30 Sep 2016

Marshall Islands' emigration to the US soars

From , 4:05 pm on 30 September 2016

Emigration to the United States from the Marshall Islands continues to soar.

A lack of opportunity and high poverty levels are key factors driving the movement.

A recent ADB assessment says over half the Marshalls population lives below the national poverty line.

Marshall Islanders and people from Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia have visa free access to the US through the Compact of Free Association, allowing them to live and work there indefinitely.

Our correspondent in the Marshalls Giff Johnson told Don Wiseman that an estimated 40 percent of Marshall Islanders now live in the US.