Marshall Islands

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 (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.

• tropical;
• hot and humid;
• wet season May to November;
• islands border typhoon belt

arable land:

11.11%

permanent crops:

44.44%

other:

44.45% (2005)

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

• the Marshall Islands 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

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:

0.94 male(s)/female

total population:

1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

noun:

Marshallese (singular and plural)

adjective:

Marshallese

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

• constitutional government in free association with the US;
• the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

name:

Majuro

geographic coordinates:

7 06 N, 171 23 E

time difference:

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

• Supreme Court;
• High Court;
• Traditional Rights Court

• 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]

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles A. PAUL

chancery:

2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 234-5414

FAX:

[1] (202) 232-3236

consulate(s) general:

Honolulu

chief of mission:

Ambassador Clyde BISHOP

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

• 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

agriculture:

21.4%

industry:

20.9%

services:

57.7% (2000)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

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 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 (2005)

• no regular military forces;
• under the 1983 Compact of Free Association, the US has full authority and responsibility for security and defense of the Marshall Islands;
• Marshall Islands Police (2008)

male:

512

female:

494 (2008 est.)