1.
[syn: Marshall Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands]
2. a group of coral islands in eastern Micronesia;
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Marshall Islands
n 1: a republic (under United States protection) on the Marshall
Islands [syn: Marshall Islands, Republic of the Marshall
Islands]
2: a group of coral islands in eastern Micronesia
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Marshall Islands
Introduction Marshall Islands
-----------------------------
Background: 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.
Geography Marshall Islands
--------------------------
Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs
in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: 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: about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: wet season from May to November; hot
and humid; islands border typhoon
belt
Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on
Likiep 10 m
Natural resources: coconut products, marine products,
deep seabed minerals
Land use: arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Natural hazards: infrequent typhoons
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable
water; pollution of Majuro lagoon
from household waste and discharges
from fishing vessels
Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - 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 Marshall Islands
-----------------------
Population: 73,630 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 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.)
Population growth rate: 3.89% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 44.98 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Sex ratio: 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.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.18 years
female: 68.09 years (2002 est.)
male: 64.35 years
Total fertility rate: 6.49 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Marshallese (singular and
plural)
adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)
Languages: English (widely spoken as a second
language, both English and
Marshallese are official languages),
two major Marshallese dialects from
the Malayo-Polynesian family,
Japanese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)
Government Marshall Islands
---------------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall
Islands
former: Marshall Islands District
(Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)
Government type: constitutional government in free
association with the US; the Compact
of Free Association entered into
force 21 October 1986
Capital: Majuro
Administrative divisions: 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
Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-
administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Constitution: 1 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory
laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary
laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: 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%
Legislative branch: 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders: 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 pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
participation: IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, ITU, OPCW (signatory),
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: 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
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Michael
US: 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
Flag description: 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 Marshall Islands
------------------------
Economy - overview: 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $115
million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,600
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 28,698
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%,
services 57.7%
Unemployment rate: 30.9% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items
from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1% (solar)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro,
breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens
Exports: $9 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts
Exports - partners: US, Japan, Australia
Imports: $54 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
fuels, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners: US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore,
Fiji, China, Philippines
Debt - external: $86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: approximately $39 million annually
from the US
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications Marshall Islands
-------------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 4,186 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 489 (2001)
Telephone system: 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)
Radio broadcast stations: 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: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (both are US military stations)
(2002)
Televisions: NA
Internet country code: .mh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2002)
Internet users: 537 (2001)
Transportation Marshall Islands
-------------------------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: 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)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Majuro
Merchant marine: 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
Airports: 17 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 3 (2001)
Military Marshall Islands
-------------------------
Military branches: no regular military forces; Police
Force
Military expenditures - dollar $NA
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of NA%
GDP:
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
US
Transnational Issues Marshall Islands
-------------------------------------
Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Island