ARCHIVE // MH // 2001

Marshall Islands

2001 Edition — freely_associated

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Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
1 (2000)
Internet country code [time series]
.mh
Internet users [time series]
500 (2000)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios [time series]
NA
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: telex services 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: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
3,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
365 (1996)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
3 (of which two are US military stations) (1997)
Televisions [time series]
NA
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Budget [time series]
revenues: $80.1 million expenditures: $77.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5 million (FY95/96 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
USD
Debt - external [time series]
$125 million (FY96/97 est.)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
approximately $65 million annually from the US
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish 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 Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $65 million in annual aid. Negotiations were underway in 1999 for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$28 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish, coconut oil, trochus shells
Exports - partners [time series]
US, Japan, Australia
Fiscal year [time series]
1 October - 30 September
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $105 million (1998 est.), supplemented by approximately $65 million annual US aid
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 15% industry: 13% services: 72% (1995)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $1,670 (1998 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
-5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$58 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners [time series]
US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Guam, Singapore
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]
5% (1997)
Labor force [time series]
NA
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
16% (1991 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 181.3 sq km land: 181.3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
Area - comparative [time series]
about the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt
Coastline [time series]
370.4 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
inadequate supplies of potable water
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geographic coordinates [time series]
9 00 N, 168 00 E
Geography - 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
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 60% permanent pastures: 0% forests 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 hazards [time series]
occasional typhoons
Natural resources [time series]
phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Terrain [time series]
low coral limestone and sand islands
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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
Capital [time series]
Majuro
Constitution [time series]
1 May 1979
Country name [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)
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED 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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January 2000); 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 15 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of Parliament vote - 100%
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[1] (202) 232-3236 consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[692] 247-4012
Flag (Flag description) [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
Government type [time series]
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
Independence [time series]
21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, 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 Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 15 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003) 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
National holiday [time series]
Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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 islands between 1947 and 1962.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]
$NA
Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]
NA%
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 49.29% (male 17,808; female 17,101) 15-64 years: 48.61% (male 17,573; female 16,853) 65 years and over: 2.1% (male 707; female 780) (2001 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
45.07 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6.23 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Micronesian
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
39.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 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: 65.84 years male: 64.04 years female: 67.73 years (2001 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 100% female: 88% (1980 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Population [time series]
70,822 (July 2001 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
3.88% (2001 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: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
6.55 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
claims US territory of Wake Island
Transportation
Airports [time series]
16 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 3 (2000 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: 212 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,768,406 GRT/16,242,699 DWT ships by type: bulk 63, cargo 9, chemical tanker 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 29, liquefied gas 10, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 87, vehicle carrier 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Cyprus 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, US 6 (2000 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Majuro
Railways [time series]
0 km
Waterways [time series]
none