FACTS

Location: Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Area (only Total) total: 181.3 sq km

Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands

Population: 63,174

Main Language (only first): Marshallese

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Capital (Name): Majuro

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+12

Independence: 21 October 1986

National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May