Map of Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands is a country in Oceania with its capital at Majuro, home to about 36,282 people across 181 km². The interactive map below plots 1 cities and towns and 2 ports recorded for Marshall Islands in YearMaps.
- Population
- 36,282
- Area
- 181 km²
- Capital
- Majuro
- Continent
- Oceania
Interactive Map of Marshall Islands
Centred on Majuro at 7.1030° N, 171.3800° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is an archipelagic country in Oceania. The sovereign state lies west of the International Date Line and north of the equator in the Micronesia region of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The islands consist of 29 coral atolls, five main islands, and 1,220 other very small ones, divided across two island chains: Ratak in the east and Ralik in the west. Its capital and largest city is Majuro, home to approximately half of the country's population, and 98.47% of its territory is lagoon waters, the largest proportion of water to land of any sovereign state. One of only four atoll-based nations along with Kiribati, The Maldives, and Tuvalu, the country shares maritime boundaries with Wake Island to the north, Kiribati to the southeast, Nauru to the south, and the Federated States of Micronesia to the west. The Marshall Islands has one of the world’s highest rates of diabetes. In Ebeye, the country's second most populated island, over 33% of residents have the disease.
Austronesian settlers reached the Marshall Islands as early as the 2nd millennium BC and introduced Southeast Asian crops, including coconuts, giant swamp taro, and breadfruit, as well as domesticated chickens, which made the islands permanently habitable.
The first Europeans to visit the islands were the crew of a Spanish maritime expedition led by Alonso de Salazar who arrived in Taongi in 1526, which they called Isla de San Bartolomé (Saint Bartholomew Island). They were the survivors of a larger expedition which had sailed from Spain in 1525 led by Garcia Jofre de Loaisa. In 1528, another Spanish ship arrived in the Marshall Islands and visited Ujelang and Enewetak, this time led by Alvaro de Saavedra who was sailing back to the Americas from the Spice Islands. Later, Spanish galleons usually sailed a Pacific route farther north and avoided the Marshalls. European maps and charts named the group for British captain John Marshall, who explored the region in 1788. American Protestant missionaries and Western business interests began arriving in the 1850s. German copra traders dominated the economy in the 1870s and 1880s, and the German Empire annexed the Marshalls as a protectorate in 1885.
The Empire of Japan occupied the islands in the autumn of 1914 at the beginning of World War I. After the war, the Marshalls and other former German Pacific colonies north of the equator became the Japanese South Seas Mandate.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Marshall Islands (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Marshall Islands
Humans arrived in the Marshall Islands in the first millennium B.C. and gradually created permanent settlements on the various atolls. The early inhabitants were skilled navigators who frequently traveled between atolls using stick charts to map the islands. Society became organized under two paramount chiefs, one each for the Ratak (Sunrise) Chain and the Ralik (Sunset) Chain. Spain formally claimed the islands in 1592. Germany established a supply station on Jaluit Atoll and bought the islands from Spain in 1884, although paramount chiefs continued to rule. Japan seized the Marshall Islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations Mandate to administer the islands in 1920. The US captured the islands in heavy fighting during World War II, and the islands came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) in 1947. Between 1946 and 1958, the US resettled populations from Bikini and Enewetak Atolls and conducted 67 nuclear tests; people from Ailinginae, Rongelap, and Utrik Atolls were also evacuated because of nuclear fallout, and Bikini and Rongelap remain largely uninhabited. In 1979, the Marshall Islands drafted a constitution separate from the rest of the TTPI and declared independence under President Amata KABUA, a paramount chief. In 2000, Kessai NOTE became the first commoner elected president. In 2016, Hilda HEINE was the first woman elected president.
- Location
- Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the Ratak (Sunrise) group and the Ralik (Sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited.
- Climate
- Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt.
- Terrain
- Low coral limestone and sand islands.
- Highest point
- East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m.
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 370.4 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 0 km.
- Natural resources
- Coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 38.9% (2023 est.); arable land: 2.8% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 36.1% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.); forest: 53.9% (2023 est.); other: 7.2% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Infrequent typhoons.
- Geographic note
- Kwajalein atoll surrounds the world's largest lagoon; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific.
- Languages
- Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999)
- Religions
- Protestant 79.3% (United Church of Christ 47.9%, Assembly of God 14.1%, Full Gospel 5%, Bukot Nan Jesus 3%, Salvation Army 2.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 2.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, New Beginning Church 1.4%, other Protestant 1.6%), Roman Catholic 9.3%, Church of Jesus Christ 5.7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, other 3.3%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Marshallese 95.6%, Filipino 1.1%, other 3.3% (2021 est.)
- Economy
- Upper middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance; large public sector; coconut oil production as diesel fuel substitute; growing offshore banking locale; fishing rights seller; import-dependent.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Marshall Islands in Numbers
- Population
- 36,282
- GDP
- US$308.0 million
- GDP per person
- US$8,489
- Life expectancy
- 67.1 years
- Population growth
- -3.43% a year
- Population density
- 207 per km²
- Urban population
- 79.1%
- Surface area
- 181 km²
- Forest cover
- 53.6%
- Arable land
- 2.8%
- Access to electricity
- 97.2%
- Internet users
- 65.9%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Marshall Islands in Depth
History
Linguistic and anthropological studies have suggested that the first Austronesian settlers of the Marshall Islands arrived from the Solomon Islands. Radiocarbon dating suggests that Bikini Atoll may have been inhabited as early as 1200 BCE, though samples may not have been collected from secure stratigraphic contexts and older driftwood samples may have affected results. Archaeological digs on other atolls have found evidence of human habitation dating around the 1st century CE at the village of Laura on Majuro and on Kwajalein Atoll.
The Austronesian settlers introduced Southeast Asian crops, including coconuts, giant swamp taro, and breadfruit, as well as domesticated chickens throughout the Marshall Islands.
Geography
The Marshall Islands sit atop ancient submerged volcanoes rising from the ocean floor, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia, north of Nauru and Kiribati, east of the Federated States of Micronesia, and south of the disputed U.S. territory of Wake Island, to which it also lays claim. The atolls and islands form two groups: the Ratak (sunrise) and the Ralik (sunset). The two island chains lie approximately parallel to one another, running northwest to southeast, comprising about 750,000 square miles (1,900,000 km2) of ocean but only about 70 square miles (180 km2) of land mass. Each includes 15 to 18 islands and atolls.
The country consists of a total of 29 atolls and five individual islands situated in about 180,000 square miles (470,000 km2) of the Pacific.
Economy
The islands have few natural resources, and their imports far exceed exports. According to the CIA, the value of exports in 2013 was approximately $53.7 million while estimated imports were $133.7 million. Agricultural products include coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits, pigs and chickens. Industry is made of the production of copra and craft items, tuna processing and tourism. The GDP in 2016 was an estimated $180 million, with a real growth rate of 1.7%. The GDP per capita was $3,300.
The International Monetary Fund reported in mid-2016 that the economy of the Republic had expanded by about 0.5 percent in the Fiscal Year 2015 thanks to an improved fisheries sector. A surplus of 3% of GDP was recorded "owing to record-high fishing license fees.
Demographics
Historical population figures for the Marshall Islands are unknown. In 1862, the population of the Islands was estimated at 10,000. In 1960, the population of the Islands was approximately 15,000. The 2021 census counted 42,418 residents, 23,156 of whom (approximately 54.6%) lived on Majuro. 77.7% of the population lived in an urban setting on Majuro or Ebeye, the country's secondary urban center.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Marshall Islands (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Marshall Islands: Key Facts
| Currencies | United States dollar, SOV |
|---|---|
| Official languages | English, Marshallese |
| Head of state | Hilda Heine |
| Head of government | Hilda Heine |
| Calling code | +692 |
| Internet domain | .mh |
| Highest point | Likiep Atoll |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean |
| Established | 21 October 1986 |
Facts from Wikidata Q709 (CC0).
Visiting Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands are a group of atolls and reefs in the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between Hawaii and Australia. The charm of the Marshall Islands lies not in a great number of attractions. This small country, home to fewer than 70,000 people and comprising 1,156 islands and islets, is, however, unique. Don't expect any spectacular sights, but enjoy the pristine beauty of picture-perfect tropical islands, great scuba diving and windsurfing opportunities and the warm hospitality of the people.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Marshall Islands (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Marshall Islands
1 city recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Majuro | 25,400 | — | National capital |
Ports in Marshall Islands
2 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enitwetak Island | 31.1 m | Very Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | point_of_interest |
| 2 | Kwajalein | 27.4 m | Very Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Marshall Islands
1 World Heritage Site recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bikini Atoll | 2010 | Cultural | (iv) (vi) |
Largest Islands of Marshall Islands
4 islands recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marshall Isands | 978,186 km² | Island group |
| 2 | Ralik Chain | 1,482 km² | Island group |
| 3 | Utirik | 83 km² | Island |
| 4 | Eniwetok | 83 km² | Island |
Utirik
Island · 83 km²
Utirik is an island in Oceania (Micronesia), covering an estimated 83 km².
Utirik Atoll or Utrik Atoll (Marshallese: Utrōk, [wudˠ(ɯ)rˠɤk]) is a coral atoll of 10 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only 2.4 square kilometers (0.94 sq mi), but it encloses a lagoon with an area of 57.7 square kilometers (22.29 sq mi). It is located approximately 47 kilometers (29 mi) east of Ujae Atoll.
The population of Utirik Atoll was 264 at the 2021 census. It is one of the northernmost Islands of the Marshall Islands with permanent habitation.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Utirik Atoll (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Island
- Mapped extent
- 83 km²
- Size rank
- #405 of 445 islands
- Region
- Oceania
- Subregion
- Micronesia
- Coordinates
- 11.2422°, 169.8513°
- Summits:
- Mount Balbi (2,715 m), Takuan (2,243 m), Mount Popomanaseu (2,335 m)
- Ranges:
- Owen Stanley Range (Oceania), New Guinea Highlands (Oceania)
More about Utirik
History
Historical artifacts have been unearthed on the Atoll which date back to ca. 380 C.E., including tools likely used by early Micronesian peoples. Its first recorded sighting was by the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Saavedra on board the ship Florida on 29 December 1527. Together with Rongelap, Ailinginae and Toke atolls, they were charted as Islas de los Reyes (Islands of the Three Wise Kings in Spanish) due to the proximity of Epiphany. Utirik Atoll was claimed by the German Empire and the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1885. After World War I, the island came under the South Seas Mandate of the Empire of Japan. Following the end of World War II, Utirik went under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Utirik Atoll (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Utirik: Key Facts
| Area | 2.4 km² |
|---|---|
| Surrounded by | Pacific Ocean |
Facts from Wikidata Q700015 (CC0).
Eniwetok
Island · 83 km²
Eniwetok is an island in Oceania (Micronesia), covering an estimated 83 km².
Enewetak Atoll (; also spelled Eniwetok Atoll or sometimes Eniewetok; Marshallese: Ānewetak, [ænʲeːwɛːdˠɑk], or Āne-wātak, [ænʲeːwæːdˠɑk]; known to the Japanese as Brown Atoll or Brown Island; Japanese: ブラウン環礁) is a large coral atoll of 40 islands in the Pacific Ocean and with its 296 people (as of 2021) forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. With a land area total less than 5.85 square kilometers (2.26 sq mi), it is no higher than 5 meters (16.4 ft) and surrounds a deep central lagoon, 80 kilometers (50 mi) in circumference. It is the second-westernmost atoll of the Ralik Chain and is 305 kilometers (190 mi) west from Bikini Atoll.
It was held by the Japanese from 1914 until its capture by the United States in February 1944 during World War II, then became Naval Base Eniwetok. Nuclear testing by the US, totaling the equivalent of over 30 megatons of TNT, took place during the Cold War; in 1977–1980, a concrete dome (the Runit Dome) was built on Runit Island to deposit radioactive soil and debris.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Enewetak Atoll (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Island
- Mapped extent
- 83 km²
- Size rank
- #406 of 445 islands
- Region
- Oceania
- Subregion
- Micronesia
- Coordinates
- 11.4970°, 162.3259°
- Summits:
- Mount Lamlam (406 m), Mount Balbi (2,715 m), Takuan (2,243 m)
- Ranges:
- Owen Stanley Range (Oceania), New Guinea Highlands (Oceania)
More about Eniwetok
Geography
Enewetak Atoll formed atop a seamount. The seamount was formed in the late Cretaceous. This seamount is now about 1,400 meters (4,600 ft) below sea level. It is made of basalt, and its depth is due to a general subsidence of the entire region and not because of erosion.
History
The first European colonizers to Enewetak, Spanish explorer Álvaro de Saavedra Cerón, arrived on 10 October 1529. He called the island "Los Jardines" (The Gardens). In 1794, sailors aboard the British merchant sloop Walpole called the islands "Brown's Range" (thus, the Japanese name "Brown Atoll"). It was visited by about a dozen ships before the establishment of the German colony of the Marshall Islands in 1885.
With the rest of the Marshalls, Enewetak was captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1914, during World War I and mandated to the Empire of Japan by the League of Nations in 1920. The Japanese administered the island under the South Seas Mandate, but mostly left affairs in hands of traditional local leaders until the start of World War II.
Missile Impact Location System
From 1958 through 1960 the United States installed the Missile Impact Location System (MILS) in the Navy-managed Pacific Missile Range, later the Air Force–managed Western Range, to localize the splashdowns of test missile nose cones. MILS was developed and installed by the same entities that had completed the first phase of the Atlantic and U.S. West Coast SOSUS systems. A MILS installation, consisting of both a target array for precision location and a broad ocean area system for good positions outside the target area, was installed at Eniwetok as part of the system supporting intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Enewetak Atoll (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Eniwetok: Key Facts
| Area | 5.9 km² |
|---|---|
| Population | 664 (2011) |
| Surrounded by | Pacific Ocean |
Facts from Wikidata Q649190 (CC0).
Countries Bordering Marshall Islands
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Oceania
Marshall Islands: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Marshall Islands?
- The capital of Marshall Islands is Majuro.
- What is the population of Marshall Islands?
- Marshall Islands has a population of about 36,282, the #215 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Marshall Islands?
- Marshall Islands covers 181 km², ranking #216 by area, with about 200 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Marshall Islands in?
- Marshall Islands is in Oceania.
- Which countries border Marshall Islands?
- Marshall Islands shares a land or maritime border with United States, Micronesia, Kiribati.
- What is the largest city in Marshall Islands?
- Majuro is the largest city in Marshall Islands, with a metropolitan population of about 25,400.