World Factbook
Marshall Islands
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
181 sq km
note
note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km (4,507 sq mi) of lagoon and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik
water
0 sq km
total
181 sq km
Climate
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Terrain
low coral limestone and sand islands
Land use
other
7.2% (2023 est.)
forest
53.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
38.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 36.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Location
Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the Ratak (Sunrise) group and the Ralik (Sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited
Coastline
370.4 km
Elevation
lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point
East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m
mean elevation
2 m
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Map references
Oceania
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
infrequent typhoons
Geography - note
Kwajalein atoll surrounds the world's largest lagoon; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific
Natural resources
coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Area - comparative
about the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
9 00 N, 168 00 E
Population distribution
most people live in urban clusters on many of the country's islands; more than two thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye