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Republic of the Marshall Islands

Republic of the Marshall Islands
Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ
Flag of Marshall Islands
Seal of Marshall Islands
Flag Seal
Motto: "Jepilpilin ke ejukaan"
"Accomplishment through joint effort"
Location of Marshall Islands
Status US Associated State
Capital
and largest city
Majuro
7°7′N 171°4′E / 7.117°N 171.067°E / 7.117; 171.067
Official languages
Ethnic groups (2006)
  • 92.1% Marshallese
  • 5.9% mixed Marshallese
  • 2% others
Demonym Marshallese
Government Unitary parliamentary republic
• President
Hilda Heine
Kenneth Kedi
Legislature Nitijela
Independence
• Self-government
1979
October 21, 1986
Area
• Total
181.43 km2 (70.05 sq mi) (213th)
• Water (%)
n/a (negligible)
Population
• 2016 estimate
53,376 (203rd)
• 2011 census
53,158
• Density
293.0/km2 (758.9/sq mi) (28th)
GDP (PPP) 2001 estimate
• Total
$115 million (220th)
• Per capita
$2,900a (195th)
Currency United States dollar (USD)
Time zone MHT (UTC+12)
Date format MM/DD/YYYY
Drives on the right
Calling code +692
ISO 3166 code MH
Internet TLD .mh
  1. 2005 estimate.

Coordinates: 9°N 168°E / 9°N 168°E / 9; 168

The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (Marshallese: Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ), is an island country located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the International Date Line. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia. The country's population of 53,158 people (at the 2011 Census) is spread out over 29 coral atolls, comprising 1,156 individual islands and islets. The islands share maritime boundaries with the Federated States of Micronesia to the west, Wake Island to the north,Kiribati to the south-east, and Nauru to the south. About 27,797 of the islanders (at the 2011 Census) live on Majuro, which contains the capital.

Micronesian colonists gradually settled the Marshall Islands during the 2nd millennium BC, with inter-island navigation made possible using traditional stick charts. Islands in the archipelago were first explored by Europeans in the 1520s, with Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar sighting an atoll in August 1526. Other expeditions by Spanish and English ships followed. The islands derive their name from British explorer John Marshall, who visited in 1788. The islands were historically known by the inhabitants as "jolet jen Anij" (Gifts from God).


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Wikipedia

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