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.
		
			
					Population
					    65,859 (July 2010 est.)
					    Country comparison to the world: 203
					    
					Nationality
					   Noun:Marshallese (singular and plural)
					   Adjective:Marshallese
					Ethnic groups
 					    Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006)
					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
				 
			
					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 on 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 Jurelang ZEDKAIA (since 2 November 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
						 Head of government:President Jurelang ZEDKAIA (since 2 November 2009)
						 Cabinet:Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of the legislature
							(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
						 Elections:president elected by Nitijela (legislature) from among its members for a four-year term; election last held on 7 January 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
						 Election results: Litokwa TOMEING removed as president by no confidence vote on 21 October 2009; legislature elects ZEDKAIA president on 26 October 2009
					Legislative branch
					    unicameral legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
						 
						 Elections:last held on 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, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, 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 DEBRUM
						 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 Martha CAMPBELL
						 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