01
Physical geography
Low coral limestone and sand islands.
Local timeMajuro ·
Oceania / Micronesia · Card 011
Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands is a country in Micronesia. Its capital is Majuro.
Find Marshall Islands
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Majuro
- Languages
- English & Marshallese
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Population
- 36,2822025 · World Bank
- Area
- 181 km²69.88 square miles
- Free association
- 1986Compact with the United States; UN trusteeship ended in 1990.
Marshall Islands in context
Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Majuro; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include English, Marshallese.
03
Location
Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the Ratak (Sunrise) group and the Ralik (Sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited.
Flag
Blue with an orange stripe and a white stripe radiating from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the left side above the two stripes
History & status
After periods of German and Japanese rule, the islands became part of a US-administered UN trust territory after the Second World War. The United States conducted nuclear tests at Bikini and Enewetak from 1946 to 1958, causing displacement and lasting health and environmental concerns. A constitution established self-government in 1979, and a Compact of Free Association with the United States entered into force in 1986.
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US nuclear testing in the islands begins
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A constitution establishes self-government
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The Compact of Free Association with the United States enters into force
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The Marshall Islands joins the United Nations
Economy
Main activities
Fishing access, tuna-related activities, public services and support under the Compact of Free Association are important economic foundations. Copra production and small-scale farming and fishing support outer-island households. A narrow land base, high transport costs and exposure to coastal flooding constrain development.
Industry and production
Tuna-related activities, copra production, shipping services and the public sector.
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Thousands of people36.32025 · thousands of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Thousands of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 22,530 | 22.530 |
| 1980 | 30,774 | 30.774 |
| 1990 | 44,629 | 44.629 |
| 2000 | 50,706 | 50.706 |
| 2010 | 52,044 | 52.044 |
| 2020 | 42,706 | 42.706 |
| 2025 | 36,282 | 36.282 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars0.222025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 140,496,545 | 0.140 |
| 1991 | 140,619,900 | 0.141 |
| 1992 | 150,661,400 | 0.151 |
| 1993 | 159,710,500 | 0.160 |
| 1994 | 169,097,800 | 0.169 |
| 1995 | 182,986,300 | 0.183 |
| 1996 | 164,133,300 | 0.164 |
| 1997 | 153,553,800 | 0.154 |
| 1998 | 152,518,700 | 0.153 |
| 1999 | 150,483,000 | 0.150 |
| 2000 | 154,176,500 | 0.154 |
| 2001 | 164,861,000 | 0.165 |
| 2002 | 170,855,000 | 0.171 |
| 2003 | 168,186,800 | 0.168 |
| 2004 | 167,500,000 | 0.168 |
| 2005 | 170,500,000 | 0.171 |
| 2006 | 170,800,000 | 0.171 |
| 2007 | 177,100,000 | 0.177 |
| 2008 | 163,700,000 | 0.164 |
| 2009 | 169,700,000 | 0.170 |
| 2010 | 179,100,000 | 0.179 |
| 2011 | 178,200,000 | 0.178 |
| 2012 | 175,900,000 | 0.176 |
| 2013 | 182,600,000 | 0.183 |
| 2014 | 180,300,000 | 0.180 |
| 2015 | 183,700,000 | 0.184 |
| 2016 | 188,300,000 | 0.188 |
| 2017 | 195,000,000 | 0.195 |
| 2018 | 205,700,000 | 0.206 |
| 2019 | 227,200,000 | 0.227 |
| 2020 | 220,900,000 | 0.221 |
| 2021 | 225,670,100 | 0.226 |
| 2022 | 224,089,100 | 0.224 |
| 2023 | 212,000,000 | 0.212 |
| 2024 | 219,000,000 | 0.219 |
| 2025 | 224,000,000 | 0.224 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.733High human developmentRank 108 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20200.722
20230.733
66.9 yearsLife expectancy at birth
11.6 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
A republic with a parliamentary system. The Nitijela, the elected legislature, chooses a President from among its members. A Council of Iroij advises on customary matters. The sovereign country is in free association with the United States under a compact.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Marshall Islands.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Marshall Islands?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.