The Marshall Islands covers an area of 181 square kilometers in the Pacific
Ocean and is comprised of 29 atolls and five major islands. The Marshall
Islands are governed by a President elected from among members of the
Marshallese Congress and a legislature elected through popular vote. Major
economic activities in the Marshall Islands include agriculture, copra, tuna
processing and tourism. The United States Government provides direct aid
to the Marshall Islands. Government assistance from the United States of
America is the mainstay of the economy. Current surveys and socioeconomic
indicators suggest that poverty and hardship are on the rise.