Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands is a small, aid-dependent Pacific nation of atolls whose economy relies heavily on financial assistance from the United States under a Compact of Free Association, along with fishing and a ship registry.

US payments, partly compensation for Cold War nuclear testing on its atolls, are central to the economy, alongside fishing rights and one of the world's largest open ship registries.

Key Sectors

The economy rests on US Compact assistance, fishing-license fees, a large flag-of-convenience ship registry, and copra, with little other industry.