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Marshall Islands

2017 Edition — freely_associated

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
no TV broadcast station; a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4 radio broadcast stations; American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and television service to Kwajalein Atoll (2009)
Internet country code [time series]
.mh
Internet users [time series]
total: 21,857 | percent of population: 29.8% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: some telecom infrastructure improvements made in recent years; 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 high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones | international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2016)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 2,361 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 16,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Budget [time series]
revenues: $116.7 million | expenditures: $113.9 million (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
1.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16
Current account balance [time series]
$17 million (2016 est.) | $26.62 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56
Debt - external [time series]
$97.96 million (2013 est.) | $87 million (2008 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
US assistance and lease payments for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base are the mainstay of this small island country. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. Tourism holds some potential. The islands and atolls have few natural resources, and imports exceed exports. | The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during the period 1986-2001 under the original Compact of Free Association (Compact). In 2002 and 2003, the US and the Marshall Islands renegotiated the Compact's financial package for a 20-year period, 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact, the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. Under the amended Compact, the US and Marshall Islands are also jointly funding a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024, when direct Compact aid ends.
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$53.7 million (2013 est.) | $47.21 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202
Exports - commodities [time series]
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
Fiscal year [time series]
1 October - 30 September
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$194 million (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$182 million (2016 est.) | $177 million (2015 est.) | $171 million (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 221
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 4.4% | industry: 9.9% | services: 85.7% (2013 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$3,400 (2016 est.) | $3,300 (2015 est.) | $3,200 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 188
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
2% (2016 est.) | 1.9% (2015 est.) | -0.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$133.7 million (2013 est.) | $120.9 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
-1.5% (2016 est.) | -2.2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
Labor force [time series]
10,670 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 218
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 11% | industry: 16.3% | services: 72.7% (2011 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Public debt [time series]
32.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | 34.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
63.8% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Unemployment rate [time series]
36% (2006 est.) | 30.9% (2000 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
300,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity - consumption [time series]
576.6 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
80.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
19.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
52,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - production [time series]
620 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 30,084 | electrification - total population: 59% | electrification - urban areas: 65% | electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
2,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
2,060 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 181 sq km | land: 181 sq km | water: 0 sq km | note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik | country comparison to the world: 217
Area - comparative [time series]
about the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Coastline [time series]
370.4 km
Elevation [time series]
mean elevation: 2 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates [time series]
9 00 N, 168 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range; 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
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 50.7% | arable land 7.8%; permanent crops 31.2%; permanent pasture 11.7% | forest: 49.3% | other: 0% (2011 est.)
Location [time series]
Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
infrequent typhoons
Natural resources [time series]
coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
Terrain [time series]
low coral limestone and sand islands
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namdrik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje
Capital [time series]
name: Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap | geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E | time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Marshall Islands | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Constitution [time series]
effective 1 May 1979; amended several times, last in 1995 (2016)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands | conventional short form: Marshall Islands | local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands | local short form: Marshall Islands | abbreviation: RMI | former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District | etymology: named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Karen Brevard STEWART (since 25July 2016) | 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 Gerald M. ZACKIOS (since 16 September 2016) | chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 | FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 | consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AR) | consulate(s): Agana (Guam)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016) | cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker | elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 January 2016 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: Hilda C. HEINE elected president on 27 January 2016; Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE 24, she was the only candidate | note: Hilda C. HEINE is the first female elected head of state of any Pacific island nation
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north
Government type [time series]
presidential republic in free association with the US
Independence [time series]
21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges as prescribed by law) | judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Cabinet on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission and upon the approval of the Nitijela; judges appointed until retirement, normally at age 72 | subordinate courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes
Legislative branch [time series]
description: bicameral legislature consists of the Council of Iroij (12 seats; consists of tribal chiefs chosen by holders of the chieftainship among the constituent islands) and the National Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice) | elections: last held on 16 November 2015 (next to be held by November 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 33
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Forever Marshall Islands" | lyrics/music: Amata KABUA | note: adopted 1981
National holiday [time series]
Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
National symbol(s) [time series]
a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange
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 - Aelon Kein Ad Party [Michael 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 hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network. Kwajalein also hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas (the others are on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US)) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police (2012)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 34.89% (male 13,261/female 12,743) | 15-24 years: 18% (male 6,820/female 6,594) | 25-54 years: 37.28% (male 14,147/female 13,642) | 55-64 years: 5.82% (male 2,189/female 2,148) | 65 years and over: 4.02% (male 1,475/female 1,520) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
24.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
44.6% (2007)
Death rate [time series]
4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 93.5% of population | rural: 97.6% of population | total: 94.6% of population | urban: 6.5% of population | rural: 2.4% of population | total: 5.4% of population (2015 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
17.1% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 2
Hospital bed density [time series]
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 19.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 21.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 16.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
Languages [time series]
Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census) | note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 73.4 years | male: 71.2 years | female: 75.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 98.3% | male: 98.3% | female: 98.2% (2011 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
MAJURO (capital) 31,000 (2014)
Median age [time series]
total: 22.9 years | male: 22.8 years | female: 23 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
20.7 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2007 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) | adjective: Marshallese
Net migration rate [time series]
-4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
52.9% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 4
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
Population [time series]
74,539 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201
Population distribution [time series]
most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
Population growth rate [time series]
1.55% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74
Religions [time series]
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)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 84.5% of population | rural: 56.2% of population | total: 76.9% of population | urban: 15.5% of population | rural: 43.8% of population | total: 23.1% of population (2015 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female | total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
3.03 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 11% | male: 12.2% | female: 8.7% (2010 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 73.2% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 1.07% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
claims US territory of Wake Island
Trafficking in persons [time series]
current situation: The Marshall Islands is a source and destination country for Marshallese women and girls and women from East Asia subjected to sex trafficking; Marshallese and foreign women are forced into prostitution in businesses frequented by crew members of fishing and transshipping vessels that dock in Majuro; some Chinese women are recruited to the Marshall Islands with promises of legitimate work and are subsequently forced into prostitution | tier rating: Tier 3 – The Marshall Islands do not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government made no anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, including developing a written plan to combat trafficking; no new trafficking investigations were opened in 2014, and no prosecutions or convictions were made for the fourth consecutive year; no efforts were made to identify trafficking victims, especially among women in prostitution or men working on foreign fishing vessels in Marshallese waters, and no attempt was made to ensure their access to protective services; limited awareness-raising events were conducted by an international organization (2015)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
15 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 146
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 4 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 11 | 914 to 1,523 m: 10 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
V7 (2016)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 1,593 | by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 524, cargo 65, carrier 1, chemical tanker 351, container 226, liquefied gas 88, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 297, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 10 | foreign-owned: 1,465 (Belgium 1, Bermuda 35, Brazil 1, Canada 8, China 14, Croatia 12, Cyprus 40, Denmark 7, Egypt 1, France 7, Germany 248, Greece 408, Hong Kong 3, India 10, Indonesia 1, Iraq 2, Ireland 6, Italy 1, Japan 59, Jersey 11, Kuwait 2, Latvia 19, Malaysia 11, Mexico 2, Monaco 30, Netherlands 21, Norway 75, Pakistan 1, Qatar 29, Romania 2, Russia 5, Singapore 30, Slovenia 6, South Korea 41, Sweden 1, Switzerland 12, Taiwan 8, Turkey 70, UAE 12, UK 12, Ukraine 1, US 200) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 7
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 86,868 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro
Roadways [time series]
total: 2,028 km | paved: 75 km | note: roads are mostly unimproved (2007) | country comparison to the world: 175