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GOVERNMENT OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
The Marshall Islands has a mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the U.S. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Names of the Country: Official Name: Republic of the Marshall Islands; conventional short form: Marshall Islands. Former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District. Abbreviation: RMI. Source of the Name: named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Capital: Majuro; note: the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands on the eastern side of the atoll: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap: Geographic Coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E. Majuro means "two openings" or "two eyes" and refers to the two major northern passages through the atoll into the Majuro lagoon. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Administrative Divisions: 24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship). National Holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May (1979). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
National Symbols of the Marshall Islands
Flag: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner: orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
National Symbols: a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange
National Anthem: name: "Forever Marshall Islands", lyrics/music: Amata KABUA. note: adopted 1981
Constitution and Legal System of the Marshall Islands
Constitution: effective 1 May 1979. Amendments: proposed by the National Parliament or by a constitutional convention; passage by Parliament requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership in each of two readings and approval by a majority of votes in a referendum; amendments submitted by a constitutional convention require approval of at least two thirds of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legal System: mixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
International Law Organization Participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Citizenship: Citizenship by Birth: no; Citizenship by Descent Only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Marshall Islands; Dual Citizenship Recognized: no; Residency Requirement for Naturalization: 5 years. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Executive Branch of the Marshall Islands
Chief of State: President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020); note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of Government: President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Executive Branch Elections and Appointments: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 6 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024)
Results of the Last Election: David KABUA elected president; Parliament vote: David KABUA 20, Hilda C. HEINE 12. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legislative Branch in the Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands has a unicameral National Parliament consists of: 1) Nitijela (33 seats; members in 19 single- and 5 multi-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note: the Council of Iroij, a 12-member group of tribal leaders advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice); members appointed to serve 1-year terms
The last legislative election was held on 18 November 2019 (next to be held by 11 November 2023)
Results of the Last Legislative Election: (percent of vote by party): NA; seats by party: independent 33; composition: men 31, women 2, percent of women 6.1 percent
Judicial Branch in the Marshall Islands
Highest Court: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)
Judge Selection and Term of Office for the Highest Court: judges appointed by the Cabinet upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (consists of the chief justice of the High Court, the attorney general and a private citizen selected by the Cabinet) and upon approval of the Nitijela; the current chief justice, appointed in 2013, serves for 10 years; Marshallese citizens appointed as justices serve until retirement at age 72. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Subordinate Courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts
Elections and Political Parties in the Marshall Islands
Voting Age: 18 years of age; universal. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties in the Marshall Islands. What has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Government Spending, Taxes and Revenues
Government Budget: revenues: $148 million (2019 estimate)
expenditures: $153 million (2019 estimate)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
1.3 percent (of GDP) (2013 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 27. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Public Debt: 41.71 percent of GDP (2019 estimate)
44.14 percent of GDP (2018 estimate)
47.95 percent of GDP (2017 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 132. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Taxes: 17.16 percent (of GDP) (2020 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 118. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Military and International Relations in the Marshall Islands
Military and Security Forces: The Marshall Islands has no regular military forces; defense is the responsibility of the U.S. The national police (Marshall Islands Police Department, MIPD), local police forces, and the Sea Patrol (maritime police) maintain internal security; the MIPD and Sea Patrol report to the Ministry of Justice; local police report to their respective local government councils (2023)
In 1982, the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the Marshall Islands financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986 and its funding was renewed in 2003. The Marshall Islands hosts the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the U.S. missile defense network. Kwajalein also hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory)). [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
The Marshall Islands have a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within its designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)
International Disputes: Marshall Islands-US: claims US territory of Wake Island; the Marshall Islands put its claim on record with the UN in 2016
International Organization That It Participates In: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, WHO Image Sources:
Text Sources: CIA World Factbook, 2023; “Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Volume 2: Oceania,” edited by Terence E. Hays, 1991, Wikipedia, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Lonely Planet Guides, Library of Congress, The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, BBC, CNN, and various books, websites and other publications.
Last updated August 2023