Discover Fascinating Marshall Islands Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Marshall Islands.
Marshall Islands
Background
๐ The Marshall Islands has an exciting history! After nearly 40 years under U.S. administration, this beautiful island nation achieved independence in 1986. This significant change was marked by a special agreement called the Compact of Free Association. ๐ Did you know that Kwajalein, one of the islands, is home to one of only four dedicated ground antennas? These antennas play a key role in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system! ๐ฐ๏ธ
Years under U.S. administration
40
Year of independence
1986
Number of dedicated ground antennas for GPS
4
Exports - commodities
The Marshall Islands have a variety of exports that play an important role in their economy. Here are some of the key commodities they export:
- ๐ข Ships
- ๐ข๏ธ Refined Petroleum
- ๐ Fish
- ๐ ๏ธ Coated Flat-Rolled Iron
- ๐ชต Wood Carpentry
These products showcase the diverse resource pool of the Marshall Islands and highlight the country's engagement in global trade. ๐
Capital
๐ด Welcome to Majuro, the vibrant capital of the Marshall Islands! Did you know that Majuro is not just a single island, but an amazing atoll made up of 64 islands? ๐๏ธ It's where all the important government buildings are located, specifically on three interconnected islands on the eastern side of the atoll: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap. This beautiful experience of nature and governance is one you wouldn't want to miss! ๐โจ
Total islands in Majuro atoll
64
Islands housing government buildings
3
Imports - commodities
๐ Did you know that the Marshall Islands imports some fascinating commodities? Hereโs a quick look at the important items that the country brings in! ๐ข๐ก
- Ships: The lifelines of international trade!
- Refined Petroleum: Fuel for vehicles and industries! โฝ
- Additive Manufacturing Machines: Tools for revolutionizing creation! ๐จ๏ธ
- Centrifuges: Essential for various industrial processes! ๐
- Iron Structures: Building blocks for construction! ๐๏ธ
These imports help support the economy and enhance the quality of life in the Marshall Islands. Each item plays a vital role in various sectors! ๐
Key Imports
Ships, Refined Petroleum, Additive Manufacturing Machines, Centrifuges, Iron Structures
Climate
๐ด The Marshall Islands enjoys a tropical climate characterized by hot and humid conditions. โ๏ธ The weather is mostly warm throughout the year, but it gets particularly wet during the wet season from May to November. ๐ง๏ธ This means lots of rainfall, which helps keep the lush greenery stunning! The islands are also located near the typhoon belt, so they occasionally experience typhoons. ๐ช๏ธ
Executive branch
In the Marshall Islands, the Executive Branch is led by an important figure: President Hilda C. HEINE! ๐ She has been serving as both the chief of state and the head of government since January 3, 2023. This means that she plays a very key role in the country's leadership and decision-making! ๐
Current President
Hilda C. HEINE
Start Date of Current Term
January 3, 2023
Legislative branch
In the Marshall Islands, the Legislative branch is made up of a unicameral National Parliament. This means there is only one chamber or house in the parliament. ๐๏ธ The National Parliament has a total of 33 seats, where representatives come together to make important laws and decisions for the country! ๐
Total number of seats in National Parliament
33
Natural resources
The Marshall Islands is rich in natural resources! ๐ด๐ They are known for their coconut products, marine products, and deep seabed minerals. These resources play a crucial role in the economy and lifestyle of the people. ๐ It's fascinating to see how these resources shape the economy and provide unique products that benefit the local community!
Economic overview
๐ด The Marshall Islands has an upper middle-income economy nestled in the beautiful Pacific Ocean! ๐ However, the country relies significantly on US aid to support its public services and economy. The public sector is quite large, making it a key player in the economic landscape.
One interesting aspect of their economy is the production of coconut oil, which serves as a substitute for diesel fuel! ๐ฑ This not only helps in promoting renewable energy but also supports the local agriculture.
๐ต The Marshall Islands is becoming a growing hub for offshore banking, attracting international businesses looking for favorable conditions. Additionally, they have a unique approach to their fishing rights, often selling them, which contributes to their revenue.
Despite these positive aspects, the country remains import-dependent, indicating a need for external goods and services to meet local demands.
Economic classification
Upper middle-income
Dependence on US aid
High
Sector reliance
Large public sector
Renewable fuel production
Coconut oil substitute for diesel
Offshore banking growth
Growing locale
Economic activity
Selling fishing rights
Import dependence
High
Government type
The Marshall Islands has a unique mixed presidential-parliamentary system! ๐๏ธ This means that the government combines elements of both presidential and parliamentary systems. Plus, the country is in free association with the United States ๐บ๐ธ, which means they work closely together but also maintain their own independence. It's a fascinating blend of governance that shows how different systems can collaborate!
Ethnic groups
In the beautiful Marshall Islands, the population is quite diverse, with the majority identifying as Marshallese! ๐โจ Hereโs a quick breakdown of the ethnic groups:
- Marshallese: 95.6%
- Filipino: 1.1%
- Other races: 3.3%
This gives us a colorful mosaic of cultures that enrich the islands! ๐
Percentage of Marshallese
95.6%
Percentage of Filipino
1.1%
Percentage of Other Ethnicities
3.3%
Ethnic Composition of Marshall Islands
Religions
In the vibrant and diverse Marshall Islands, the majority of the population practices Protestantism, which accounts for a whopping 79.3% of the religious beliefs! ๐ Here's a closer look at the different Protestant groups:
- 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%
Besides the majority Protestant group, the Roman Catholic faith makes up 9.3%, while the Church of Jesus Christ has 5.7% of followers. There are also Jehovah's Witnesses at 1.3% and 3.3% belonging to other religions. Interestingly, 1.1% of the people identify as having no religion. ๐โจ
Total Percentage of Protestantism
79.3%
Total Percentage of Roman Catholic
9.3%
Total Percentage of Church of Jesus Christ
5.7%
Total Percentage of Jehovah's Witness
1.3%
Total Percentage of Other Religions
3.3%
Total Percentage of None
1.1%
Religious Distribution in Marshall Islands
Languages
๐ In the beautiful Marshall Islands, the official language is Marshallese, spoken by a whopping 98.2% of the population! Thatโs almost everyone! On the other hand, there are some other languages spoken by just 1.8% of the people. This showcases the rich cultural heritage of the islands while highlighting the dominance of the Marshallese language. ๐โจ
Language Distribution in Marshall Islands
Imports - partners
๐ The Marshall Islands gets its goods from different countries around the world! In 2022, China was the biggest partner, providing 33% of imports. Right behind was South Korea at 31%, followed by Japan at 12%. Taiwan and Brazil each contributed 4% of imports. Check out this cool pie chart to see how imports are divided among these countries! ๐
Percentage of imports from China
33%
Percentage of imports from South Korea
31%
Percentage of imports from Japan
12%
Percentage of imports from Taiwan
4%
Percentage of imports from Brazil
4%
Marshall Islands Import Partners Distribution (2022)
Exports - partners
๐ Let's take a look at the Marshall Islands' trading buddies for 2022! ๐ Here's how their exports break down by partner countries:
- Germany: 30% ๐ฉ๐ช
- Denmark: 15% ๐ฉ๐ฐ
- UK: 14% ๐ฌ๐ง
- Malta: 6% ๐ฒ๐น
- Indonesia: 5% ๐ฎ๐ฉ
Can you see how Germany truly leads the pack with a whopping 30% of the trade? ๐ Let's explore this data visually! ๐
Total export percentage accounted for
70%
Exports Partners of Marshall Islands (2022)
Population
The Marshall Islands has a total population of 82,011! ๐ That's a vibrant community filled with culture and history. Let's explore how this population shapes the islands and contributes to their rich heritage!
Total Population
82,011
Area
๐๏ธ The Marshall Islands is a small island nation with a total area of 181 square kilometers. This area is completely made up of land, as there are no water bodies within its boundaries. With no water area to account for, the entire 181 sq km is land! ๐
Total Area
181 sq km
Land Area
181 sq km
Water Area
0 sq km
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ The Marshall Islands has shown some interesting trends in its Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) over the past few years!
Here's a quick snapshot of the GDP estimates:
- 2021: $276.583 million
- 2022: $274.715 million
- 2023: $283.577 million
As we can see, there was a slight dip in 2022, but the GDP bounced back in 2023! ๐ This shows the resilience of the economy in the Marshall Islands.
Let's visualize this data to see how it changes over the years!
Real GDP in 2023
$283.577 million
Real GDP in 2022
$274.715 million
Real GDP in 2021
$276.583 million
Real GDP (PPP) Over Time in Marshall Islands
Real GDP per capita
๐ Let's dive into the economic waters of the Marshall Islands! The Real GDP per capita gives us an idea of how well-off the people are in this beautiful island nation. Hereโs how it stacks up over recent years:
- 2021: $6,600 ๐ฐ
- 2022: $6,600 ๐ฐ
- 2023: $6,800 ๐
It looks like the Marshall Islands saw a nice little bump in their GDP per capita from 2022 to 2023! ๐ Keep up the good work, Marshall Islands!
GDP per capita in 2023
$6800
GDP per capita in 2022
$6600
GDP per capita in 2021
$6600
Real GDP per Capita in the Marshall Islands (2021-2023)
Imports
๐ฆ The Marshall Islands has seen notable changes in its import values in recent years. Hereโs a quick look at the import estimates:
- In 2021, imports stood at $206.025 million ๐.
- The previous year, 2020, they were $132.845 million.
- Going back to 2019, the imports were $129.682 million.
This data shows an upward trend, reflecting the growing needs of the islands. Let's visualize this growth! ๐
Import Value in 2021
$206.025 million
Import Value in 2020
$132.845 million
Import Value in 2019
$129.682 million
Import Values of Marshall Islands Over Time
Exports
Exports of the Marshall Islands ๐๐ฐ
The Marshall Islands has seen some interesting changes in its export numbers over the past few years! Let's take a look at how much the country has exported in millions of dollars:
- 2021: $130.016 million
- 2020: $88.042 million
- 2019: $91.394 million
As you can see, there was a big jump in 2021 compared to the previous years! ๐ This shows that the Marshall Islands is making strides in its export activities. Let's visualize this data in a bar chart:
Exports in 2021
$130.016 million
Exports in 2020
$88.042 million
Exports in 2019
$91.394 million
Exports of the Marshall Islands Over the Years
Population growth rate
๐ The population growth rate of the Marshall Islands is estimated to be 1.26% in 2024. This means that for every 100 people, about 1 person is added to the population each year! How exciting is that? ๐
Estimated population growth rate (2024)
1.26%