Economy - overview:
US assistance and lease payments for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base are the mainstay of this small island country. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. Tourism holds some potential. The islands and atolls have few natural resources, and imports exceed exports.

The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during the period 1986-2001 under the original Compact of Free Association (Compact). In 2002 and 2003, the US and the Marshall Islands renegotiated the Compact's financial package for a 20-year period, 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact, the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. Under the amended Compact, the US and Marshall Islands are also jointly funding a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024, when direct Compact aid ends.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$196 million (2017 est.)
$191.3 million (2016 est.)
$184.6 million (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 221
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$222 million (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2017 est.)
3.6% (2016 est.)
2% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 130
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,600 (2017 est.)
$3,500 (2016 est.)
$3,400 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 186
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
government consumption: 50% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 17.8% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 0.2% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 52.9% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -102.3% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 4.4% (2013 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 9.9% (2013 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 85.7% (2013 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens

Industries:
copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)

Industrial production growth rate:
NA
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
10,670 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 217
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 11%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 16.3%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 72.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
36% (2006 est.)
30.9% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 212
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
NA
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 116.7 million (2013 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 113.9 million (2013 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
52.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 13
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
1.3% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 26
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
25.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
30% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 173
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0% (2017 est.)
-1.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 11
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$1 million (2017 est.)
$15 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 68
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$0 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 223
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - commodities:
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Imports:
$103.8 million (2016 est.)
$133.7 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 216
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages, tobacco

Debt - external:
$97.96 million (2013 est.)
$87 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 193
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used