Marshall Islands and Nauru
The Marshall Islands and Nauru signed a trade memorandum in July 2026. The framework seeks joint projects and better investment channels, with follow-up mechanisms and specific agreements still planned.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08History and institutional framework
The memorandum was signed in Brisbane on 15 July 2026 and announced by the Nauruan Government on 20 July.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The governments presented opportunities for joint ventures, trade and long-term investment.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The governments presented opportunities for joint ventures, trade and long-term investment.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Marshall Islands to Nauru | ||
| Goods: Nauru to Marshall Islands | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Marshall Islands to Nauru | ||
| Export share: Nauru to Marshall Islands | ||
| Investment stock: Marshall Islands in Nauru | ||
| Investment stock: Nauru in Marshall Islands |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Marshall Islands | Nauru |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 308,000,000 USD2025 · WB | 176,040,043.93 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 8,489.06 USD2025 · WB | 14,639.5 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 2.28 %2025 · WB | 2.14 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | ||
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | ||
| Unemployment | ||
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | 1.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 3.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 11.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 14.6 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 21.87 %2024 · WB | 5.8 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 36,2822025 · WB | 12,0252025 · WB |
| Area | 180 km²2023 · WB | 20 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDMarshall Islands: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Nauru: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personMarshall Islands: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Nauru: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Marshall Islands: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Nauru: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency stated
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institution
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Marshall Islands: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Nauru: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Marshall Islands: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Nauru: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPMarshall Islands: 2024 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Nauru: 2024 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Population
- PeopleMarshall Islands: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Nauru: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceMarshall Islands: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Nauru: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Marshall Islands to Nauru
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Nauru to Marshall Islands
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Contacts between people and relations between governments are distinct dimensions. Published counts appear in the table with their date and definition; a resident community is not inferred from trade or diplomatic representation. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Marshall Islands living in Nauru | ||
| Residents from Nauru living in Marshall Islands | ||
| Study and training: Marshall Islands in Nauru | ||
| Study and training: Nauru in Marshall Islands | ||
| Academic stays: Marshall Islands in Nauru | ||
| Academic stays: Nauru in Marshall Islands | ||
| Travel: Marshall Islands to Nauru | ||
| Travel: Nauru to Marshall Islands |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
The memorandum was signed in Brisbane on 15 July 2026 and announced by the Nauruan Government on 20 July. Participants included Asterio Appi, the minister responsible for Nauru Air Corporation, and Hilton Kendall for the Marshall Islands. [1]
The scale of both economies
The Marshall Islands' nominal GDP is 0.308 billion USD (2025), compared with 0.176 for Nauru (2025). The reference populations are 0.0363 and 0.012 million, respectively. In the same year, the Marshall Islands' economy was 1.75 times Nauru's in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [2] [3]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The governments presented opportunities for joint ventures, trade and long-term investment. They committed to establishing a working group in the following months to oversee implementation. The statement anticipated formal trade agreements by late August 2026, but does not establish their subsequent signing or identify specific projects already funded in that text. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — MHL-NRU
www.nauru.gov.nr · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Official series — gdp
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official series — population
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07