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Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands, an island nation, is located in the western Pacific Ocean and north of Nauru and Kiribati, east of the Federated States of Micronesia and south of the U.S. territory of Wake Island. Marshall Islands are composed of 29 atolls and 5 single islands. Majuro is the capital of the islands. It has a constitutional government in free association with the US. The defense of the islands is the responsibility of the United States.

HISTORY:- Micronesian peoples were the first settlers in Marshall Islands around 2nd millennium BC. First European contact was established when Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar sighted the islands in 1526. In 1788, British Captain John Marshall arrived in the islands. The islands were incorporated in the German New Guinea, after a German trading company was settled in Marshall Islands in 1885. During the World War I, Japan occupied the islands. During the World War II, the United States occupied the islands in 1944. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was formed along with Mariana, Marshall Islands and Caroline archipelagos in the same year. In 1979, Marshall Islands gained autonomy. In 1986, the islands became republic with signing a Compact of Free Association.

GEOGRAPHY:- Marshall Islands are located at 9 00 N, 168 00 E in the Oceania. Marshall Islands comprise two archipelagic island chains, namely the Ratak Chain and the Ralik Chain, which consist of 29 atolls and 5 single islands in the North Pacific Ocean. The archipelago captures total 181.3 sq km area with no internal water sources. The coastline is 370.4 km long along with the North Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is an unnamed location on Likiep (10 m). The 29 atolls and 5 islands are mainly formed of low coral limestone and sand.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Marshall Islands is mostly tropical, hot and humid. The wet season persists from May to November. The islands are situated at the border of the typhoon belt.

GOVERNMENT:- Marshall Islands have a mixed parliamentary-presidential system. The archipelago has a constitutional government in free association with the United States. The constitution was adopted on 1st May 1979. The legal system is modeled on the Trust Territory laws, the acts of the legislature, the municipal, common, and customary laws. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state and head of government), and cabinet. The president is elected from among the Parliament members by the Parliament on a 4-year term. The Cabinet ministers are chosen by the president from among the members of the legislature or Nitijela.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Traditional Rights Court.

Aelon Kein Ad Party (AKA), United Democratic Party (UDP) and UPP are the three political parties of Marshall Islands. The coalition of AKA and UPP are the ruling party in the islands. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

Head of State    President Litokwa Tomeing

Minister of Foreign Affairs  Tony deBrum

Ambassador to the UN  Philip Muller

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Marshall Islands are divided into 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, and Wotje.

CULTURE:- Competition of unique oceanic sailing canoe, the proa is the traditional trait of the Marshallese. The Marshallese are familiar with the canoe building.

ECONOMY:- Coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit are the most important economic crops in the Marshall Islands. The tourism industry accounts for 10% of the total employment but it is considered as the leading industry of future in Marshall Islands.

GDP/PPP (2001 est.): $115 million; per capita $1,600.

Real growth rate: 3.5% (2005 est).

Inflation: 3%.

Unemployment: 30.9% (1999 est.).

Arable land: 11%.

Agriculture: Coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens.

Labor force: 28,700 (1996 est); agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7% (1997).

Budget:

Revenues: $42 million

Expenditures: $40 million (1999)

Debt - external: $86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Industries: Copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from seashells, wood, and pearls.

Natural resources: Coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals.

Exports: $9 million (f.o.b., 2000): copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish.

Imports: $54 million (f.o.b., 2000): foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages, and tobacco.

Major trading partners: U.S., Japan, Australia, China, New Zealand, Singapore, Fiji, Philippines (2004).

Currency (code): US dollar (USD)

LANGUAGE:- Marshallese and English are the official languages of Marshall Islands.

Marshallese 98.2%

Other languages 1.8% (1999)

CITIES:- The capital Majuro is the largest city of Marshall Islands. Other large cities are Ebeye, Jaluit.

POPULATION:- The population of Marshall islands is estimated 61,782 with an average growth rate of 2.2%. Out of 29 atolls and 5 islands, 9 atolls and an island are still uninhabited. The uninhabited atolls are: Ailinginae Atoll, Bikar Atoll, Bikini Atoll, Bokak Atoll, Erikub Atoll, Jemo Island, Nadikdik Atoll, Rongerik Atoll, Toke Atoll, and Ujelang Atoll.

Density per sq mi: 884

Literacy rate: 94% (1999)

RACE:- Only Micronesian resides in the islands of Marshall Islands.

RELIGION:-

Protestant 54.8%

Assembly of God 25.8%

Roman Catholic 8.4%

Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%

Mormon 2.1%

Other Christian 3.6%

Other 1%

None 1.5% (1999)

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 31.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 4.57 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 26.36 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.9 years

Total fertility rate: 3.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 582

UNICEF:- UNICEF’s Child Protection Programme fights against violence against children. UNICEF and its partners provide psychosocial support to social, environmental or political conflict-affected children. UNICEF’s Adolescent Development and Child Health Programme promotes awareness on HIV among the youth, trains the youth to enhance their skills. Teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse and trafficking of children are the major issues with the country. UNICEF supplies vaccines at a low cost.

UNICEF partners with civil registrars and health ministries to assist them in birth registration.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: n.a.; paved: 64.5 km; unpaved: n.a (2002).

Ports and harbors: Majuro.

Airports: 15 (2002).

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