Marshall Islands
Republic of the Marshall Islands
constitutional government in free associationIndependence 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN
Marshall Islands as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 84 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific | Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
15 fieldsLand useshare of 181.3 sq km
Location
Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
Terrain
low coral limestone and sand islands
- lowest point:
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
- highest point:
- unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Environment
- 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 note
- 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
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 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.)
Sex ratio
- 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.)
Languages
English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
Government
Constitutional government in free association
21 fieldsName of country
- conventional long form:
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
- conventional short form:
- Marshall Islands
- former:
- Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
Type of government
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
Legal system
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Executive branch
- 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
Parliament (Nitijela)
- 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 and leaders
- government:
- Our Islands Party, President Amata KABUA
- opposition:
- Ralik/Ratak Democratic Party (RRDP), Ramsey REIMERS
International organization participation
AsDB, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant)
- chancery:
- 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 234-5414
US diplomatic representation
- 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
Flag
- 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
Economy
Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of | the economy.
20 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 42,000 kW
Economic overview
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.
Industries
copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)
Exports
$21.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
- commodities:
- coconut oil, fish, live animals, trochus shells
- partners:
- US, Japan, Australia
Imports
$69.9 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
- commodities:
- foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, beverages and tobacco, fuels
- partners:
- US, Japan, Australia
Economic aid
recipient: under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US is to provide approximately $40 million in aid annually
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 16 in all
Highways
- 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
- 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.)
Communications
No regular military forces (a coast guard may be | established); Police Force
8 fieldsTelephone system
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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Marshall Islands.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/marshall-islands/1996.