ARCHIVE // MH // 1996

Marshall Islands

1996 Edition — freely_associated

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Communications
Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]
no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force
Military - note (Defense note) [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
Radios [time series]
NA
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
telex services domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
800 (1988 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1
Televisions [time series]
NA Defense
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]
coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Budget [time series]
revenues: $67.2 million expenditures: $79.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Economic aid [time series]
recipient: under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US is to provide approximately $40 million in aid annually
Economic overview [time series]
Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. A few cattle ranches supply the domestic meat market. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry is the primary source of foreign exchange and employs about 10% of the labor force. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. The government is drafting economic reforms designed to increase revenue and compensate for reductions in US Government grants - in 1994, the US Government provided grants of $50 million, equal to 55% of the Marshall Islands' GDP. About 25% of the government's 1995/96 budget is devoted to debt repayment.
Electricity [time series]
capacity: 42,000 kW production: 80 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,840 kWh (1990)
Exchange rates [time series]
US currency is used
Exports [time series]
$21.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: coconut oil, fish, live animals, trochus shells partners: US, Japan, Australia
Debt - external (External debt) [time series]
$170 million (1994)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 October - 30 September
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $94 million (1995 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]
$1,680 (1995 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]
1.5% (1995 est.)
Imports [time series]
$69.9 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, beverages and tobacco, fuels partners: US, Japan, Australia
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4% (1995 est.)
Labor force [time series]
4,800 (1986) by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate [time series]
16% (1991 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total area: 181.3 sq km land area: 181.3 sq km comparative area: about the size of Washington, DC note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
Climate [time series]
wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt
Coastline [time series]
370.4 km
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water natural hazards: occasional typhoons international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Geographic coordinates [time series]
9 00 N, 168 00 E
Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]
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
Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]
claims US territory of Wake Island
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 60% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 40%
Location [time series]
Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources [time series]
phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Terrain [time series]
low coral limestone and sand islands lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none
Capital [time series]
Majuro
Constitution [time series]
1 May 1979
Data code [time series]
RM
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state and head of government: President Amata KABUA (since NA 1979) was elected for a four-year term by the Nitijela from among its own members; election last held 20 November 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - President Amata KABUA was reelected cabinet: Cabinet; president selects from among the members of Parliament
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[692] 247-4012
Flag [time series]
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
Independence [time series]
21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
International organization participation [time series]
AsDB, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court; High Court
Legal system [time series]
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral
Country name (Name of country) [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands conventional short form: Marshall Islands former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
National holiday [time series]
Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1 May (1979)
Legislative branch (Parliament (Nitijela)) [time series]
elections last held 20 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (33 total) seats by party NA
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
government: Our Islands Party, President Amata KABUA opposition: Ralik/Ratak Democratic Party (RRDP), Ramsey REIMERS
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type (Type of government) [time series]
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Joan PLAISTED embassy: Oceanside, Long Island, Majuro mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379; Majuro, 20521-4380 (pouch) telephone: [692] 247-4011
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 51% (male 15,043; female 14,435) 15-64 years: 47% (male 14,084; female 13,399) 65 years and over: 2% (male 657; female 745) (July 1996 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
45.75 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate [time series]
7.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
Micronesian
Infant mortality rate [time series]
46.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 63.81 years male: 62.25 years female: 65.45 years (1996 est.)
Literacy [time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population: 93% male: 100% female: 88%
Nationality [time series]
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population [time series]
58,363 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
3.85% (1996 est.)
Religions [time series]
Christian (mostly Protestant)
Sex ratio [time series]
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: 0.88 male(s)/female all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
6.83 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 16 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 5 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 (1995 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,068,782 GRT/5,073,125 DWT ships by type: bulk carrier 43, cargo 4, combination ore/oil 1, container 17, oil tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)
Ports [time series]
Majuro
Railways [time series]
0 km