The Demographic Evolution of Ebeye

Abstract

The islet of Ebeye, located at the southeastern corner of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, currently has one of the worlds highest population densities. This essay traces population change on the small islet throughout the twentieth century, focusing in particular upon the demographic processes that led to this dense concentration of people. In documenting the demographic history of Ebeye, the study contrasts the evolving population structure on this islet with similar developments on Majuro Atoll (location of the largest concentration of people in the Marshall Islands) and in the remainder of the Marshalls. The demography of Ebeye is evaluated in ecological and regional terms, in an attempt to assess the long-term impact of its extremely dense population.