The Marshall Islands (Marshallese: Ṃajeḷ), [6] officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (Marshallese: Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ), [note 1] is an island country west of the International Date Line and north of the equator in the Micronesia region of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.

While no distinct ethnic groups exist in the Marshall Islands, people from atolls with substantial colonial contact—notably Ebon, Jaluij, Kwajalein, Majuro and, to some extent, Wotje and Maloelap—have been historically advantaged by these contacts.

Occupied by the United States in World War II (1939–1945), following heavy fighting at Kwajalein and Enewetak, the Marshall Islands were made part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands under jurisdiction of the United States in 1947.

Jan 31, 2025 · The native people of the Marshalls, the Marshallese, are Micronesians. The most populous atolls are Majuro and Kwajalein, which offers employment at the U.S. missile testing range; together they have almost three-fourths of the country’s total population.

The Marshall Islands were relatively isolated. Inhabitants developed skilled navigators, able to navigate by the currents to other atolls. Prior to close contact with Westerners, children went naked and men and women were topless, wearing only skirts made of mats of native materials.

Oct 8, 2024 · The Marshallese people have a rich history that is deeply intertwined with the ocean and their unique environment. Their cultural heritage is a tapestry of ancient customs, storytelling, and community values that have been preserved and celebrated over generations.

The Marshall Islands consist of 29 atolls and five isolated islands, divided into two chains: the Ratak (Sunrise) chain and the Ralik (Sunset) chain. The indigenous Marshallese culture is deeply connected to the ocean, which has shaped their way of life for centuries.

Jun 8, 2024 · The Marshall Islands is a sprawling chain of 29 atolls, five islands and 1,225 islets in the western Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Australia. About 2,500 years ago, before the Europeans set foot in the Marshall Islands, life for the Marshallese was very different.

Nearly everyone living in the Marshall Islands is ethnically Marshallese, which is one of many sub-groups that fall under the definition of being Micronesian. The Micronesian people are a combination of Melanesian, Polynesian, and Filipino, but every individual group of Micronesians are more strongly tied to differing groups as some have more ...

Population Distribution: most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]