Humans arrived in the Marshall Islands in the first millennium B.C. and gradually created permanent settlements on the various atolls. The early inhabitants were skilled navigators who frequently traveled between atolls using stick charts to map the islands. Society became organized under two paramount chiefs, one each for the Ratak (Sunrise) Chain and the Ralik (Sunset) Chain. Spain formally claimed the islands in 1592. Germany established a supply station on Jaluit Atoll and bought the islands from Spain in 1884, although paramount chiefs continued to rule.
- Capital
- Majuro
- Government
- mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US
- Population
- 82,011
- Area
- 181 sq km
- Location
- Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia;
- Climate
- tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
- Natural resources
- coconut products; marine products; deep seabed minerals
- Languages
- Marshallese (official) 98.2%; other languages 1.8%
- Religions
- Protestant 79.3% (United Church of Christ 47.9%; Assembly of God 14.1%; Full Gospel 5%; Bukot Nan Jesus 3%…
- Independence
- 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
- Administrative divisions
- 24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, La…
- Export partners
- UK 16%; Germany 13%; Denmark 10%; Ghana 9%…
- Import partners
- China 47%; Japan 15%; Germany 5%; Brazil 4%…