People and Society of Marshall Islands

Nationality

Marshallese (singular and plural)

Ethnic Groups

Micronesian

Population

41,996

Population in Major Urban Areas

MAJURO (capital) 31,000

Health facilities in Majuro and Ebeye are adequate for routine medical problems. There are few or no health facilities available elsewhere in the Marshall Islands. Majuro has a private clinic and a public hospital. Ebeye also has a public hospital. Most outer islands have medical dispensaries. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Prescription and over the counter medicine may not be available. We recommend that you bring a supply of your prescription medication when you visit. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. However, the local cost for service is quite minimal. Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in the Marshall Islands.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in the Marshall Islands stands at approximately 64 to 67 years overall, with women generally outliving men by several years. Women in the Marshall Islands can expect to live to around 67 to 68 years, while men have an average life expectancy closer to 63 to 65 years. These figures place the Marshall Islands notably below the global average life expectancy of roughly 73 years, reflecting the unique health challenges facing this remote Pacific island nation. Several interconnected factors influence life expectancy in the Marshall Islands. Non-communicable diseases represent a particularly serious burden on the population. Rates of type 2 diabetes are among the highest in the world, driven largely by dietary shifts away from traditional foods toward processed, imported goods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and sodium. Cardiovascular disease is also a leading cause of premature death, compounded by rising rates of obesity and hypertension across the adult population. Access to quality healthcare remains a significant concern. The country's remoteness, its scattered geography across 29 atolls and five islands, and its limited economic resources make it difficult to maintain a robust healthcare infrastructure. Many residents living outside of Majuro and Ebeye, the two main urban centers, have limited access to medical facilities, trained physicians, and specialist care. This geographic disparity contributes to uneven health outcomes across the population. Infant mortality, while declining over recent decades, continues to be higher than in many neighboring Pacific nations, which also weighs on overall life expectancy figures. Improvements in maternal health services, vaccination programs, and sanitation have contributed to gradual gains in longevity over time. Emigration of trained medical professionals to the United States — permitted under the Compact of Free Association — further strains the domestic healthcare workforce and limits the capacity to deliver consistent care across the islands. Climate change poses an emerging and increasingly urgent long-term threat to public health in the Marshall Islands. Rising sea levels threaten freshwater sources through saltwater intrusion and can increase the risk of waterborne illness, potentially reversing hard-won health gains in the coming decades. Extreme weather events, coastal flooding, and the degradation of reef ecosystems also threaten food security, adding further pressure to population health. Despite these challenges, ongoing partnerships with international health organizations and development agencies continue to support incremental improvements in health outcomes across the island nation.

Infant Mortality Rate

The Marshall Islands faces notable challenges in infant health, reflected in an infant mortality rate that, while improved over recent decades, remains higher than the global average for upper-middle-income nations. The infant mortality rate for the Marshall Islands stands at approximately 21 to 23 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to recent estimates from international health monitoring organizations. This figure represents the number of infants who die before reaching one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year. Several interconnected factors contribute to this rate. Geographic isolation plays a significant role, as the nation's low-lying atolls are spread across a vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, making access to consistent, quality healthcare difficult for many communities. Outer island populations are particularly vulnerable, often lacking immediate access to hospitals, trained medical personnel, and emergency neonatal care. Common causes of infant death in the Marshall Islands include premature birth complications, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and other preventable or treatable conditions. Malnutrition among mothers and infants also remains a contributing concern, as nutritional deficiencies can weaken immune systems and impair healthy infant development. Despite these challenges, the infant mortality rate has declined meaningfully over the past three decades. Improvements in maternal health programs, vaccination coverage, access to oral rehydration therapy, and international health aid have all contributed to this downward trend. Organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization have partnered with the Marshallese government to support child health initiatives, including efforts to improve prenatal care and skilled attendance at birth. Ongoing concerns include the effects of climate change, which threaten freshwater supplies and food security across the island nation — factors that have downstream consequences for infant health and survival. Continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, community health worker training, and nutrition programs will be critical to further reducing infant mortality in the Marshall Islands in the years ahead.

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

English (widely spoken as a second language, both English and Marshallese are official languages), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese

• English
• Japanese
• Marshallese

Crime Information

Travel around the Marshall Islands is, by most standards, considered safe. The Marshall Islands has a relatively low crime rate. The most common crimes are break-ins and thefts from homes, hotel rooms, and vehicles, as well as occasional random acts of vandalism. There have been a few recent but isolated incidents in which non-U.S. foreigners were assaulted. It is recommended that visitors dress conservatively; skin showing above the knee, especially for females, may be considered offensive to some Marshallese citizens. Keep your hotel room or residence locked at all times. Occasionally, fights and assaults occur at nightclubs and bars. If you visit those establishments, especially late in the evening, be extra vigilant to ensure your personal security. Don’t buy counterfeit or pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, you may be breaking local law too.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in the Marshall Islands, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in the Marshall Islands, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go. While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.