Marshall Islands

Location

• Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the Ratak (Sunrise) group and the Ralik (Sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited
• Kwajalein atoll surrounds the world's largest lagoon; 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

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Majuro	25,400	Capital

Size

• 70 square miles
• 181 square kilometers
• about the size of Washington, D.C.

History

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. Spain formally claimed the islands in 1592. 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. The US captured the islands in heavy fighting during World War II, and the 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, Rongelap, and Utrik Atolls were also evacuated because of nuclear fallout, and Bikini and Rongelap 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.

Climate

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain

low coral limestone and sand islands

Languages

Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999)major-language sample(s): Bok eo an Lalin kin Melele ko Rejimwe ej jikin ebōk melele ko raurōk. (Marshallese)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language

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.)

Government

mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US

• Constitution: history: effective 1 May 1979amendment process: 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: mixed system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023)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 speakerelection/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits)most recent election date: 2 January 2023election results: 2023: Hilda C. HEINE elected president; National Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE (independent) 17, David KABUA (independent) 162020: David KABUA elected president; National Parliament vote - David KABUA (independent) 20, Hilda C. HEINE (independent) 12expected date of next election: 2027note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Cabinet on 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 72subordinate courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliament (Nitijela)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 33 (all directly elected)electoral system: plurality/majorityscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 11/20/2023percentage of women in chamber: 12.1%expected date of next election: November 2027note: the Council of Iroij is a 12-member consultative group of tribal leaders that advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice 

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $171.267 million (2020 est.)expenditures: $159.095 million (2020 est.)note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
• Industries: copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)
• Agricultural Products: coconuts (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 38.9% (2022 est.)arable land: 2.8% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 36.1% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)forest: 52.2% (2022 est.)other: 8.9% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, iron structures, crude petroleum (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 47%, Japan 15%, Germany 5%, Brazil 4%, Cyprus 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, fish, natural gas, stone processing machines (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: UK 16%, Germany 13%, Denmark 10%, Ghana 9%, Cyprus 9% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports