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Economic aid - recipient:

$6.19 million (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.694 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$188.8 million (2005)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.097 billion (2005)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR) as of 1 January 2008; Maltese lira (MTL) before then

Currency code:

MTL

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.6795 (January 2008), Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3106 (2007), 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466 (2004), 0.37723 (2003)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Malta

Telephones - main lines in use:

202,300 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

346,800 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements; fixed-line teledensity 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 90 per 100 persons

domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands

international: country code - 356; submarine cable connects to Italy; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios:

255,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2006)

Televisions:

280,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mt

Internet hosts:

21,386 (2007)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2002)

Internet users:

127,200 (2005)

Transportation Malta

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 2,227 km

paved: 2,014 km

unpaved: 213 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 1,281 ships (1000 GRT or over) 25,213,650 GRT/41,033,203 DWT

by type: bulk carrier 439, cargo 382, chemical tanker 125, combination ore/oil 2, container 65, liquefied gas 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 15, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 132, refrigerated cargo 41, roll on/roll off 31, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 17

foreign-owned: 1,197 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 3, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 10, Bulgaria 15, Canada 15, China 13, Croatia 12, Cyprus 15, Denmark 10, Estonia 7, France 4, Germany 67, Greece 448, Hong Kong 1, Iceland 7, India 3, Iran 24, Israel 21, Italy 45, Japan 3, South Korea 3, Latvia 36, Lebanon 12, Libya 3, Monaco 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 71, Pakistan 2, Poland 25, Portugal 3, Romania 10, Russia 66, Slovenia 3, Spain 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 22, Syria 4, Turkey 143, Ukraine 28, UAE 10, UK 12, US 11)

registered in other countries: 4 (Panama 2, Portugal 1, St Vincent and The Grenadines 1) (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta

Military Malta

Military branches:

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 96,309

females age 16-49: 92,242 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 80,227

females age 16-49: 76,623 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.7% (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues Malta

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

This page was last updated on 15 July, 2008

The World Factbook

Marshall Islands

Introduction Marshall Islands

Background:

After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.

Geography Marshall Islands

Location:

Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Geographic coordinates:

9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 181.3 sq km

land: 181.3 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik

Area - comparative:

about the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

370.4 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain:

low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Natural resources:

coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Land use:

arable land: 11.11%

permanent crops: 44.44%

other: 44.45% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

infrequent typhoons

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Marshall Islands Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is used as a US missile test range; island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific

People Marshall Islands

Population:

63,174 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.5% (male 12,404/female 11,946)

15-64 years: 58.6% (male 18,937/female 18,095)

65 years and over: 2.8% (male 869/female 923) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 21 years

male: 21 years

female: 20.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.142% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

31.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.57 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 26.36 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 29.58 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 22.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.9 years

male: 68.88 years

female: 73.03 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)

adjective: Marshallese

Ethnic groups:

Micronesian

Religions:

Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)

Languages:

Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)

note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.7%

male: 93.6%

female: 93.7% (1999)

Government Marshall Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands

conventional short form: Marshall Islands

local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands

local short form: Marshall Islands

abbreviation: RMI

former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Capital:

name: Majuro

geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E

time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Wotho, Wotje

Independence:

21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Constitution:

1 May 1979

Legal system:

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Litokwa TOMEING (since 7 January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Litokwa TOMEING (since 7 January 2008)

cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of the legislature

elections: president elected by Parliament from among its members for a four-year term; election last held 7 January 2008 (next to be held in 2012)

election results: Litokwa TOMEING elected president; TOMEING received 18 votes to 15 for incumbent Kessai Hesa NOTE

Legislative branch:

unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 19 November 2007 (next to be held by November 2011)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 4

note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights Court

Political parties and leaders:

traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein Ad Party [Michael KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM

chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414

FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236

consulate(s) general: Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Clyde BISHOP

embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro

mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379

telephone: [692] 247-4011

FAX: [692] 247-4012

Flag description:

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

Economy Marshall Islands

Economy - overview:

US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. The Marshall Islands received more than $1 billion in aid from the US from 1986-2002. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$115 million (2001 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$144 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 31.7%

industry: 14.9%

services: 53.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

14,680 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 21.4%

industry: 20.9%

services: 57.7% (2000)

Unemployment rate:

30.9% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2005 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $42 million

expenditures: $40 million (1999)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens

Industries:

copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 1% (solar)

Exports:

$9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities:

copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Exports - partners:

US, Japan, Australia, China (2006)

Imports:

$54.7 million f.o.b. (2000)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco

Imports - partners:

US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2006)

Economic aid - recipient: