Marshall Islands - MH - MHL - MHL - Australia and Oceania

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:
MAJConsular@state.gov

https://mh.usembassy.gov/

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)

9 00 N, 168 00 E

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.)

infrequent typhoons

about the size of Washington, D.C.

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.

inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels; sea-level rise

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

7.2% (2019 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

lowest 10%: 2.8% (2019 est.)

highest 10%: 27.5% (2019 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

coconuts (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police Department (includes a Sea Patrol Division) (2025)

revenues: $186.971 million (2018 est.)

expenditures: $177.91 million (2018 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

370.4 km

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

the US dollar is used

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

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 2 January 2023 (next to be held in 2027)

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

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north

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

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

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

total: 0 km

agricultural land: 38.9% (2022 est.)

arable land: 2.8% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 36.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest: 52.2% (2022 est.)

other: 8.9% (2022 est.)

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

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 

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.3%

male: 98.3%

female: 98.2% (2011)

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)

adjective: Marshallese

coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll 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

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

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

18 years of age; universal

general assessment: the National Telecommunications Act, through Bill No. 66, ushered in a new era in telecommunications in the Marshall Islands; this will enable an open, competitive market for telecommunications that is regulated by a Telecommunications Commissioner; telecom officials announced that they would be able to offer satellite internet services beginning in mid-2023; the World Bank has been promoting telecommunications reform here for a decade and has a multi-million-dollar telecommunications reform grant program in progress (2022)

domestic: fixed-line roughly 5 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is nearly 38 per 100 persons (2021)

international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein

low coral limestone and sand islands

mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US

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, and its funding was renewed in 2003; the Marshall Islands hosts a US Army missile test site 

the Marshall Islands have 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 (2024)

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

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

Oceania

0 sq km (2022)

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:
info@rmiembassyus.org

consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AR)

percent of population: 73% (2022 est.)

.mh

$259.3 million (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Marshall Islands remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/marshall-islands/

urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

no TV broadcast station; a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4 radio broadcast stations; American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and television service to Kwajalein Atoll (2019)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 99.8% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0.2% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

name: "Forever Marshall Islands"

lyrics/music: Amata KABUA

note: adopted 1981

31,000 MAJURO (capital) (2018)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

2.7 beds/1,000 population

a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange

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

most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 96.1%

electrification - rural areas: 100%

V7

improved:

urban: 96.6% of population

rural: 65.4% of population

total: 89.7% of population

unimproved:

urban: 3.4% of population

rural: 34.6% of population

total: 10.3% of population (2020 est.)

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

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.)

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

Kwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory))

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.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 2 m

NA

12.5% of GDP (2021)

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.)

total: 10 years

male: 10 years

female: 10 years (2019)

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 8,614 tons (2013 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,653 tons (2007 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 30.8% (2007 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 7.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.14 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.03 megatons (2020 est.)

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site

1.3 (2024 est.)

68.3% (2022 est.)

13.29% of GDP (2023 est.)
13.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
13.31% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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

total: 26% (2019 est.)

male: 31%

female: 14.2%

-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 25.5 years (2024 est.)

male: 25.4 years

female: 25.6 years

41.56% of GDP (2019 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

2.67 children born/woman (2024 est.)

total: 82,011 (2024 est.)

male: 41,581

female: 40,430

293,700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2017 est.)

total : 181 sq km

land: 181 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik

17.16% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$263.507 million (2023 est.)
$274.3 million (2022 est.)
$277.402 million (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

33 (2025)

total: 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 24 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 16,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2021 est.)

35.5 (2019 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

0% (2017 est.)
-1.5% (2016 est.)

$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

$6,800 (2023 est.)
$6,800 (2022 est.)
$6,700 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 1,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

total: 28.5% (2020 est.)

male: 48.7% (2020 est.)

female: 8.3% (2020 est.)

52.9% (2016)

4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

21.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 4,180 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 1,939, container ship 277, general cargo 66, oil tanker 1039, other 859

11.9% (2017)

$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

$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

total subscriptions: 2,000 (2014 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)

total population: 75.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 73 years

female: 77.5 years

-3.93% (2023 est.)
-1.12% (2022 est.)
1.11% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-2.81% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 19.5% (2023 est.)

industry: 11.1% (2023 est.)

services: 70.5% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

13.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.26% (2024 est.)