Marshall Islands: flag, capital, currency and history

Flag of Marshall Islands

Download the flag of Marshall Islands as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇲🇭.

History of Marshall Islands

Micronesian navigators settled the Marshall Islands in antiquity and developed advanced canoe-building and navigation methods. Europeans arrived in the 16th century, and the islands were named after the British captain John Marshall, who visited in 1788. Germany declared a protectorate in 1885, and Japan took control in 1914. The United States captured the islands in 1944 and administered them under a United Nations trusteeship from 1947. Nuclear weapons tests took place at Bikini and Enewetak between 1946 and 1958. The country adopted a constitution in 1979 and entered a Compact of Free Association with the United States in 1986.

Key dates

1. 1788British captain John Marshall visits the islands that later bear his name.
2. 1885Germany declares a protectorate over the Marshall Islands.
3. 1914Japan occupies the islands at the start of the First World War.
4. 1944United States forces capture the islands during the Second World War.
5. 1946The United States begins nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll.
6. 1979The Marshall Islands adopts a constitution and self-government.
7. 1991The Marshall Islands joins the United Nations.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.

Currency of Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands uses the United States dollar (USD, $). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.

Frequently asked questions

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