Population: 70,822 (July 2001 est.)

Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese

Background: 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...

Currency: U.S. Dollar (USD, US$1 = US$1)

Data from CIA World Factbook. Click on CIA link for more. Click on map or flag for larger images.