Marshall Islands

Republic of the Marshall Islands

Australia and Oceania Majuro

Population

82.0K

Area

181 km²

GDP

$280.36M

GDP Per Capita

$7,200

Pop. Density

453/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

$United States dollar(USD)

Calling Code

+692

Timezone

UTC+12:00

Languages

English, Marshallese

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Marshallese

Background

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑102.6% since 2006

$143M (2006)$290M (2024)

Population

↓27.8% since 2006

51,992 (2006)37,548 (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 66.9 years

2006: 64.2 years2023: 66.9 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography17

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

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total : 181 sq km
land: 181 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

370.4 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

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

Terrain

low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation

highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 2 m

Natural resources

coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Land use

agricultural land

38.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 36.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest

53.9% (2023 est.)

other

7.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

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

Natural hazards

infrequent typhoons

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 & Society32

Population

total: 82,011 (2024 est.)
male: 41,581
female: 40,430

Nationality

noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese

Ethnic groups

Marshallese 95.6%, Filipino 1.1%, other 3.3% (2021 est.)

Languages

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.

Religions

Protestant 79.3% (United Church of Christ 47.9%, Assembly of God 14.1%, Full Gospel 5%, Bukot Nan Jesus 3%, Salvation Army 2.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 2.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, New Beginning Church 1.4%, other Protestant 1.6%), Roman Catholic 9.3%, Church of Jesus Christ 5.7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, other 3.3%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 30% (male 12,538/female 12,072)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 26,750/female 25,944)
65 years and over: 5.7% (2024 est.) (male 2,293/female 2,414)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 55.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 46.7 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 8.9 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 11.2 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 25.9 years (2025 est.)
male: 25.4 years
female: 25.6 years

Population growth rate

1.22% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

20.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

4.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

Urbanization

urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

31,000 MAJURO (capital) (2018)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio

155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 73 years
female: 77.5 years

Total fertility rate

2.62 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.28 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 84.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 87.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 85.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 15.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 12.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 14.9% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 12.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 92.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 70.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 88% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 7.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 29.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 12% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

52.9% (2016)

Tobacco use

total: 30.9% (2025 est.)
male: 52.9% (2025 est.)
female: 8.5% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.9% (2017 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

68.3% (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 7.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.3% national budget (2022 est.)

Literacy

total population: 95.8% (2021 est.)
male: 95.7% (2021 est.)
female: 96.4% (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years (2022 est.)
male: 14 years (2022 est.)
female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Government23

Country 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

Government type

mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US

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

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

Legal system

mixed system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

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

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

Independence

21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

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 symbol(s)

a 24-rayed star

National color(s)

blue, white, orange

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

Economy26

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $270.809 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $263.507 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $274.3 million (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: -3.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1.1% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $7,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,800 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$280.358 million (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.6% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.7% (2020 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 19.5% (2023 est.)
industry: 11.1% (2023 est.)
services: 70.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

70.7% (2023 est.)

government consumption

53.5% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

20.2% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.5% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services

38.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-71.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

coconuts (2023)

Industries

copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.8% (2023 est.)

Population below poverty line

7.2% (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 35.5 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% (2019 est.)
highest 10%: 27.5% (2019 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 13.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 13.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 13.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues: $171.267 million (2020 est.)
expenditures: $159.095 million (2020 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2019: 41.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.2% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021: $76.263 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2020: $90.281 million (2020 est.)
Current account balance 2019: $86.133 million (2019 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021: $130.016 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2020: $88.042 million (2020 est.)
Exports 2019: $91.394 million (2019 est.)

Exports - partners

UK 16%, Germany 13%, Denmark 10%, Ghana 9%, Cyprus 9% (2023)

Exports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, fish, natural gas, stone processing machines (2023)

Imports

Imports 2021: $206.025 million (2021 est.)
Imports 2020: $132.845 million (2020 est.)
Imports 2019: $129.682 million (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

China 47%, Japan 15%, Germany 5%, Brazil 4%, Cyprus 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, iron structures, crude petroleum (2023)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Energy1

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 96.1%
electrification - rural areas: 100%

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2,000 (2014 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 16,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2021 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)

Internet country code

.mh

Internet users

percent of population: 66% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

Transportation4

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

33 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 4,180 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 1,939, container ship 277, general cargo 66, oil tanker 1039, other 859

Ports

total ports

3 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro Atoll

Military & Security2

Military and security forces

Marshall Islands Police Department (includes a Sea Patrol Division)

Military - 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 Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 35 (2024 est.)

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