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Compare Marshall Islands (2004) - Christmas Island (2003)
Compare Marshall Islands (2004) z Christmas Island (2003)
| Marshall Islands (2004) | Christmas Island (2003) | |
 |  | |
| 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 | none (territory of Australia) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 38.6% (male 11,347; female 10,934)
15-64 years: 58.7% (male 17,380; female 16,520) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 748; female 809) (2004 est.) |
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens | NA |
| Airports | 15 (2003 est.) | 1 (2002) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
- |
| Area | total: 181.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik |
total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about the size of Washington, DC | about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC |
| 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. | Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. |
| Birth rate | 33.88 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) | NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999) |
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
| Capital | Majuro | The Settlement |
| Climate | tropical; hot and humid; wet season from May to November; islands border typhoon belt | tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds |
| Coastline | 370.4 km | 80 km |
| Constitution | 1 May 1979 | NA |
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) |
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island |
| Currency | US dollar (USD) | Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Death rate | 4.94 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) | NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Debt - external | $86.5 million (FY99/00 est.) | $NA |
| Dependency status | - | territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRIS
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 |
none (territory of Australia) |
| 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 |
none (territory of Australia) |
| Disputes - international | claims US territory of Wake Island | none |
| Economic aid - recipient | more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002 | $NA |
| Economy - overview | US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is primarily subsistence and 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 Compact of Free Association, the US has provided more than $1 billion in aid since 1986. Negotiations have continued for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade. | Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin operation in 2003. |
| Electricity - consumption | - | NA kWh |
| Electricity - production | - | NA kWh |
| Electricity - production by source | - | fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m |
| Environment - current issues | inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels | NA |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
- |
| Ethnic groups | Micronesian | Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001) |
| Exchange rates | the US dollar is the legal tender | Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998) |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own members for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held NA November 2007) election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of Parliament vote - 100% |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia |
| Exports | $9 million f.o.b. (2000) | $NA |
| Exports - commodities | copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish | phosphate |
| Exports - partners | US, Japan, Australia, China (2000) | Australia, NZ |
| Fiscal year | 1 October - 30 September | 1 July - 30 June |
| 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 | the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory |
| GDP | purchasing power parity - $115 million (2001 est.) | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 14%
industry: 16% services: 70% (2000 est.) |
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
| GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.) | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - real growth rate | 1% (2001 est.) | NA% |
| Geographic coordinates | 9 00 N, 168 00 E | 10 30 S, 105 40 E |
| Geography - note | two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range | located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
| Highways | total: NA km
paved: 64.5 km unpaved: NA km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002) |
total: 240 km
paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Imports | $54 million f.o.b. (2000) | $NA |
| Imports - commodities | foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco | consumer goods |
| Imports - partners | US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2000) | principally Australia |
| Independence | 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) | none (territory of Australia) |
| Industrial production growth rate | NA | NA% |
| Industries | copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) |
total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2% (2001 est.) | NA% |
| International organization participation | ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO | none |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | - | 2 (2000) |
| Irrigated land | 0 sq km | NA sq km |
| Judicial branch | Supreme Court; High Court | Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court |
| Labor force | 28,700 (1996 est.) | NA |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7% | tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) |
| Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
| Land use | arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 38.89% other: 44.44% (2001) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.) |
| Languages | English (widely spoken as a second language, both English and Marshallese are official languages), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese | English (official), Chinese, Malay |
| Legal system | based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws | under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law |
| Legislative branch | unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held not later than November 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice |
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 69.7 years
male: 67.77 years female: 71.73 years (2004 est.) |
total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7% male: 93.6% female: 93.7% (1999) |
NA |
| Location | Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia | Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia |
| Map references | Oceania | Southeast Asia |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
contiguous zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Merchant marine | total: 420 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,954,092 GRT/28,176,762 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 81, cargo 25, chemical tanker 41, combination bulk 4, combination ore/oil 7, container 77, liquefied gas 9, multi-functional large load carrier 5, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 149, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 7, vehicle carrier 4 foreign-owned: Australia 2, Chile 3, Croatia 2, Cyprus 10, Denmark 2, Germany 119, Greece 82, Hong Kong 12, India 2, Japan 16, Monaco 18, Netherlands 6, New Zealand 1, Norway 5, Poland 11, Singapore 1, Slovenia 1, Switzerland 4, Thailand 2, Turkey 8, United Kingdom 10, United States 92 registered in other countries: 50 (2004 est.) |
none (2002 est.) |
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US | defense is the responsibility of Australia |
| Military branches | no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police | - |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure | NA | - |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | NA | - |
| National holiday | Constitution Day, 1 May (1979) | NA |
| Nationality | noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese |
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
| Natural hazards | infrequent typhoons | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
| Natural resources | coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals | phosphate, beaches |
| Net migration rate | -6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| 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 - Kabua Party [Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING] | none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders | NA | none |
| Population | 57,738 (July 2004 est.) | 433 (July 2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | NA | NA% |
| Population growth rate | 2.29% (2004 est.) | -9% (2003 est.) |
| Ports and harbors | Majuro | Flying Fish Cove |
| Radio broadcast stations | AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station on Kwajalein (2002) |
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Railways | - | 24 km to serve phosphate mines |
| Religions | Christian (mostly Protestant) | Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) |
| 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: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
NA (2003 est.) |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | - |
| Telephone system | general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services include telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2001) |
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000) |
| Telephones - main lines in use | 4,500 (2003) | NA |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 600 (2002) | NA |
| Television broadcast stations | 2 (both are US military stations) (2002) | NA |
| Terrain | low coral limestone and sand islands | steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau |
| Total fertility rate | 4.02 children born/woman (2004 est.) | NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 30.9% (1999 est.) | NA% |
| Waterways | - | none |
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