Flag of MH

Marshall Islands

Mixed Presidential-Parliamentary System In Free Association With The USPop82KGDP (PPP)$270.8MCI77BetaCP0.0Beta

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land
181 sq km
Note
note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km (4,507 sq mi) of lagoon and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik
Water
0 sq km
Total
181 sq km
Climate
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Terrain
low coral limestone and sand islands

Land Use

Other
7.2% (2023 est.)
Forest
53.9% (2023 est.)
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.)
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
Coastline
370.4 km

Elevation

Lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point
East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m
Mean elevation
2 m
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Map references
Oceania

Land Boundaries

Total
0 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone
24 nm
Territorial sea
12 nm
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
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
Natural resources
coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Area comparative
about the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
9 00 N, 168 00 E
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

People & Society

Literacy

Male
95.7% (2021 est.)
Female
96.4% (2021 est.)
Total population
95.8% (2021 est.)

Languages

Note
note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language
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.)

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
Total population
1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.95 male(s)/female
Birth rate
20.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
4.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male
25.4 years
Total
25.9 years (2025 est.)
Female
25.6 years

Population

Male
41,581
Total
82,011 (2024 est.)
Female
40,430

Nationality

Noun
Marshallese (singular and plural)
Adjective
Marshallese

Tobacco Use

Male
52.9% (2025 est.)
Total
30.9% (2025 est.)
Female
8.5% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population
78.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization
0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
Ethnic groups
Marshallese 95.6%, Filipino 1.1%, other 3.3% (2021 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio
55.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio
46.7 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio
11.2 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio
8.9 (2024 est.)
Physician density
0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

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.)
Net migration rate
-4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.62 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural
rural: 87.2% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total
total: 85.1% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban
urban: 84.5% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural
rural: 12.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total
total: 14.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban
urban: 15.5% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

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

Infant Mortality Rate

Male
24 deaths/1,000 live births
Total
20.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female
17.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.22% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.28 (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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male
73 years
Female
77.5 years
Total population
75.2 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural
rural: 70.4% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total
total: 88% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban
urban: 92.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural
rural: 29.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total
total: 12% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban
urban: 7.2% of population (2022 est.)
Major urban areas population
31,000 MAJURO (capital) (2018)
Obesity adult prevalence rate
52.9% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49)
68.3% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.9% (2017 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male
14 years (2022 est.)
Total
14 years (2022 est.)
Female
15 years (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

Head of StateHilda HeineExecutive of Marshall IslandscabinetParliamentLower chamber · 33 seatsHead of GovernmentHilda Heine
ExecutiveLegislative
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

Capital

Name
Majuro
Note
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
Etymology
Majuro means "two openings" or "two eyes" and refers to the two major passages through the atoll into the Majuro lagoon
Time difference
UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates
7 06 N, 171 23 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal

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

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

Country Name

Former
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District
Etymology
named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788
Abbreviation
RMI
Local long form
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Local short form
Marshall Islands
Conventional long form
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Conventional short form
Marshall Islands
Independence
21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Legal system
mixed system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes
Government type
mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)
Subordinate courts
High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts
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

Executive Branch

Note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet
Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker
Chief of state
President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 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
Head of government
President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023)
Most recent election date
2 January 2023
Election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits)
Expected date of next election
2027
National holiday
Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
National color(s)
blue, white, orange

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites
1 (cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales
Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site
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

Legislative Branch

Note
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
Term in office
4 years
Number of seats
33 (all directly elected)
Electoral system
plurality/majority
Legislature name
Parliament (Nitijela)
Scope of elections
full renewal
Legislative structure
unicameral
Most recent election date
11/20/2023
Expected date of next election
November 2027
Percentage of women in chamber
12.1%

National Anthem(s)

Title
"Forever Marshall Islands"
History
adopted 1981; words and music written by the first president of the Marshall Islands
Lyrics/music
Amata KABUA
National symbol(s)
a 24-rayed star
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

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax
[1] (202) 232-3236
Chancery
2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone
[1] (202) 234-5414
Chief of mission
Ambassador Charles Rudolph PAUL (since 27 February 2024)
Consulate(s) general
Honolulu, Springdale (AR)
Email address and website

info@rmiembassyus.org

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax
[692] 247-4012
Embassy
Mejen Weto, Ocean Side, Majuro
Telephone
[692] 247-4011
Mailing address
4380 Majuro Place, Washington DC  20521-4380
Chief of mission
Ambassador Laura M. STONE (since 12 July 2024)
Email address and website

MAJConsular@state.gov

https://mh.usembassy.gov/
International organisations
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

MARSHALL ISLANDS · LEGISLATURE

Parliament

33 seats · hover a seat for the party
ROSTRUMMAJORITY 18
Total seats
33
Majority line
18
Largest party
Parties

Leaders

Current

  • Hilda Heine

    • Head of StateSince 2024
    • Head of GovernmentSince 2024

Economy

Budget

Note
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues
$171.267 million (2020 est.)
Expenditures
$159.095 million (2020 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$122.0M
Note
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2019
$91.394 million (2019 est.)
Exports 2020
$88.042 million (2020 est.)
Exports 2021
$130.016 million (2021 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$237.1M
Note
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2019
$129.682 million (2019 est.)
Imports 2020
$132.845 million (2020 est.)
Imports 2021
$206.025 million (2021 est.)
Industries
copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled)
41.6%
Note
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2019
41.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Remittances

Note
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021
13.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
13.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
13.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
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
Exports partners
UK 16%, Germany 13%, Denmark 10%, Ghana 9%, Cyprus 9% (2023)
Imports partners
China 47%, Japan 15%, Germany 5%, Brazil 4%, Cyprus 4% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$8,195
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022
$6,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$6,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$7,200 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled)
2.5%
Note
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022
-1.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
-3.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
coconuts (2023)
Exports commodities
ships, refined petroleum, fish, natural gas, stone processing machines (2023)
Imports commodities
ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, iron structures, crude petroleum (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$62.3M
Note
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2019
$86.133 million (2019 est.)
Current account balance 2020
$90.281 million (2020 est.)
Current account balance 2021
$76.263 million (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
17.2% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$280.358 million (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption
70.7% (2023 est.)
Government consumption
53.5% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories
-0.5% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital
20.2% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services
38.9% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services
-71.2% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line
7.2% (2019 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
6.2% (2022 est.)
Note
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-0.7% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
2.6% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.2% (2022 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-2.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$270.809 million (2024 est.)
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$274.3 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$263.507 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$270.809 million (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry
11.1% (2023 est.)
Services
70.5% (2023 est.)
Agriculture
19.5% (2023 est.)

Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share

Note
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%
2.8% (2019 est.)
Highest 10%
27.5% (2019 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2019
35.5 (2019 est.)

Energy

Electricity Access

Electrification rural areas
100%
Electrification urban areas
96.1%
Electrification total population
100% (2022 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population
66% (2023 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

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.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total
1,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2022 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large
0
Small
0
Medium
0
Key ports
Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro Atoll
Very small
3
Total ports
3 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals
2
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
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
V7

Environment

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

Land Use

Other
7.2% (2023 est.)
Forest
53.9% (2023 est.)
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.)

Urbanization

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

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually
8,600 tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
39.7% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
inadequate potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels; sea-level rise
Carbon dioxide emissions
293,700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2017 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
7.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

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

Military & Security

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)
Military and security forces
Marshall Islands Police Department (includes a Sea Patrol Division)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps
35 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index77.0 / 100as of 2024-Q429 / 1902024-Q4
Freedom House StatusFree (100/100)as of 2024-Q42024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 20242024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Marshall Islands — vintage 2026-Q1: Marshall Islands factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/marshall-islands
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata