The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is a collection of atolls and islands in the Pacific region to the north of Nauru and Kiribati and just west of the International Date Line. They have a land surface area of approximately 180 square kilometres and over 11,000 square kilometres of lagoons.

In 1986, RMI entered into a Compact of Free Association with the United States to provide a wide range of services to the community. Most notably among these are defence and border security. In return, the US operates an army base and missile testing range on Kwajalein Atoll. During the 1940s and ’50s, the US and the United Kingdom carried out a total of 57 nuclear tests, including the first Hydrogen Bomb and, also, reportedly the largest ever nuclear explosion. These tests were carried out on outlying atolls, totally destroying some islands. These areas remain the most radioactively polluted areas on the globe and have been the subject of a $US187 million settlement. This remains a contentious subject, with health issues still being apparent among the RMI citizens.

RMI relies heavily on aid from the US for economic survival, with primary industry providing only some of the nation’s requirements.

The Marshallese people, of Micronesian background, speak both English and Marshallese languages.

The country is predominantly Christian following contact with Christian Missionaries in the latter part of the 1800s. The main church organisations represented include Protestant, Assemblies of God and Roman Catholic, with several smaller groups.

The government is loosely based upon a modified bicameral Westminster model with significant characteristics taken from the US model.