Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (Marshallese: Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ), is an island country located in the northern Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia, with the population of 68,480 people spread out over 24 low-lying coral atolls, comprising 1,156 individual islands and islets. The islands share maritime boundaries with the Federated States of Micronesia to the west, Wake Island to the north,2] Kiribati to the south-east, and Nauru to the south. The most populous atoll is Majuro, which also acts as the capital.

• Geographical data

  • The islands are located north of Nauru and Kiribati, east of the Federated States of Micronesia, and south of the U.S. territory of Wake Island, to which it lays claim.

    The country consists of 29 atolls and 5 isolated islands. The atolls and islands form two groups: the Ratak Chain and the Ralik Chain (meaning "sunrise" and "sunset" chains). 24 of them are inhabited (see above section). The uninhabited atolls are:

    • Ailinginae Atoll
    • Bikar (Bikaar) Atoll
    • Bikini Atoll
    • Bokak Atoll
    • Erikub Atoll
    • Jemo Island
    • Nadikdik Atoll
    • Rongerik Atoll
    • Toke Atoll
    • Ujelang Atoll

• Demographics

  • There are 68,000 people living in the Marshall Islands. Most of these are Marshallese. The Marshallese are of Micronesian origin and migrated from Asia several thousand years ago. A minority of Marshallese have some recent Asian ancestry, mainly Japanese. Two-thirds of the nation's population lives on Majuro, the capital, and Ebeye, a densely populated island. The outer islands are sparsely populated due to lack of employment opportunities and economic development. Life on the outer atolls is generally traditional.

    The official language of the Marshall Islands is Marshallese, but it is common to speak the English language.

• Economy

  • The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.

• Culture

  • Although the ancient skills are now in decline, the Marshallese were once able navigators, using the stars and stick-and-shell charts.