ARCHIVE // MH // 2002

Marshall Islands

2002 Edition — freely_associated

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Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
1 (2002)
Internet country code [time series]
.mh
Internet users [time series]
900 (2002)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
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 [time series]
NA
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2001)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
4,186 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
489 (2001)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
2 (both are US military stations) (2002)
Televisions [time series]
NA
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Budget [time series]
revenues: $42 million expenditures: $40 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
USD
Debt - external [time series]
$86.5 million
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
approximately $39 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 primarily subsistence and 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 Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $39 million in annual aid. Negotiations have continued for an extended agreement. 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.
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 99% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 1% (solar)
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$9 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities [time series]
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts
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 - $115 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 14% industry: 16% services: 70% (2000 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
1% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$54 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners [time series]
US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1.9% (1999 est.)
Labor force [time series]
28,698
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture 21%, industry 21%, services 58%
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
30.9% (1999 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 181.3 sq km note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik water: 0 sq km land: 181.3 sq km
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; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
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]
0 sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 0% other: 83.33% (1998 est.)
Location [time series]
Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Natural hazards [time series]
infrequent typhoons
Natural resources [time series]
coconut products, 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 Michael J. SENKO 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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Honolulu FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 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%
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, Interpol, ITU, OPCW (signatory), 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) note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
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 atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands have been home to the US Army Base Kwajalein (USAKA) since 1964.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces; 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: 49.1% (male 18,443; female 17,704) 15-64 years: 48.9% (male 18,347; female 17,628) 65 years and over: 2% (male 720; female 788) (2002 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
44.98 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2002 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]
38.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (widely spoken as a second language, both English and Marshallese are official languages), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 66.18 years female: 68.09 years (2002 est.) male: 64.35 years
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.7% male: 93.6% female: 93.7% (1999)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population [time series]
73,630 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
3.89% (2002 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 (2002 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
6.49 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
claims US territory of Wake Island
Transportation
Airports [time series]
17 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: NA 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)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 270 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,807,839 GRT/19,332,014 DWT note: the ship's register of the Marshall Islands is a flag of convenience register since essentially none of the vessels on it is owned domestically, includes the following foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: China 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 9, Germany 70, Greece 54, Hong Kong 2, Japan 4, Monaco 8, Netherlands 8, Norway 10, Poland 16, Singapore 1, Turkey 6, United Kingdom 3, United States 87, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 82, cargo 14, chemical tanker 24, combination ore/oil 4, container 46, liquefied gas 8, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 88, vehicle carrier 3
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Majuro
Railways [time series]
0 km
Waterways [time series]
none