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(opens in new window) After almost four decades under US
administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a
Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US
nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall
Islands have been home to the US Army Base Kwajalein (USAKA) since 1964. 9 00 N, 168 00 E total: 181.3
sq km tropical; hot and humid; wet season from
May to November; islands border typhoon belt low coral limestone and sand islands
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m coconut products, marine products, deep
seabed minerals arable land:
16.67% infrequent typhoons inadequate supplies of potable water;
pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing
vessels two archipelagic island chains of 30
atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test
sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US
missile test range 57,738 (July 2004 est.) Micronesian Christian (mostly Protestant) English (widely spoken as a second
language, both English and Marshallese are official languages), two major
Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write constitutional government in free
association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force
21 October 1986 Majuro 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered
UN trusteeship) based on adapted Trust Territory laws,
acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws US Government assistance is the mainstay
of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is primarily
subsistence and is concentrated on small farms; the most important
commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is
limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry,
now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor
force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few
natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the
Compact of Free Association, the US has provided more than $1 billion in aid
since 1986. Negotiations have continued for an extended agreement.
Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in
tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, and
less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth
to an average of 1% over the past decade. 28,700 (1996 est.) agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%,
services 57.7% coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro,
breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens copra, fish, tourism, craft items from
shell, wood, and pearls copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
US, Japan, Australia, China (2000)
$54 million f.o.b. (2000) foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
fuels, beverages and tobacco US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji,
China, Philippines (2000) US dollar (USD) total: NA km
Majuro total: 420
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,954,092 GRT/28,176,762 DWT 15 (2003 est.) total: 4 total: 11 defense is the responsibility of the US
claims US territory of Wake Island
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