Marshall Islands

Buy data    Donate

Country overview: 

Micronesia, including the Marshall Islands, was a German possession at the start of the 20th century. The islands were mandated to Japan in 1920 by the League of Nations. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was created on 1947-04-02 and granted in trust to the United States. This territory was divided into districts, one of which was the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands became a freely associated state of the United States on 1986-10-21. It became fully independent on 1991-09-17.

Other names of country: 

1. Danish: Marshalløerne, Republikken Marshalløerne (formal)
2. Dutch: Marshalleilanden, Republiek der Marshalleilanden (formal)
3. English: Republic of the Marshall Islands (formal)
4. Finnish: Marshallinsaaret
5. French: Îles fp Marshall
6. German: Marshallinseln fp
7. Icelandic: Marshalleyjar
8. Italian: Isole fp Marshall
9. Norwegian: Marshalløyene, Republikken Marshalløyene (formal) (Bokmål), Marshalløyane, Republikken Marshalløyane (formal) (Nynorsk)
10. Portuguese: Ilhas Marshall, República f das Ilhas fp Marshall (formal)
11. Spanish: Islas Marshall, República f de las Islas fp Marshall (formal)
12. Swedish: Marshallöarna

Origin of name: 

Named for explorer Capt. Marshall

Primary subdivisions: 

The Marshall Islands have no administrative divisions at this level.

Further subdivisions:

See the Municipalities of the Marshall Islands page.

Some sources list a division of the Marshall Islands into atolls.

Territorial extent: 

The Marshall Islands include numerous small islands and atolls. For convenience, they are grouped into two chains: the Ratak Chain on the east, and the Ralik chain on the west. The Ratak (Sunrise) chain stretches from Mili to Taongi, and includes Majuro. The Ralik (Sunset) chain stretches from Ebon to Enewetak (Eniwetok). Some sources specify that the capital is Dalap-Uliga-Darrit, on Majuro Atoll.