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Marshall Islands, officially Republic of the Marshall Islands, independent nation (1995 est. pop. 56,000), in the central Pacific. The Marshalls extend over a 700-mi (1,130-km) area and comprise two major groups: the Ratak Chain in the east, and the Ralik Chain in the west, with a total of 34 atolls, c.900 reefs, and a land area of 70 sq mi (181 sq km). The major atolls are Majuro, the capital; Arno; Ailinglaplap; Jaluit, with a fine natural harbor, the archipelago's chief trade center; and Kwajalein, the largest atoll and site of a U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile test range.
The population of the Marshalls is largely Micronesian and Christian (mainly Protestant). English is the official language; two native dialects of Marshallese, a Malayo-Polynesian tongue, and Japanese are also spoken. The chief industries are agriculture, fishing, and tourism; copra, sugar, and handicrafts are the major exports. A large portion of the Marshallese economy is dependent on U.S. aid.
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