Tony de Brum, minister of foreign affairs, spoke outin January 2015 against the loss of $A 3.7 billion(U.S.$3 billion) in aid from Australia. It was the

latest in a series of cuts over the previous few years thathad stalled infrastructure improvements and reducedAustralia to an “insignificant” donor, de Brum said.Former Bikini islanders, relocated in the 1940s to makeway for U.S. atomic-bomb tests, sought help fromWashington in moving from Kili Island, which had beenflooded repeatedly by risingocean levels in recent years.In November elections halfof the president’s cabinetministers, including deBrum, lost their seats.

DemographyPopulation (2015): 54,000.Density (2015)4: persons per sq mi770.8, persons per sq km 297.6.

Sex distribution (2014): male50.89%; female 49.11%.

Population projection: (2020) 56,100;(2030) 59,100.

Major towns (1999): Majuro2

(2004) 20,800; Ebeye (2011;in Kwajalein Atoll) 9,614;Laura (in Majuro Atoll)2,256; Ajeltake (in MajuroAtoll) 1,170; Enewetak 823.

Urban-rural (2014):

Vital statisticsBirth rate per 1,000 pop-ulation (2013): 29.6(world avg. 19.5).

Death rate per 1,000population (2013): 4.4(world avg. 8.1).

Life expectancy at birth(2013): male 70.2 years;female 74.6 years.

Age breakdown (2014):

Ethnic composition (2006)8: Religious affiliation (1999):

Marshall Islands

Official name: Majol (Marshallese);(Republic of the Marshall Islands).

Form of government: unitary republicwith one legislative house1 (Nitijela, orParliament [33]).

Head of state and government: PresidentChristopher J. Loeak.

Capital: Majuro2.Official language: Marshallese3.Official religion: none.Monetary unit: U.S. dollar (U.S.$); valu-ation (Sept. 1, 2015) 1 U.S.$ = £0.65.

Area and populationarea population area population

2011 2011Atolls/Islands5 sq km census Atolls/Islands5 sq km census

Ailinglaplap 14.69 1,729Ailuk 5.36 339Arno 12.95 1,794Aur 5.62 499Bikini 6.01 9Ebon 5.75 706Enewetak 5.85 664Jabat 0.57 84Jaluit 11.34 1,788Kili 0.93 548Kwajalein 16.39 11,408Lae 1.45 347Lib 0.93 155Likiep 10.26 401

Majuro 9.71 27,797Maloelap 9.82 682Mejit 1.86 348Mili 15.93 738Namorik 2.77 508Namu 6.27 780Rongelap 7.95 79Ujae 1.86 364Ujelang 1.74 0Utirik 2.43 435Wotho 4.33 97Wotje 8.18 859Other atolls 10.46 0TOTAL 181.436, 7 53,158

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National economyBudget (2010). Revenue: U.S.$109,200,000 (U.S. government grants63.1%, tax revenue 23.1%, nontax revenue 13.8%).Expenditures: U.S.$101,700,000 (current expenditure82.9%, capital expenditure 17.1%).

Production (metric tons except as noted).Agriculture, forestry, fishing (2002–03): coconuts(2012) 45,000, copra (2008) 6,515, breadfruit 4,536,bananas 161, pandanus 114, taro 108; livestock(number of live animals) 12,900 pigs, 86,000 chick-ens; roundwood, n.a.; fisheries production (2012)75,356 (from aquaculture, none); black pearls har-vested (2010) 1,300. Mining and quarrying: for localconstruction only. Manufacturing (2008): copra6,515; coconut oil and processed fish are importantproducts; the manufacture of handicrafts and person-al items (clothing, mats, boats, etc.) by individuals is also significant.Energy production (consumption): electricity (kW-hr; 2011)114,000,000 (114,000,000); coal, none (none); petroleum products(metric tons; 2011) none (34,000).

Population economically active (2014): total 30,000; participation rates:age 15 and over, male 53.3%; female 29.0%; unemployed 4.7%.

Average household size (2007)11: 7.2.Gross national income (2013): U.S.$227,000,000 (U.S.$4,310 per capita);

purchasing power parity GNI (U.S.$4,630 per capita).Public debt (external, outstanding; 2009): U.S.$89,900,000.Land use as % of total land area (2011): in temporary crops or left fal-low c. 11%, in permanent crops c. 44%, in pasture c. 17%, forest areac. 70%12.

Foreign trade10

Imports (2000): U.S.$54,700,000 (mineral fuels andlubricants 37.3%, machinery and transport equip-ment 15.0%, beverages and tobacco 11.0%). Major import sources (2006):

Exports (2006): U.S.$20,283,000 (frozen fish 44.5%,reexports of diesel fuel 41.2%, crude coconut oil9.9%, remainder 4.4%). Major export destinations(2009): mostly the U.S.

Transport and communicationsTransport. Roads (2007): 47 mi, 75 km13.

Vehicles (2004): passenger cars 1,694;trucks and buses 602.

Education and healthLiteracy (2011): percentage of total population age 15 andover literate, virtually 100%.

Health (2010): physicians 32 (1 per 1,701 persons); hospitalbeds 146 (1 per 373 persons); infant mortality rate (2011)32.1; undernourished population, n.a.

MilitaryThe United States provides for the defenseof the Republic of the Marshall Islandsunder the 1984 and 2003 compacts of freeassociation; number of U.S. troops (January2012) 17.15

1In addition, the Council of Iroij (Council of Chiefs), a 12-member body of tribal chiefs, serves in an advisory capacity. 2Local name of town is DUD (an acronym for Delap[Woja], Uliga, and Djarrit [Rita]—three small islands now merged by landfill). 3Language of the Nitijela, or Parliament. 4Based on land area only. 5Four districts centred atMajuro, Ebeye, Wotje, and Jaluit make up the local government structure. 6Land area only; excludes lagoon area of 11,673 sq km (4,507 sq mi). 7Detail does not add to totalgiven because of rounding. 8Based on the Marshall Islands 2006 Community Survey, comprising 9,491 respondents in 1,205 households. 9Employed only. 10C.i.f. in commoditiesand trading partners. 11Based on the 2007 Demographic and Health Survey, comprising 1,106 households. 12Forest area overlaps with other categories. 13Length of paved roadson Majuro and Kwajalein; other roads are coral surfaced. 14Subscribers. 15The U.S. Army’s premier ballistic missile test site is at Kwajalein.

Internet resource for further information:• Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office www.spc.int/prism/marshalls/

Structure of gross domestic product and labour force2010 2007–08

in value % of total labour % of labourU.S.$’000 value force9 force9

Agriculture, fishing 23,301 14.3 492 4.9Mining and quarrying — — — —Manufacturing 2,980 1.8 58 0.6Public utilities 6,860 4.2 286 2.8Construction 9,663 5.9 706 7.0Transp. and commun. 12,619 7.7 655 6.5Trade, restaurants, hotels 24,679 15.1 2,131 21.1Finance, insurance,real estate 20,159 12.4 430 4.3

Public administration 22,016 13.5 3,485 34.4Services 40,658 25.0 791 7.8Other 1,084 10.7TOTAL 162,9367 100.07 10,1177 100.07

Communications units unitsnumber per 1,000 number per 1,000

Medium date in ’000s persons Medium date in ’000s persons

TelephonesCellular 2014 15.514 29414

Landline 2014 2.4 45

Internet users 2009 2.2 36Broadband 2014 1.414 2614

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Tony de Brum addresses the UN General Assembly onSeptember 26 on the subject of the 2030 Agenda of theUN Sustainable Development Summit, adopted by theGeneral Assembly the previous day.Frank Franklin II/AP Images

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