Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has a population of approximately 55,000 and is built almost entirely on low-lying coral atolls across almost 2,000 square kilometres of the Northern Pacific Ocean.

It is an independent nation in Free Association with the United States, which first came into force in 1986. New Zealand and RMI commenced diplomatic relations in 1988. RMI is responsible for its own domestic and foreign policy affairs, while the US retains obligations for defence and security.

New Zealand’s relationship with RMI is based on common interests in Pacific issues such as fisheries, climate change, and regional security. We are both members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) agencies such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the University of the South Pacific (USP).

Development cooperation and sustainability

RMI faces several challenges. It’s remoteness, few natural resources, and its average elevation of just 2m above sea level means it is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change.

New Zealand provides bilateral development cooperation funding to RMI as part of our North Pacific development programme. Our programme is focused on economic resilience, fisheries management, climate change, tertiary scholarships, and child and maternal health. For example, we partner with RMI on activities to address climate-induced loss and damage as part of our international climate finance programme and provide funding to the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority.

Some of this work is delivered through the North Pacific Development Fund. The Fund invests primarily in activities that support income and job generation, training, disaster management and community development.

The latest information on our development cooperation activities, including activity details and descriptions, start and end dates, geographic and sectoral focus, expenditure figures, is available at DevData(external link).

People and culture

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme(external link) provides tertiary and short-term training scholarships to RMI scholars.

Trade and investment

Given the distance between RMI and New Zealand, and there being no direct shipping links, two-way trade between New Zealand and RMI is modest. The latest information about New Zealand's trade profile with RMI is available on the New Zealand Trade Dashboard(external link).

Fisheries is the largest source of RMI’s domestic revenue, representing 18% of government revenue. US Compact of Free Association funding makes up the largest source of overall revenue.