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Marshall Islands

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Languages: Marshallese 98% (two major dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family), English widely spoken as a second language (both official); Japanese

Ethnicity/race: Micronesian

Religions: Protestant 55%, Assembly of God 26%, Roman Catholic 8%, Bukot nan Jesus 3%, Mormon 2%, other Christian 4%, none 2% (1999)

National Holiday: Constitution Day, May 1

Literacy rate: 94% (1999)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2008 est.): $133.5 million; per capita $2,500. Real growth rate: –0.3%. Inflation: 12.9%. Unemployment: 36%. Arable land: 11%. Agriculture: coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens. Labor force: 28,700 (1996 est); agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7% (1997). Industries: copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from seashells, wood, and pearls. Natural resources: coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals. Exports: $19 million (2008): copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish. Imports: $79.4 million (2008): foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages, and tobacco. Major trading partners: U.S., Japan, Australia, China, New Zealand, Singapore, Fiji, Philippines (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 4,186 (2001); mobile cellular: 489 (2001). Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2002). Radios: n.a. Television broadcast stations: 2 (both are US military stations) (2002). Televisions: n.a. Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2002). Internet users: 900 (2002).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: n.a.; paved: 64.5 km; unpaved: n.a.; note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002). Ports and harbors: Majuro. Airports: 15 (2002).

International disputes: claims U.S. territory of Wake Island.

Major sources and definitions