The Human Truth Foundation

Marshall Islands (Republic of the Marshall Islands)

http://www.humantruth.info/marshall_islands.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Marshall Islands
Republic of the Marshall Islands
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index169th best
CapitalMajuro
Land Area 180km21
LocationAustralasia, Micronesia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population58 4132
Life Expectancy65.27yrs (2017)3
GNI$4 620 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesMH, MHL, 5845
Internet Domain.mh6
CurrencyDollar (USD)7
Telephone+6928

1. Overview

#USA

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.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverThis expanse of slender, flat coral atolls is so surrounded by tropical sea that anywhere at any time you can see, hear, smell and feel salt air and water. A thousand or so coral islands make up the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Living on these narrow strips of land between ocean and lagoon, the Marshallese are expert fishers and navigators, having long been reliant on the sea.

Local faces reflect the islands´ history. In the late 1700s, after 2000 years of isolation, these Micronesian islands were variously visited, settled, colonised or occupied by British, Russians, Germans, Japanese and Americans (at first by missionaries, later by defence forces). Today the more developed atolls have a sense of all these influences, with well-stocked stores carrying international groceries, restaurants serving the food of several nations, and basketball courts on many street corners. On the quieter backstreets the Marshallese continue to live in family compounds, surrounded by flowers.

The RMI´s charm lies in its outer islands, which still retain the pristine feel of a Pacific paradise.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Marshall Islands National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
128Cape Verde0.662
129Bangladesh0.661
130Tuvalu0.641
131Marshall Islands0.639
132India0.633
133Ghana0.632
Australasia Avg0.70
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
141Venezuela$4 811
142Nigeria$4 790
143Pakistan$4 624
144Marshall Islands$4 620
145Kyrgyzstan$4 566
146Tajikistan$4 548
Australasia Avg$12 519
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
166Niger115.5
167Liberia115.5
168Nauru115.8
169Marshall Islands116.6
170Swaziland116.9
171Zimbabwe117.2
Australasia Avg102.8
World Avg86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Marshall Islands's Demographics and Migration

#health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #population

Population:

The Marshall Islands's population is predicted to rise to 67 344 by 2030.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
185Antigua & Barbuda96 286
186Andorra77 006
187Dominica71 625
188Marshall Islands58 413
189St Kitts & Nevis52 441
190Monaco38 682
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
146Guyana65.7
147Myanmar (Burma)65.7
148Papua New Guinea65.4
149Marshall Islands65.3
150Sudan65.3
151Ethiopia65.0
World Avg71.28
q=195.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)14
Pos.
%14
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
76Bhutan6.5%
77Macedonia6.3%
78Finland6.2%
79Marshall Islands6.2%
80Turkey6.0%
81Syria5.5%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)15
Pos.
%15
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
34Croatia17.1%
35Liechtenstein17.1%
36Cyprus17.0%
37Marshall Islands16.6%
38Ireland16.1%
39Belize16.1%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Marshall Islands's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2020)16,17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank16,17
1New Zealand17.5
2Australia24.1
3Fiji102.4
4Papua New Guinea122.4
5Nauru123.4
6Micronesia128.8
7Palau131.0
8Tonga132.9
9Marshall Islands134.6
10Samoa136.1
11Vanuatu138.2
12Kiribati138.4
13Cook Islands144.5
Australasia Avg120.0
q=15.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)16,17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank16,17
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
177Syria133.1
178Iran133.8
179Zimbabwe134.5
180Marshall Islands134.6
181Samoa136.1
182Angola136.2
183Palestine138.0
World Avg87.7
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark16. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu16.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe16, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia16.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR (2009)18
Pos.Higher is better
Treaties18
1Argentina24
2Chile23
3Costa Rica23
4Ecuador23
5Germany23
...
186Micronesia5
187Singapore5
188Nauru5
189Marshall Islands4
190Myanmar (Burma)4
191Palau4
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag (2019)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Yrs/Treaty19
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
4Colombia3.68
5Costa Rica4.05
...
190Nauru16.16
191Sao Tome & Principe16.17
192Tuvalu16.33
193Palau16.34
194Marshall Islands16.34
195Palestine17.21
Australasia Avg14.35
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Pos.Lower is better
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
4Norway1913
5Denmark1915
...
170Portugal1976
171Guinea-Bissau1977
172Zimbabwe1978
173Marshall Islands1979
174Palau1979
175Micronesia1979
Australasia Avg1962
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality (2017)20
Pos.Higher is better
Score20
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
4Brazil81
5Spain79
...
85Sao Tome & Principe20
86Palau20
87Nauru20
88Marshall Islands20
89Guinea-Bissau20
90Micronesia20
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought (2021)21
Pos.Lower is better21
1Belgium1.0
2Netherlands1.0
3Taiwan1.0
4Sao Tome & Principe1.3
5Ecuador1.3
...
39Cape Verde2.3
40Botswana2.3
41Uruguay2.3
42Marshall Islands2.3
43Seychelles2.3
44Bhutan2.5
Australasia Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Marshall Islands's Health

#health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2020)22,23
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank22,23
1Solomon Islands82.0
2Australia84.6
3Kiribati87.0
4New Zealand88.8
5Fiji90.6
...
10Tuvalu112.5
11Micronesia114.2
12Papua New Guinea120.8
13Cook Islands123.7
14Nauru134.8
15Palau146.0
16Marshall Islands158.3
Australasia Avg109.4
q=16.
Health (2020)22,23
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank22,23
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
190Angola133.1
191Nauru134.8
192Equatorial Guinea136.5
193Nigeria142.1
194Palau146.0
195S. Sudan146.5
196Marshall Islands158.3
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives22. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau22.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean22, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa22.

For more, see:

Health:

The Marshall Islands is amongst the unhealthiest places in the world, causing serious issues for most of its citizens. The Marshall Islands does worse than average in its average life expectancy11 (one of the lowest in Australasia) and in its immunizations take-up24. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance25 (one of the worst in Australasia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
146Guyana65.7
147Myanmar (Burma)65.7
148Papua New Guinea65.4
149Marshall Islands65.3
150Sudan65.3
151Ethiopia65.0
Australasia Avg70.11
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)25
Pos.Lower is better
Rank25
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
...
141Rwanda141
142Mali142
143Niger143
144Marshall Islands144
145Botswana145
146Samoa146
Australasia Avg94.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults (2016)26
Pos.Lower is better
%26
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
185Kiribati78.7
186Niue80.0
187Tuvalu81.9
188Marshall Islands83.5
189Cook Islands84.7
190Palau85.1
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)24
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %24
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
149Djibouti82.6
150Uganda82.5
151Comoros81.8
152Marshall Islands81.8
153Mozambique81.4
154Venezuela80.6
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Marshall Islands's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1New Zealand17.6
2Australia19.2
3Palau59.3
4Tonga75.2
5New Caledonia75.5
6Fiji80.8
7French Polynesia95.0
8Nauru99.0
9Marshall Islands102.8
10Samoa103.4
11Vanuatu117.0
12Micronesia131.3
13Kiribati143.0
Australasia Avg98.1
q=16.
Modernity and Learning (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
135Maldives99.8
136Cameroon101.6
137Zimbabwe101.8
138Marshall Islands102.8
139Algeria103.4
140Samoa103.4
141Paraguay104.4
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education (2018)27
Pos.Higher is better27
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
34Barbados92.9%
35Albania92.9%
36Belarus92.2%
37Marshall Islands92.1%
38Montenegro91.6%
39Australia90.4%
Australasia Avg79.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)28
Pos.Higher is better
Years28
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
161Papua New Guinea10.4
162Solomon Islands10.3
163Afghanistan10.3
164Marshall Islands10.2
165Mozambique10.2
166Uganda10.1
Australasia Avg13.4
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)25
Pos.Lower is better
Rank25
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
...
40Spain40
41Italy41
42Slovakia42
43Marshall Islands43
44S. Korea44
45Morocco45
Australasia Avg58.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)29
Pos.Higher is better29
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
149Equatorial Guinea21%
150Lesotho21%
151Indonesia20%
152Marshall Islands20%
153Algeria20%
154Nicaragua19%
Australasia Avg44.3%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)30
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio30
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
117Maldives0.0
118Tunisia0.0
119Tuvalu0.0
120Marshall Islands0.0
121Georgia0.0
122Swaziland0.0
Australasia Avg1.55
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

Creativity and Culture (2017)25
Pos.Lower is better
Rank25
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
...
37Iceland37
38Croatia38
39Bulgaria39
40Marshall Islands40
41Malaysia41
42Namibia42
Australasia Avg61.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)25
Pos.Lower is better
Rank25
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
...
38Cyprus38
39Bulgaria39
40Turkey40
41Marshall Islands41
42Malta42
43Morocco43
Australasia Avg91.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

Peacekeeping and Security (2017)25
Pos.Lower is better
Rank25
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
...
158Iraq158
159Bahrain159
160Slovenia160
161Tonga161
162Marshall Islands162
163Guinea-Bissau163
Australasia Avg88.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)25
Pos.Lower is better
Rank25
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
...
146Central African Rep.146
147El Salvador147
148Bahamas148
149Marshall Islands149
150Burundi150
151Zimbabwe151
Australasia Avg103.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #the_environment

Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
10Canada1993 Dec 29
11Monaco1993 Dec 29
12Maldives1993 Dec 29
13Marshall Islands1993 Dec 29
14Seychelles1993 Dec 29
15Mauritius1993 Dec 29
Australasia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

10. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below31:

Christian97.5%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.3%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated1.5%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)32.

Links: