Introduction - Marshall Islands: |
Location - Marshall Islands: |
People - Marshall Islands: |
Government - Marshall Islands: |
Economy - Marshall Islands: |
Economy overview | US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, 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 Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade. |
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Gdp purchasing power parity | $115 million (2001 est.) |
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Gdp official exchange rate | $144 million (2005) |
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Gdp real growth rate | 3.5% (2005 est.) |
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Gdp per capita ppp | $2,900 (2005 est.) |
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Gdp composition by sector | agriculture: 31.7%
industry: 14.9%
services: 53.4% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force | 14,680 (2000) |
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Labor force by occupation | agriculture: 21.4%
industry: 20.9%
services: 57.7% |
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Unemployment rate | 30.9% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line | NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate consumer prices | 3% (2005 est.) |
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Budget | revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1999) |
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Agriculture products | coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens |
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Industries | copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from seashells, wood, and pearls |
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Industrial production growth rate | NA% |
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Exports | $9.1 million f.o.b. (2000) |
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Exports commodities | copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish |
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Exports partners | US, Japan, Australia, China (2006) |
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Imports | $54.7 million f.o.b. (2000) |
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Imports commodities | foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco |
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Imports partners | US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2006) |
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Debt external | $86.5 million (FY99/00 est.) |
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Economic aid recipient | $51.1 million more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002 (2004) |
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Currency code | US dollar (USD) |
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Exchange rates | the US dollar is used |
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Communications - Marshall Islands: |
Transportation - Marshall Islands: |
Military - Marshall Islands: |
This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007