|RConstitution:|N Republic in free association with the USA.
|RNational holiday:|N May 1.
|RNature and climate:|N Two groups of islands, the Ratate and Ralite chains, comprising 31 low atolls, located in the western Pacific Ocean.
Average temperature throughout the year around 27°C.
Percipitation 4000 mm.
|RPeople:|N Micronesian speaking nine different languages.
|REconomy:|N Cocosplantation is the main industry.
Copra is exported but tourism is the main source of income in foreign exchange.
Also some fishing and handicrafts. Small scale manufacturing is under development.
|RHistory:|N Spanish sailors discovered the islands 1529 but they were named after a British captain that visited them 1788.
Spanish sovereignty was recognized 1886 but Spain sold them to Germany 1898.
A Japanese mandatory from the League of nations in 1919 and a US mandatory from the UN in 1947.
Independent country 1986.
In 1946 the inhabitants on Bikini and Enewetak were moved to other islands and the islands were used for nuclear tests until 1958. In 1980 it was possible for residents to return to Enewetak.
