Marshall Islands (Republic of the Marshall Islands)

Marshall Islands Republic of the Marshall Islands
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	169th best
Capital	Majuro
Land Area	180km21
Location	Australasia, Micronesia
Groupings	Small Islands
Population	58 4132
Life Expectancy	65.27yrs (2017)3
GNI	$4 620 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	MH, MHL, 5845
Internet Domain	.mh6
Currency	Dollar (USD)7
Telephone	+6928

1. Overview
2. Marshall Islands National and Social Development
3. Marshall Islands's Demographics and Migration
4. Marshall Islands's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Marshall Islands's Health
6. Marshall Islands's Modernity and Learning
7. National Culture
8. Peace Versus Instability
9. The Natural Environment
10. Religion and Beliefs
11. Links

---

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

“This 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
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
4	Hong Kong	0.952
5	Australia	0.951
	...
128	Cape Verde	0.662
129	Bangladesh	0.661
130	Tuvalu	0.641
131	Marshall Islands	0.639
132	India	0.633
133	Ghana	0.632
	Australasia Avg	0.70
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
4	Luxembourg	$84 649
5	Ireland	$76 169
	...
141	Venezuela	$4 811
142	Nigeria	$4 790
143	Pakistan	$4 624
144	Marshall Islands	$4 620
145	Kyrgyzstan	$4 566
146	Tajikistan	$4 548
	Australasia Avg	$12 519
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12,13
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12,13
1	Taiwan	28.6
2	Norway	29.4
3	Denmark	31.2
4	Sweden	32.2
5	Finland	32.6
	...
166	Niger	115.5
167	Liberia	115.5
168	Nauru	115.8
169	Marshall Islands	116.6
170	Swaziland	116.9
171	Zimbabwe	117.2
	Australasia Avg	102.8
	World Avg	86.1
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
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
4	Indonesia	267.7m
5	Pakistan	212.2m
	...
185	Antigua & Barbuda	96 286
186	Andorra	77 006
187	Dominica	71 625
188	Marshall Islands	58 413
189	St Kitts & Nevis	52 441
190	Monaco	38 682
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
4	Australia	84.5
5	Switzerland	84.0
	...
146	Guyana	65.7
147	Myanmar (Burma)	65.7
148	Papua New Guinea	65.4
149	Marshall Islands	65.3
150	Sudan	65.3
151	Ethiopia	65.0
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)14
Pos.		%14
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
4	Liechtenstein	65.1%
5	Monaco	54.9%
	...
76	Bhutan	6.5%
77	Macedonia	6.3%
78	Finland	6.2%
79	Marshall Islands	6.2%
80	Turkey	6.0%
81	Syria	5.5%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants (2010)15
Pos.		%15
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
4	Grenada	65.5%
5	St Kitts & Nevis	61.1%
	...
34	Croatia	17.1%
35	Liechtenstein	17.1%
36	Cyprus	17.0%
37	Marshall Islands	16.6%
38	Ireland	16.1%
39	Belize	16.1%
	World Avg	11.5%
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
1	New Zealand	17.5
2	Australia	24.1
3	Fiji	102.4
4	Papua New Guinea	122.4
5	Nauru	123.4
6	Micronesia	128.8
7	Palau	131.0
8	Tonga	132.9
9	Marshall Islands	134.6
10	Samoa	136.1
11	Vanuatu	138.2
12	Kiribati	138.4
13	Cook Islands	144.5
	Australasia Avg	120.0
q=15.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)16,17
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank16,17
1	Sweden	9.2
2	Norway	14.7
3	Denmark	14.7
4	Netherlands	15.8
5	New Zealand	17.5
	...
177	Syria	133.1
178	Iran	133.8
179	Zimbabwe	134.5
180	Marshall Islands	134.6
181	Samoa	136.1
182	Angola	136.2
183	Palestine	138.0
	World Avg	87.7
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:

• "Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR (2009)18
Pos.		Higher is better Treaties18
1	Argentina	24
2	Chile	23
3	Costa Rica	23
4	Ecuador	23
5	Germany	23
	...
186	Micronesia	5
187	Singapore	5
188	Nauru	5
189	Marshall Islands	4
190	Myanmar (Burma)	4
191	Palau	4
	Australasia Avg	8.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag (2019)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Yrs/Treaty19
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
4	Colombia	3.68
5	Costa Rica	4.05
	...
190	Nauru	16.16
191	Sao Tome & Principe	16.17
192	Tuvalu	16.33
193	Palau	16.34
194	Marshall Islands	16.34
195	Palestine	17.21
	Australasia Avg	14.35
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Year Women Can Vote
Pos.		Lower is better Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
4	Norway	1913
5	Denmark	1915
	...
170	Portugal	1976
171	Guinea-Bissau	1977
172	Zimbabwe	1978
173	Marshall Islands	1979
174	Palau	1979
175	Micronesia	1979
	Australasia Avg	1962
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality (2017)20
Pos.		Higher is better Score20
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
4	Brazil	81
5	Spain	79
	...
85	Sao Tome & Principe	20
86	Palau	20
87	Nauru	20
88	Marshall Islands	20
89	Guinea-Bissau	20
90	Micronesia	20
	Australasia Avg	07.1
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Freedom of Thought (2021)21
Pos.		Lower is better21
1	Belgium	1.0
2	Netherlands	1.0
3	Taiwan	1.0
4	Sao Tome & Principe	1.3
5	Ecuador	1.3
	...
39	Cape Verde	2.3
40	Botswana	2.3
41	Uruguay	2.3
42	Marshall Islands	2.3
43	Seychelles	2.3
44	Bhutan	2.5
	Australasia Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
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
1	Solomon Islands	82.0
2	Australia	84.6
3	Kiribati	87.0
4	New Zealand	88.8
5	Fiji	90.6
	...
10	Tuvalu	112.5
11	Micronesia	114.2
12	Papua New Guinea	120.8
13	Cook Islands	123.7
14	Nauru	134.8
15	Palau	146.0
16	Marshall Islands	158.3
	Australasia Avg	109.4
q=16.

Health (2020)22,23
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank22,23
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Hong Kong	18.3
3	Maldives	41.0
4	Singapore	42.6
5	Japan	51.0
	...
190	Angola	133.1
191	Nauru	134.8
192	Equatorial Guinea	136.5
193	Nigeria	142.1
194	Palau	146.0
195	S. Sudan	146.5
196	Marshall Islands	158.3
	World Avg	93.5
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:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

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
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
4	Australia	84.5
5	Switzerland	84.0
	...
146	Guyana	65.7
147	Myanmar (Burma)	65.7
148	Papua New Guinea	65.4
149	Marshall Islands	65.3
150	Sudan	65.3
151	Ethiopia	65.0
	Australasia Avg	70.11
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)25
Pos.		Lower is better Rank25
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
4	UK	4
5	Norway	5
	...
141	Rwanda	141
142	Mali	142
143	Niger	143
144	Marshall Islands	144
145	Botswana	145
146	Samoa	146
	Australasia Avg	94.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults (2016)26
Pos.		Lower is better %26
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
4	Ethiopia	20.9
5	Nepal	21.0
	...
185	Kiribati	78.7
186	Niue	80.0
187	Tuvalu	81.9
188	Marshall Islands	83.5
189	Cook Islands	84.7
190	Palau	85.1
	Australasia Avg	73.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)24
Pos.		Higher is better Avg %24
1	Hungary	99.0
2	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
4	Niue	98.8
5	Mongolia	98.7
	...
149	Djibouti	82.6
150	Uganda	82.5
151	Comoros	81.8
152	Marshall Islands	81.8
153	Mozambique	81.4
154	Venezuela	80.6
	Australasia Avg	86.4
	World Avg	88.3
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
1	New Zealand	17.6
2	Australia	19.2
3	Palau	59.3
4	Tonga	75.2
5	New Caledonia	75.5
6	Fiji	80.8
7	French Polynesia	95.0
8	Nauru	99.0
9	Marshall Islands	102.8
10	Samoa	103.4
11	Vanuatu	117.0
12	Micronesia	131.3
13	Kiribati	143.0
	Australasia Avg	98.1
q=16.

Modernity and Learning (2020)17
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank17
1	Finland	8.4
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	15.1
4	Estonia	15.8
5	Denmark	16.0
	...
135	Maldives	99.8
136	Cameroon	101.6
137	Zimbabwe	101.8
138	Marshall Islands	102.8
139	Algeria	103.4
140	Samoa	103.4
141	Paraguay	104.4
	World Avg	83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education (2018)27
Pos.		Higher is better27
1	Luxembourg	100.0%
2	Estonia	100.0%
3	Austria	100.0%
4	Canada	100.0%
5	Finland	100.0%
	...
34	Barbados	92.9%
35	Albania	92.9%
36	Belarus	92.2%
37	Marshall Islands	92.1%
38	Montenegro	91.6%
39	Australia	90.4%
	Australasia Avg	79.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling (2021)28
Pos.		Higher is better Years28
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
4	Belgium	19.6
5	Sweden	19.4
	...
161	Papua New Guinea	10.4
162	Solomon Islands	10.3
163	Afghanistan	10.3
164	Marshall Islands	10.2
165	Mozambique	10.2
166	Uganda	10.1
	Australasia Avg	13.4
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours (2017)25
Pos.		Lower is better Rank25
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
4	Denmark	4
5	UK	5
	...
40	Spain	40
41	Italy	41
42	Slovakia	42
43	Marshall Islands	43
44	S. Korea	44
45	Morocco	45
	Australasia Avg	58.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)29
Pos.		Higher is better29
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
4	Bermuda	97%
5	Andorra	97%
	...
149	Equatorial Guinea	21%
150	Lesotho	21%
151	Indonesia	20%
152	Marshall Islands	20%
153	Algeria	20%
154	Nicaragua	19%
	Australasia Avg	44.3%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IPv6 Uptake (2017)30
Pos.		Higher is better Ratio30
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
4	USA	35.0
5	Greece	33.5
	...
117	Maldives	0.0
118	Tunisia	0.0
119	Tuvalu	0.0
120	Marshall Islands	0.0
121	Georgia	0.0
122	Swaziland	0.0
	Australasia Avg	1.55
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

Creativity and Culture (2017)25
Pos.		Lower is better Rank25
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
4	Switzerland	4
5	Sweden	5
	...
37	Iceland	37
38	Croatia	38
39	Bulgaria	39
40	Marshall Islands	40
41	Malaysia	41
42	Namibia	42
	Australasia Avg	61.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)25
Pos.		Lower is better Rank25
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
4	Netherlands	4
5	Switzerland	5
	...
38	Cyprus	38
39	Bulgaria	39
40	Turkey	40
41	Marshall Islands	41
42	Malta	42
43	Morocco	43
	Australasia Avg	91.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

Peacekeeping and Security (2017)25
Pos.		Lower is better Rank25
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
4	Egypt	4
5	Nigeria	5
	...
158	Iraq	158
159	Bahrain	159
160	Slovenia	160
161	Tonga	161
162	Marshall Islands	162
163	Guinea-Bissau	163
	Australasia Avg	88.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)25
Pos.		Lower is better Rank25
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
4	Sweden	4
5	Malta	5
	...
146	Central African Rep.	146
147	El Salvador	147
148	Bahamas	148
149	Marshall Islands	149
150	Burundi	150
151	Zimbabwe	151
	Australasia Avg	103.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #the_environment

Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.		Earlier is better Signed
1	China	1993 Dec 29
2	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
3	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
4	Vanuatu	1993 Dec 29
5	Papua New Guinea	1993 Dec 29
	...
10	Canada	1993 Dec 29
11	Monaco	1993 Dec 29
12	Maldives	1993 Dec 29
13	Marshall Islands	1993 Dec 29
14	Seychelles	1993 Dec 29
15	Mauritius	1993 Dec 29
	Australasia Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 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:

Christian	97.5%
Muslim	0.1%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.3%
Jew	0.1%
Unaffiliated	1.5%

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:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems