President Amata KABUA, a paramount chief. In 2000, Kessai NOTE became the first commoner elected president. In 2016, Hilda HEINE was the first woman elected president.
In 1982, the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the Marshall Islands financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986 and its funding was renewed in 2003. 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 that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory)).
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
Elevation
Highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 2 m
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.)
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
Marshall Islands - People 2023
top of pagePopulation
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
Languages: Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 est.)
Major-language samples:
Bok eo an Lalin kin Melele ko Rejimwe ej jikin ebōk melele ko raurōk. (Marshallese)
Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
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.)
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)
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.)
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.)
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
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.)
Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
96.6% of population
rural: 65.4% of population
total: 89.7% of population
rural: 65.4% of population
total: 89.7% of population
Unimproved urban:
3.4% of population
rural: 34.6% of population
total: 10.3% of population (2020 est.)
rural: 34.6% of population
total: 10.3% of population (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%
Marshall Islands - Government 2023
top of pageCountry 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
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
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
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
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:
unicameral National Parliament consists of:
Nitijela (33 seats; members in 19 single- and 5 multi-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij, a 12-member group of tribal leaders advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice); members appointed to serve 1-year terms
Nitijela (33 seats; members in 19 single- and 5 multi-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij, a 12-member group of tribal leaders advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice); members appointed to serve 1-year terms
Elections: last held on 20 November 2023 (next to be held in November 2,027)
Election results:
2023: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by part - independents 33; composition - men 29, women 4, percent of women 12.1%
2019: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 33; composition - men 31, women 2, percent of women 6.1%
2019: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 33; composition - men 31, women 2, percent of women 6.1%
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
Marshall Islands - Economy 2023
top of pageEconomy 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:
$250.694 million (2021 est.)
$247.93 million (2020 est.)
$252.582 million (2019 est.)
$247.93 million (2020 est.)
$252.582 million (2019 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real gdp per capita:
$6,000 (2021 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$5,700 (2020 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$5,600 (2019 est.)
$5,700 (2020 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$5,600 (2019 est.)
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.)
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 26% (2019 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 31%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 14.2%
Budget
Revenues: $148 million (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $153 million (2019 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 1.3% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
Current account balance:
-$1.182 million (2020 est.)
$56.998 million (2019 est.)
$53.031 million (2018 est.)
$56.998 million (2019 est.)
$53.031 million (2018 est.)
Exports:
$1.37 billion (2021 est.)
$773 million (2020 est.)
$1.17 billion (2019 est.)
$773 million (2020 est.)
$1.17 billion (2019 est.)
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:
$10.7 billion (2021 est.)
$12 billion (2020 est.)
$9.1 billion (2019 est.)
$12 billion (2020 est.)
$9.1 billion (2019 est.)
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)
Marshall Islands - Energy 2023
top of pageElectricity
Access electrification-total population: 99.7% (2021)
Access electrification-urban areas: 96% (2021)
Access electrification-rural areas: 92% (2020)
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 2,060 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Marshall Islands - Communication 2023
top of pageTelephones
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.)
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.)
Marshall Islands - Military 2023
top of pageMilitary 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)
Marshall Islands - Transportation 2023
top of pageNational 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
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
Merchant marine
Total: 4,042 (2022)
By type: bulk carrier 1,879 container ship 276, general cargo 62, oil tanker 1023, other 802
Marshall Islands - Transnational issues 2023
top of pageDisputes international: Marshall Islands-US: claims US territory of Wake Island; the Marshall Islands put its claim on record with the UN in 2016
🅶🅷🅴🅾🆂.🅲🅾🅼