Marshall Islands

At a glance Land People Economy Achievements and challenges Links with Australia Marshall Islands at a glance Did you know? Marshallese folklore refers to the islands as "jolet jen Anij" (gifts from God), because they do not suffer the harshness of the weather experienced in other areas. Region Pacific Population 63,174 (July 2008 estimate) Land Geography: low coral limestone and sand islands Climate: tropical; hot and humid People Religion: Christian Language: English, Marshallese, Japanese Economy GDP per person (PPP): $2,900 (2005 estimate) GDP by sector: Agriculture: 21%, Industry: 21%, Services: 58% Government Elected government with an advisory Council of Iroij (Chiefs) in a Compact of Free Association with the US Land Physical geography The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) consists of two archipelagos of 29 atolls and five low coral islands. There are two island chains, the eastern Ratak (Sunrise) and western Ralik (Sunset), which lie about 200 kilometres apart. They are roughly halfway between Australia and Hawaii. The total land area of the Marshall Islands is only 181 square kilometres, but the country has an exclusive economic zone of more than 1.2 million square kilometres of ocean. There is little fertile topsoil and no rivers, but there is extensive marine life in the reefs and lagoons of the atoll and sandy islands. The highest point is a small hill of 10 metres on Likiep, but the average height above sea level is 2 metres.. Climate The tropical climate means it is hot and humid for most of the year, but it is wet and slightly cooler between May to November. In Majuro (the capital) the average daily temperature is 27°C. Mild trade winds and tropical showers occur daily, but tropical storms and typhoons are rare. Environment The Marshall Islands are rich in marine life, with their surrounding waters providing a habitat for hundreds of species of coral, reef fish and all five of the world's species of marine turtles. Whales, dolphins and porpoises also visit the islands' warm waters. Some 70 bird species have been identified, including over 30 species of seabirds. The Polynesian rat is the only mammal native to the islands, which are also home to half dozen species of lizards and one species of blind snake. Coconut land crabs are common. There is concern about the human impact on the environment through over-fishing, pollution from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels. People Only nineteen atolls and four islands are inhabited. Two-thirds of the nation's population, 63,000 people, live on Majuro and Ebeye. The outer islands are sparsely populated due to a lack of economic development and employment opportunities. People Culture and identity The Marshallese are Micronesian. Land is the focal point of social organisation. There is a complex social structure of clans and matrilineal land ownership, in which land is inherited from a person's mother. A child's first birthday is celebrated with large family gatherings, feasting and song. The Marshallese retain many of their pre-colonial crafts and traditions, especially on the outer islands. The traditional representation of the stars and waves, using charts of flat strips of wood and cowry shells, previously used for navigation, is now a unique decoration. Health High population growth and crowded conditions in urban areas have aided the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy. Limited soil and land restricts food production. The reliance on imported, western food has brought about a rise in levels of adult obesity, diabetes and high blood-pressure. A rapidly changing culture has also led to an erosion of the traditional social system, which, has been accompanied by a higher incidence of non-communicable diseases, teenage pregnancy, suicide, alcoholism and tobacco use. Nearly 40% of the population is under 15 years of age, average life expectancy is 71 years and infant mortality is 26 deaths per 1000 live births. Religion and beliefs Colonisation saw the introduction of Christianity, and the Marshallese use Sundays for church attendance, family gatherings and relaxation. Food and shelter Fish and seafood are the main sources of protein. Breadfruit, coconut, arrowroot, yams, taro and pumpkins are the traditional vegetables. Imported processed food has become increasingly common. Economy Wealth and poverty Like many small, remote countries, the Marshall Islands are heavily dependent on developmental assistance, predominantly from the US and Taiwan. Those employed in major cities have access to more material goods than those living subsistence lifestyles on the outer islands. Education and work There is a high literacy rate, 93%, as most children receive a primary education in a bilingual/bicultural curriculum. English is introduced in the fourth grade. Approximately half of those who complete primary school are selected to continue their education in one of the three secondary schools. Most people are subsistence farmers or fisherfolk. Government service industries employ 58% of the labour force, while and fish and coconut processing industries employ 21%. Industries and products The main agricultural products are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, and breadfruit. Pigs and chickens are reared. Industries include copra (dried coconut meat), fish processing and tourism, as well as craft items fashioned from shell, wood and pearls. Trade Copra, coconut oil, handicrafts and fish are mainly exported to the US, Japan, Australia and China (2006). Processed foods, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco are imported from the US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China and Philippines (2006). Achievements and challenges Economic development is constrained by the country's isolation, limited land, small private sector and lack of skilled workers. The influence of western food and culture is leading to increasing health problems. There is growing concern that increasing sea levels resulting from climate change will mean that much of the Marshall Islands will no longer be habitable. There has been pressure on the Marshallese government to reduce its heavy dependence on development assistance, but drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign investment and a reduction in income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade. Under the Amended Compact of Free Association (2004), the US will also provide economic grant assistance over 20 years, and contribute to a trust fund that will provide income after 2024 when the grant assistance ends. Links with Australia In in 2006-07 Australian exports to the RMI totalled A$6.37 million, primarily consisting of basic foodstuffs. Imports of animal feed, ferrous waste, motorcycles and textiles were valued at A$288,000. Australia's development assistance program with the Marshall Islands focuses on scholarships and small-scale community activities. Under the Defence Cooperation Program, Australia provides ongoing funding for the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. Main sources: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html http://www20.sbs.com.au/worldguide/index.php http://hdr.undp.org/ http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/index.html

Digital Micronesia: An Electronic Library and Archive URL:  http://marshall.csu.edu.au/ Information about the people, culture, environment, arts, history, health, politics and economy of the Marshall Islands and other countries in Micronesia. Maintained by Dirk Spennemann, Cultural Heritage Studies, School of Environmental and Information Sciences, Charles Sturt University.

A low sandy islands covered in coconut trees. Photolibrary.com/JTB Photo