The Marshall Islands

[code]The Marshall Islands /ˈmɑrʃəl ˈaɪləndz/ (help·info), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. This nation of roughly 62,000 persons is 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.[/code]

Contents

• 1 History
  • 1.1 Original Settlement
  • 1.2 Arrivals of the Europeans
  • 1.3 World War I
  • 1.4 World War II
  • 1.5 Nuclear tests after World War II
  • 1.6 Independence
• 2 Government
• 3 Geography
  • 3.1 Territorial claim on Wake Island
• 4 Climate
  • 4.1 Climate-related emergencies
• 5 Economy
  • 5.1 General Economic Conditions
  • 5.2 Labor
  • 5.3 Taxation
  • 5.4 Foreign Assistance
  • 5.5 Agriculture
  • 5.6 Industry
  • 5.7 Tourism
  • 5.8 Fishing
  • 5.9 Energy
• 6 Demographics
• 7 Education
• 8 Transport
• 9 Health
• 10 Culture
• 11 Gallery
• 12 See also
• 13 References
• 14 Further reading
• 15 External links

Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ Republic of the Marshall Islands
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Jepilpilin ke ejukaan" ("Accomplishment through Joint Effort")
Anthem: Forever Marshall Islands
Capital		Majuro (Delap) 7°7′N 171°4′E / 7.117°N 171.067°E / 7.117; 171.067
Largest city		Majuro
Official languages		Marshallese, English
Demonym		Marshallese
Government		Democratic Presidential Republic in Free Association with the USA
-	President	Litokwa Tomeing
Independence
-	from the United States	October 21, 1986
Area
-	Total	181 km2 (213th) 69.8 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	61,963 (205th)
-	2003 census	56,429
-	Density	326/km2 (28th) 846/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2001 estimate
-	Total	$115 million (220th)
-	Per capita	$2,900 (2005 est.) (195th)
HDI (n/a)		n/a (unranked) (n/a)
Currency		United States dollar (USD)
Time zone		(UTC+12)
Internet TLD		.mh
Calling code		692