Capital of the
Marshall Islands; population (1999) 23,700. It is formed from Dalap (or Delap), Uliga, and Darrit (or Rita), three of the inhabited islands of the Majuro Atoll, on whose 57 islands and islets over half the total population of the Marshall Islands lives. The local economy is based on fishing and the cultivation of coconuts (copra is the chief export), cassava, and sweet potatoes.
Uliga is the main business district, and banking and tourism are increasingly important, though there is a large balance-of-trade deficit which is currently made good by aid from the USA. The government offices are based in Dalap, while Darrit has a primary and a secondary school.
© RM 2009. Helicon Publishing is division of RM.