# Marshall Islands

> country near the equator in the Pacific Ocean

**Wikidata**: [Q709](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q709)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Islands)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/marshall-islands

## Summary

The Marshall Islands, officially known as Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ, is a sovereign state and archipelagic country located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. As a distinct territorial body within the region of Micronesia, it comprises 34 low-lying coral atolls and islands with a total land area of 181.43 square kilometers. The nation operates as a republic with a president serving as both head of state and head of government, maintaining a special relationship with the United States through a Compact of Free Association.

## Key Facts

*   **Official Names:** Marshall Islands; Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ; Republic of the Marshall Islands.
*   **Location:** Oceania, Micronesia (Pacific Ocean near the equator).
*   **Capital:** Majuro.
*   **Coordinates:** 9.82° N, 169.29° E.
*   **Area:** 181.43 square kilometers.
*   **Population:** 54,366 (2023 estimation); 53,127 (2017 estimation).
*   **Currency:** United States dollar (USD) and SOV.
*   **Languages:** English and Marshallese (official).
*   **Government Type:** Sovereign state; Republic.
*   **Head of State/Government:** Hilda Heine (term started January 3, 2024).
*   **Inception:** May 1, 1979 (self-governance); October 21, 1986 (Compact of Free Association).
*   **UN Membership:** Admitted September 17, 1991.
*   **ISO Codes:** MH (Alpha-2), MHL (Alpha-3), 584 (Numeric).
*   **Internet TLD:** .mh.
*   **Calling Code:** +692.
*   **Time Zones:** UTC+12:00 (Pacific/Majuro); Pacific/Kwajalein (Kwajalein Atoll).
*   **Highest Point:** Likiep Atoll (10 meters).
*   **Lowest Point:** Pacific Ocean (0 meters).

## FAQs

**What are the demographic trends in the Marshall Islands?**
As of 2023, the estimated population is 54,366. The country has a birth rate of approximately 18.5 per 1,000 (2022) and a death rate of roughly 7.9 per 1,000 (2022). Life expectancy is estimated at 65 years. The population is split between urban (approximately 32,640 in 2022) and rural (approximately 8,929 in 2022) residents.

**What international organizations does the Marshall Islands belong to?**
The nation is a member of the United Nations (joined 1991), the Asian Development Bank (joined 1990), Interpol (joined 1990), UNESCO (joined 1995), the World Health Organization, and the Alliance of Small Island States. It is also a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

**What is the economic structure of the Marshall Islands?**
The economy utilizes the United States dollar as currency. In 2022, the nominal GDP was reported at approximately $279.6 million USD. The country has historically appeared on the European Union's list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions (tax haven blacklist), most recently listed starting in February 2023.

**Who governs the Marshall Islands?**
The government is structured as a sovereign republic with executive power vested in the Government of the Marshall Islands. The legislative body is the Legislature of the Marshall Islands, and the highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court. Hilda Heine currently serves as the President (Head of State and Government).

**What are the distinct geographical features of the country?**
The country consists of 34 administrative territorial entities (atolls and islands), including Bikini Atoll, Kwajalein Atoll, and Majuro. The terrain is extremely flat, with the highest elevation being only 10 meters on Likiep Atoll. The nation shares maritime borders with the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, and the United States (Wake Island).

## Why It Matters

The Marshall Islands represents a critical case study in post-colonial sovereignty and environmental vulnerability. As a freely associated state with the United States, it occupies a unique geopolitical position in the Pacific, acting as a strategic maritime entity bordering several nations and US territories. Its history is deeply intertwined with 20th-century global conflicts and nuclear testing (referenced implicitly by entities like Bikini Atoll). Environmentally, the nation serves as a bellwether for climate change impacts due to its low elevation (maximum 10 meters) and status as an archipelagic state. Its active membership in the Alliance of Small Island States amplifies the voice of low-lying nations in international climate diplomacy.

## Notable For

*   **Extreme Low Elevation:** With a highest point of only 10 meters, it is one of the flattest nations on Earth.
*   **Unique Naming Origin:** The country is named after British explorer John Marshall.
*   **Compact of Free Association:** It is one of the few sovereign nations that holds a formal Compact of Free Association with the United States, established in 1986.
*   **Maritime Borders with the US:** It is one of the few countries to share a maritime boundary with the United States (specifically Wake Island).
*   **Multiple Time Zones:** The country observes two time zones (Pacific/Majuro and Pacific/Kwajalein).
*   **Tax Jurisdiction Status:** It has repeatedly appeared on the European Union's list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.

## Body

### Geography and Topography
The Marshall Islands is an island country and archipelagic state located in Insular Oceania, specifically within the Micronesia region. The nation comprises 34 distinct administrative territorial entities, including atolls such as Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Arno, Bikar, Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, and Majuro. The country's geography is characterized by its low elevation; the lowest point is the Pacific Ocean (sea level) and the highest point is located on Likiep Atoll at just 10 meters. The nation's coordinates place it near the equator, roughly between 5.89°N and 14.72°N latitude. It shares maritime boundaries with the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, and the United States (Wake Island).

### History and Sovereignty
The islands were historically named after John Marshall. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the territory was part of the German protectorate Marshall Islands (1896–1914) and later German New Guinea (1906–1919). Modern sovereignty began with the establishment of self-governance on May 1, 1979. The nation subsequently entered the Compact of Free Association with the United States on October 21, 1986. The country joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991. The foundational text governing the nation is the Constitution of the Marshall Islands.

### Politics and Government
The executive body is the Government of the Marshall Islands, led by the President, who serves as both the head of state and head of government. Hilda Heine assumed the presidency on January 3, 2024. The legislative branch is the Legislature of the Marshall Islands, while the highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court. The nation's motto is "Accomplishment through joint effort" (Jepilpilin ke ejukaan). The capital city is Majuro.

### Demographics and Society
The population has grown from 14,665 in 1960 to an estimated 54,366 in 2023. The populace is known as Marshallese (demonym). English and Marshallese are the official languages, though English is widely spoken as a second language (estimated 60,000 speakers). In 2022, the male population was recorded at 21,223 and the female population at 20,346. The birth rate has declined from approximately 20.7 in 2019 to 18.5 in 2022, while life expectancy remains steady at 65 years. The majority of the population resides in urban areas (32,640) compared to rural areas (8,929).

### Economy and Development
The Marshall Islands utilizes the United States dollar as its primary currency, alongside the SOV. The nominal GDP was approximately $279.6 million in 2022, up from $259.5 million in 2021. The Gini coefficient was 35.5 in 2019. The country has been listed on the European Union tax haven blacklist multiple times, including periods in 2018, 2019, and most recently starting in February 2023. The Human Development Index (HDI) was 0.639 in 2021.

### International Relations
The Marshall Islands maintains diplomatic relations with nations including the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Taiwan, the United States, Germany, and the People's Republic of China. It is a member of numerous international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (via IBRD/IDA), Interpol (joined 1990), the Asian Development Bank (joined 1990), UNESCO (joined 1995), and the World Health Organization. It is also a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

### Culture and Symbols
The national flag is the Flag of the Marshall Islands, and the national anthem is "Forever Marshall Islands." The country's coat of arms is the Seal of the Marshall Islands. The culture is identified as Marshallese culture. The country observes two time zones: UTC+12:00 (Pacific/Majuro) and a specific zone for Kwajalein Atoll. Driving is on the right side of the road, and the emergency telephone number is 911.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.statesmansyearbook.com/entry?entry=countries_mh.person.Christopher_Loeak)
2. [Source](https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/auslwlib15&div=27&id=&page=)
3. [Source](https://www.workwithdata.com/place/marshall-islands)
4. [Source](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-list-of-non-cooperative-jurisdictions/timeline-eu-list-of-non-cooperative-jurisdictions/)
5. [Taxation: British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Marshall Islands and Russia added to EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. 2023](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/02/14/taxation-british-virgin-islands-costa-rica-marshall-islands-and-russia-added-to-eu-list-of-non-cooperative-jurisdictions-for-tax-purposes/)
6. OpenStreetMap
7. [Source](https://data.iana.org/time-zones/tzdb-2021e/australasia)
8. [Interpol](https://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/World)
9. [Source](https://www.interpol.int/Who-we-are/Member-countries/Asia-South-Pacific/MARSHALL-ISLANDS)
10. [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons](https://www.opcw.org/about-opcw/member-states/)
11. [Source](https://www.opcw.org/about-us/member-states/marshall-islands)
12. [Source](http://www.unesco.org/eri/cp/ListeMS_Indicators.asp)
13. [Source](https://www.itu.int/online/mm/scripts/gensel8)
14. [Source](https://www.who.int/choice/demography/by_country/en/)
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. FIPS 10-4
17. Virtual International Authority File
18. MusicBrainz
19. [Human Development Report. 2022](https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI)
20. World Bank Open Data
21. [Marshall Group. North Pacific Islands. Federal Government of the United States. 1870](http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hnnx9n;view=2up;seq=8;size=125)
22. [World Bank Open Data](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL)
23. [Pacific Community](https://sdd.spc.int/mh)
24. [Source](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI)
25. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
26. The National Terminology Database for Irish
27. [Source](https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2017)
28. BBC Things
29. [Source](http://chartsbin.com/view/edr)
30. [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD)
31. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=DEMO_DS)
32. General Finnish Ontology
33. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=3372)
34. BabelNet
35. English as a Global Language, second edition
36. [Source](https://countrycodebase.com/undp/)
37. Quora
38. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=239)
39. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
40. YSA - General Finnish Thesaurus
41. [Gazetteer](https://github.com/EnvironmentOntology/gaz/blob/master/src/ontology/gaz_countries.csv)
42. iNaturalist
43. FactGrid
44. KBpedia