|
|
Introduction |
Marshall Islands |
|
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.
|
|
Geography |
Marshall Islands |
|
Location: |
Oceania, group of atolls
and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from
Hawaii to Australia |
|
Geographic
coordinates: |
9 00 N, 168 00 E
|
|
Map
references: |
Oceania |
|
Area: |
total:
181.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro,
Rongelap, and Utirik |
|
Area -
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 from May to November; islands border typhoon belt |
|
Terrain: |
low coral limestone and
sand islands |
|
Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m |
|
Natural
resources: |
coconut products, marine
products, deep seabed minerals |
|
Land use: |
arable land:
16.67%
permanent crops: 38.89%
other: 44.44% (2001) |
|
Irrigated
land: |
0 sq km |
|
Natural
hazards: |
infrequent typhoons
|
|
Environment -
current issues: |
inadequate supplies of
potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and
discharges from fishing vessels |
|
Environment -
international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
|
Geography -
note: |
two archipelagic island
chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US
nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is
now used as a US missile test range |
|
Population: |
59,071 (July 2005 est.)
|
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years:
38.2% (male 11,488/female 11,071)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 17,887/female 17,023)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 771/female 831) (2005 est.)
|
|
Median age: |
total:
19.95 years
male: 19.98 years
female: 19.92 years (2005 est.) |
|
Population
growth rate: |
2.27% (2005 est.)
|
|
Birth rate: |
33.52 births/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
4.88 deaths/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration
rate: |
-5.91 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
|
Sex ratio: |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.) |
|
Infant
mortality rate: |
total:
29.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
|
Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
70.01 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 72.06 years (2005 est.) |
|
Total
fertility rate: |
3.93 children born/woman
(2005 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS -
adult prevalence rate: |
NA |
|
HIV/AIDS -
people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
|
HIV/AIDS -
deaths: |
NA |
|
Nationality: |
noun:
Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese |
|
Ethnic groups: |
Micronesian |
|
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) |
|
Languages: |
Marshallese 98.2%, other
languages 1.8% (1999 census)
note: English widely spoken as a second language; both Marshallese
and English are official languages |
|
Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999) |
|
Government |
Marshall Islands |
|
Country name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands) |
|
Government
type: |
constitutional government
in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered
into force 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in
May 2004 |
|
Capital: |
Majuro |
|
Administrative
divisions: |
33 municipalities;
Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon,
Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep,
Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke,
Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Wotho, Wotje |
|
Independence: |
21 October 1986 (from the
US-administered UN trusteeship) |
|
National
holiday: |
Constitution Day, 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: |
18 years of age; universal
|
|
Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January
2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members
of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own
members for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 2003 (next to
be held November 2007)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of
Parliament vote - 100% |
|
Legislative
branch: |
unicameral Parliament or
Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held not later
than November 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NA
note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on
matters affecting customary law and practice |
|
Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court; High Court
|
|
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 -
Kabua Party [Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa
TOMEING] |
|
Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
|
International
organization participation: |
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO |
|
Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu |
|
Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Greta N. MORRIS
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
telephone: [692] 247-4011
FAX: [692] 247-4012 |
|
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: |
US Government assistance is
the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production,
primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important
commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is
limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry,
now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the
labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands
have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the
terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide
millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023,
at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin
perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in
construction, the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the
Asian financial difficulties, and less income from the renewal of fishing
vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past
decade. |
|
GDP
(purchasing power parity): |
$115 million (2001 est.)
|
|
GDP - real
growth rate: |
1% (2001 est.) |
|
GDP - per
capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$1,600 (2001 est.) |
|
GDP -
composition by sector: |
agriculture:
14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% (2000 est.) |
|
Labor force: |
28,700 (1996 est.)
|
|
Labor force -
by occupation: |
agriculture 21.4%, industry
20.9%, services 57.7% |
|
Unemployment
rate: |
30.9% (1999 est.)
|
|
Population
below poverty line: |
NA |
|
Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA
highest 10%: NA |
|
Inflation rate
(consumer prices): |
2% (2001 est.) |
|
Budget: |
revenues:
$42 million
expenditures: $40 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(1999) |
|
Agriculture -
products: |
coconuts, tomatoes, melons,
taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens |
|
Industries: |
copra, tuna processing,
tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls |
|
Industrial
production growth rate: |
NA |
|
Electricity -
production by source: |
fossil fuel:
99%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1% (solar) |
|
Exports: |
$9 million f.o.b. (2000)
|
|
Exports -
commodities: |
copra cake, coconut oil,
handicrafts, fish |
|
Exports -
partners: |
US, Japan, Australia, China
(2000) |
|
Imports: |
$54 million f.o.b. (2000)
|
|
Imports -
commodities: |
foodstuffs, machinery and
equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco |
|
Imports -
partners: |
US, Japan, Australia, NZ,
Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2000) |
|
Debt -
external: |
$86.5 million (FY99/00
est.) |
|
Economic aid -
recipient: |
more than $1 billion from
the US, 1986-2002 |
|
Currency
(code): |
US dollar (USD)
|
|
Currency code: |
USD |
|
Exchange
rates: |
the US dollar is the legal
tender |
|
Fiscal year: |
1 October - 30 September
|
|
Communications |
Marshall Islands |
|
Telephones -
main lines in use: |
4,500 (2003) |
|
Telephones -
mobile cellular: |
600 (2002) |
|
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 shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on
Kwajalein (2001) |
|
Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television
Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station on
Kwajalein (2002) |
|
Radios: |
NA |
|
Television
broadcast stations: |
2 (both are US military
stations) (2002) |
|
Televisions: |
NA |
|
Internet
country code: |
.mh |
|
Internet
hosts: |
6 (2003) |
|
Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2002) |
|
Internet
users: |
1,400 (2003) |
|
Transportation |
Marshall Islands |
|
Highways: |
total:
64.5 km
paved: 64.5 km
unpaved: NA km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002) |
|
Ports and
harbors: |
Majuro |
|
Merchant
marine: |
total:
540 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,954,092 GRT/28,176,762 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 83, cargo 47, chemical
tanker 77, combination ore/oil 12, container 88, liquefied gas 16,
passenger 8, petroleum tanker 192, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off
6, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 462 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Bermuda 1, Canada 4,
Chile 2, Croatia 2, Cyprus 7, Denmark 2, Georgia 1, Germany 124, Greece
106, Hong Kong 7, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 5, Latvia 6, Monaco 9,
Netherlands 4, New Zealand 1, Norway 21, Philippines 1, Russia 1, Saudi
Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, Spain 1, Switzerland 5, Taiwan 1,
Turkey 11, Ukraine 1, UAE 3, United Kingdom 15, United States 112) (2005)
|
|
Airports: |
15 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports -
with paved runways: |
total:
4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports -
with unpaved runways: |
total:
11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
|
Military |
Marshall Islands |
|
Military
branches: |
no regular military forces;
Marshall Islands Police |
|
Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
NA |
|
Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
NA |
|
Military -
note: |
defense is the
responsibility of the US |
|
Transnational Issues |
Marshall Islands |
|
Disputes -
international: |
claims US
territory of Wake Island
|
|
