Which atoll city is the capital of the Marshall Islands?

Majuro is the capital of the Marshall Islands. It is both a city and a coral atoll in the Ratak, or Sunrise, Chain of this Pacific island nation.

Majuro Atoll consists of many narrow islets surrounding a large lagoon. The main urban area is the connected settlement of Delap-Uliga-Djarrit, often shortened to D-U-D. Government offices, the legislature, the port, businesses, and most of the country’s population are concentrated there.

Majuro became the capital after the Marshall Islands separated from the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978. It replaced Jaluit as the country’s administrative and political center. The Republic of the Marshall Islands became independent in free association with the United States in 1986, and Majuro continued as its capital.

A frequent mistake is treating Kwajalein as the capital because it is a major atoll and U.S. military site. Kwajalein is important strategically, but Majuro is the national capital.