Australia - Oceania :: Marshall Islands

- Introduction :: Marshall Islands
- Background:
  After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network. Kwajalein also hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory)).
- Geography :: Marshall Islands
- Location:
  Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets (about 1,225 total), and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
  Geographic coordinates:
  9 00 N, 168 00 E
  Map references:
  Oceania
  Area:
  total: 181 sq km
  land: 181 sq km
  water: 0 sq km

  note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik

  country comparison to the world: 217
  Area - comparative:
  about the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  370.4 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
  Terrain:
  low coral limestone and sand islands
  Elevation:
  mean elevation: 2 m
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean
  14 highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll
  Natural resources:
  coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 50.7% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 7.8% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 31.2% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 11.7% (2011 est.)
  forest: 49.3% (2011 est.)
  other: 0% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  0 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
  Natural hazards:
  infrequent typhoons
  Environment - current issues:
  inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels; sea level rise
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific
- People and Society :: Marshall Islands
- Population:
  75,684 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Nationality:
  noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
  adjective: Marshallese
  Ethnic groups:
  Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006)
  Languages:
  Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)

  note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language

  Religions:
  Protestant 80.5% (United Church of Christ 47%, Assembly of God 16.2%, Bukot Nan Jesus 5.4%, Full Gospel 3.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 3%, Salvation Army 1.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, Meram in Jesus 1.2%, other Protestant 1.1%), Roman Catholic 8.5%, Mormon 7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 1.2%, none 1.1% (2011 est.)
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 34.26% (male 13,224 /female 12,706)
  15-24 years: 18.49% (male 7,117 /female 6,875)
  25-54 years: 37.15% (male 14,318 /female 13,800)
  55-64 years: 5.86% (male 2,221 /female 2,215)
  65 years and over: 4.24% (male 1,580 /female 1,628) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Australia - Oceania :: Marshall Islands Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Marshall Islands. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Median age:
  total: 23.1 years
  male: 23 years
  female: 23.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Population growth rate:
  1.5% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Birth rate:
  23.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Death rate:
  4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Net migration rate:
  -4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Population distribution:
  most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 77% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  31,000 MAJURO (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 16.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 73.6 years (2018 est.)
  male: 71.4 years (2018 est.)
  female: 76 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Total fertility rate:
  2.98 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Health expenditures:
  17.1% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Physicians density:
  0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)
  Drinking water source:
  improved: urban: 93.5% of population
  rural: 97.6% of population
  total: 94.6% of population
  unimproved: urban: 6.5% of population
  rural: 2.4% of population
  total: 5.4% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved: urban: 84.5% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 56.2% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 76.9% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 15.5% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 43.8% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 23.1% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Major infectious diseases:

  note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  52.9% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2011 est.)
  total population: 98.3% (2011 est.)
  male: 98.3% (2011 est.)
  female: 98.2% (2011 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 11% (2010 est.)
  male: 12.2% (2010 est.)
  female: 8.7% (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
- Government :: Marshall Islands
- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
  conventional short form: Marshall Islands
  local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
  local short form: Marshall Islands
  former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District
  abbreviation: RMI
  etymology: named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788
  Government type:
  presidential republic in free association with the US
  Capital:
  name: Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap
  geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E
  time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namdrik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje
  Independence:
  21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
  National holiday:
  Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
  Constitution:
  history: effective 1 May 1979 (2018)
  amendments: proposed by the National Parliament or by a constitutional convention; passage by Parliament requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership in each of two readings and approval by a majority of votes in a referendum; amendments submitted by a constitutional convention require approval of at least two-thirds of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 1995 (2018)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Marshall Islands
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges as prescribed by law)
  judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Cabinet upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission and upon the approval of the Nitijela; judges appointed until retirement, normally at age 72
  subordinate courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 28 January 2016)
  cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 January 2016 (next to be held in 2020)
  election results: Hilda C. HEINE elected president; Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE 24, she was the only candidate

  note: Hilda C. HEINE is the first female elected head of state of any Pacific island nation

  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members in single- and multi-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij, a 12-member group of tribal leaders advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice)
  elections: last held on 16 November 2015 (next to be held by November 2019)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 33; composition - men 28, women 5, percent of women 15.2%
  Political parties and leaders:
  traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Aelon Kein Ad Party [Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]
  International organization participation:
  ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald M. ZACKIOS (since 16 September 2016)
  chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
  FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
  consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AR)
  consulate(s): Agana (Guam)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Karen Brevard STEWART (since 25 July 2016)
  embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
  mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379
  telephone: [692] 247-4011
  FAX: [692] 247-4012
  Flag description:
  blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north
  National symbol(s):
  a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange
  National anthem:
  name: Forever Marshall Islands
  lyrics/music: Amata KABUA

  note: adopted 1981

- Economy :: Marshall Islands
- 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: 221
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $222 million (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  2.5% (2017 est.)
  3.6% (2016 est.)
  2% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  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: 186
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  government consumption: 50% (2016 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 17.8% (2016 est.)
  investment in inventories: 0.2% (2016 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 52.9% (2016 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -102.3% (2016 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 4.4% (2013 est.)
  industry: 9.9% (2013 est.)
  services: 85.7% (2013 est.)
  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
  Labor force:
  10,670 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 217
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 11%
  industry: 16.3%
  services: 72.7% (2011 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  36% (2006 est.)
  30.9% (2000 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Population below poverty line:
  NA
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA
  highest 10%: NA
  Budget:
  revenues: 116.7 million (2013 est.)
  expenditures: 113.9 million (2013 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  52.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  1.3% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Public debt:
  25.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
  30% of GDP (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0% (2017 est.)
  -1.5% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Current account balance:
  -$1 million (2017 est.)
  $15 million (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Exports:
  $0 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 223
  Exports - commodities:
  copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish
  Imports:
  $103.8 million (2016 est.)
  $133.7 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 215
  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: 193
  Exchange rates:

  the US dollar is used

- Energy :: Marshall Islands
- Electricity access:
  population without electricity: 30,084 (2012)
  electrification - total population: 59% (2012)
  electrification - urban areas: 65% (2012)
  electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
  Electricity - production:
  650 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Electricity - consumption:
  604.5 million kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  52,000 kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  81% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  2,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 179
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  2,060 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  293,700 Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
- Communications :: Marshall Islands
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 2,361 (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 16,000 (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: some telecom infrastructure improvements made in recent years; modern services include telex, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits (2016)
  domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones (2016)
  international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2016)
  Broadcast media:
  no TV broadcast station; a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4 radio broadcast stations; American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and television service to Kwajalein Atoll (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .mh
  Internet users:
  total: 21,857 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 29.8% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 1,000 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Communications - note:
  Kwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory))
- Transportation :: Marshall Islands
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 86,868 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  V7 (2016)
  Airports:
  15 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 4 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017)
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 11 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2013)
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 2,028 km (2007)
  paved: 75 km (2007)

  note: roads are mostly unimproved

  country comparison to the world: 174
  Merchant marine:
  total: 3,199 (2017)
  by type: bulk carrier 1263, container ship 260, general cargo 80, oil tanker 775, other 821 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro
- Military and Security :: Marshall Islands
- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police (2012)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US
- Transnational Issues :: Marshall Islands
- Disputes - international:
  claims US territory of Wake Island
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: The Marshall Islands is a source and destination country for Marshallese women and girls and women from East Asia subjected to sex trafficking; Marshallese and foreign women are forced into prostitution in businesses frequented by crew members of fishing and transshipping vessels that dock in Majuro; some Chinese women are recruited to the Marshall Islands with promises of legitimate work and are subsequently forced into prostitution
  tier rating: Tier 3 – The Marshall Islands do not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government made no anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, including developing a written plan to combat trafficking; no new trafficking investigations were opened in 2014, and no prosecutions or convictions were made for the fourth consecutive year; no efforts were made to identify trafficking victims, especially among women in prostitution or men working on foreign fishing vessels in Marshallese waters, and no attempt was made to ensure their access to protective services; limited awareness-raising events were conducted by an international organization (2015)