Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/151.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 10KB | 289 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\marshal.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Marshall Islands"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of the Marshall Islands, click {z,"157.709266,-2.304750,178.663305,13.830125",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way
from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 181.3 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 181.3 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} about the size of Washington, DC
{3}note:{4} includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 370.4 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
contiguous zone: 24 nm
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} claims US territory of Wake Island

{2}Climate:{4} wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt

{2}Terrain:{4} low coral limestone and sand islands
{3}lowest point:{4} Pacific Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 0%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 60%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 0%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 0%
{3}other:{4} 40%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} inadequate supplies of potable water

{2}natural hazards:{4} occasional typhoons

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution

{2}Geographic note:{4} 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


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 58,363 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 51% (male 15,043; female 14,435)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 47% (male 14,084; female 13,399)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 2% (male 657; female 745) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 3.85% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 45.75 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 7.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.88 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 46.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 63.81 years
{3}male:{4} 62.25 years
{3}female:{4} 65.45 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 6.83 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Marshallese (singular and plural)
{3}adjective:{4} Marshallese

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Micronesian

{2}Religions:{4} Christian (mostly Protestant)

{2}Languages:{4} English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese
dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 93%
{3}male:{4} 100%
{3}female:{4} 88%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of the Marshall Islands
{3}conventional short form:{4} Marshall Islands
{3}former:{4} Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

{2}Type of government:{4} constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of
Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986

{2}Capital:{4} Majuro

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} none

{2}Independence:{4} 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

{2}National holiday:{4} Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1 May (1979)

{2}Constitution:{4} 1 May 1979

{2}Legal system:{4} based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common,
and customary laws

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
chief of state and head of government: President Amata KABUA (since NA 1979) was elected for
a four-year term by the Nitijela from among its own members; election last held 20 November
1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - President Amata KABUA was reelected
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet; president selects from among the members of Parliament

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
Parliament (Nitijela): elections last held 20 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1999);
results - percent of vote NA; seats - (33 total) seats by party NA

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court; High Court

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4}
government: Our Islands Party, President Amata KABUA
opposition: Ralik/Ratak Democratic Party (RRDP), Ramsey REIMERS

{2}International organization participation:{4} AsDB, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador (vacant)
{3}chancery:{4} 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} Honolulu and Los Angeles

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Joan PLAISTED
{3}embassy:{4} Oceanside, Long Island, Majuro
{3}mailing address:{4} P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379; Majuro,
20521-4380 (pouch)
{3}telephone:{4} [692] 247-4011
{3}FAX:{4} [692] 247-4012

{2}Flag:{4} blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there
is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural
production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. A few cattle ranches supply the domestic meat
market. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist
industry is the primary source of foreign exchange and employs about 10% of the labor force. The
islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. The government is drafting
economic reforms designed to increase revenue and compensate for reductions in US
Government grants - in 1994, the US Government provided grants of $50 million, equal to 55% of
the Marshall Islands' GDP. About 25% of the government's 1995/96 budget is devoted to debt
repayment.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $94 million (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 1.5% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $1,680 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} NA%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 4% (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 4,800 (1986)
{3}by occupation:{4} NA

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 16% (1991 est.)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $67.2 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $79.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls, offshore banking
(embryonic)

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} NA%

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 42,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 80 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 1,840 kWh (1990)

{2}Agriculture:{4} coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens

{2}Exports:{4} $21.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} coconut oil, fish, live animals, trochus shells
{3}partners:{4} US, Japan, Australia

{2}Imports:{4} $69.9 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, beverages and tobacco, fuels
{3}partners:{4} US, Japan, Australia

{2}External debt:{4} $170 million (1994)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US is to provide approximately
$40 million in aid annually

{2}Currency:{4} 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

{2}Exchange rates:{4} US currency is used

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 October - 30 September


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} NA km
{3}paved:{4} NA km
{3}unpaved:{4} NA km
{3}note:{4} paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-
surfaced roads and tracks

{2}Ports:{4} Majuro

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,068,782 GRT/5,073,125 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk carrier 43, cargo 4, combination ore/oil 1, container 17, oil tanker 11,
refrigerated cargo 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 16
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 5
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 7 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 800 (1988 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} telex services
{3}domestic:{4} islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government
purposes)
{3}international:{4} satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite
communications system on Kwajalein

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1

{2}Radios:{4} NA

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 1

{2}Televisions:{4} NA


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US