Marshall Islands
Republic of the Marshall Islands
mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US
Marshall Islands as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 121 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
17 fieldsLand useshare of 181 sq km
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
Elevation
- highest point:
- East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m
- lowest point:
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
- mean elevation:
- 2 m
Population distribution
most people live in urban clusters on many of the country's islands; more than two thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
Geography - note
- 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
People and Society
32 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2021 est.)
Religions(2021 est.)
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
Population distribution
most people live in urban clusters on many of the country's islands; more than two thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.95 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 20.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 24 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Environment
8 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Environmental issues
- inadequate potable water;
- pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels;
- sea-level rise
International environmental agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 78.9% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 8,600 tons (2024 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 39.7% (2022 est.)
Government
Mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US; President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023); President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023)
23 fieldsCountry name
- 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
- former:
- Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District
- abbreviation:
- RMI
- etymology:
- named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788
Capital
- name:
- Majuro
- geographic coordinates:
- 7 06 N, 171 23 E
- time difference:
- UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- etymology:
- Majuro means "two openings" or "two eyes" and refers to the two major passages through the atoll into the Majuro lagoon
note: the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands on the eastern side of the atoll: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap
Administrative divisions
24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje
Constitution
- history:
- effective 1 May 1979
- amendment 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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- 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
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 speaker
- election/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 2023
- election results:
- 2023: Hilda C. HEINE elected president; National Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE (independent) 17, David KABUA (independent) 16; 2020: David KABUA elected president; National Parliament vote - David KABUA (independent) 20, Hilda C. HEINE (independent) 12
- expected date of next election:
- 2027
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
- legislature name:
- Parliament (Nitijela)
- legislative structure:
- unicameral
- number of seats:
- 33 (all directly elected)
- electoral system:
- plurality/majority
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 4 years
- most recent election date:
- 11/20/2023
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 12.1%
- expected date of next election:
- November 2027
note: 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
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 72
- subordinate courts:
- High Court;
- District Courts;
- Traditional Rights Court;
- Community Courts
Political parties
- 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Charles Rudolph PAUL (since 27 February 2024)
- chancery:
- 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 234-5414
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 232-3236
- email address and website:
- [email protected]
- consulate(s) general:
- Honolulu, Springdale (AR)
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Laura M. STONE (since 12 July 2024)
- embassy:
- Mejen Weto, Ocean Side, Majuro
- mailing address:
- 4380 Majuro Place, Washington DC 20521-4380
- telephone:
- [692] 247-4011
- FAX:
- [692] 247-4012
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://mh.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
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, UNHRC, WHO
Flag
- description:
- blue with an orange stripe and a white stripe radiating from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner;
- a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the left side above the two stripes
- meaning:
- blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, orange for the Ralik Chain (or sunset and courage), and white for the Ratak Chain (or sunrise and peace);
- the star symbolizes the Christian cross, with a small ray for each electoral district and a larger ray for the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye;
- the diagonal stripes can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Forever Marshall Islands"
- lyrics/music:
- Amata KABUA
- history:
- adopted 1981; words and music written by the first president of the Marshall Islands
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 1 (cultural)
- selected World Heritage Site locales:
- Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site
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
26 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2023 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2023 est.)
Budget(2020 est.)
Economic overview
- 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
Population below poverty line
7.2% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
35.5 (2019 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Remittances
13.3% of GDP (2023 est.) · 13.6% of GDP (2022 est.) · 13.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Taxes and other revenues
17.2% (of GDP) (2020 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance
$76.263 million (2021 est.) · $90.281 million (2020 est.) · $86.133 million (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$130.016 million (2021 est.) · $88.042 million (2020 est.) · $91.394 million (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, fish, natural gas, stone processing machines (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$206.025 million (2021 est.) · $132.845 million (2020 est.) · $129.682 million (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, iron structures, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Energy
1 fieldElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2014–23 est.)
Broadcast media
- no TV broadcast station;
- a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays;
- 4 radio broadcast stations;
- US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and TV service to Kwajalein Atoll (2019)
Transportation
4 fieldsMerchant marine, 4,180 ships by type(2023)
Ports
- total ports:
- 3 (2024)
- large:
- 0
- medium:
- 0
- small:
- 0
- very small:
- 3
- ports with oil terminals:
- 2
- key ports:
- Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro Atoll
Military and Security
Marshall Islands Police Department (includes a Sea Patrol Division)
2 fieldsMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of the US; in 1982, the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the Marshall Islands financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986; the Marshall Islands hosts a US Army missile test site
the Marshall Islands has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within its designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas;
"shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Marshall Islands.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/marshall-islands.