The Marshall Islands covers an area of 181 square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean and is comprised of 29 atolls and five major islands. The Marshall Islands are governed by a President elected from among members of the Marshallese Congress and a legislature elected through popular vote. Major economic activities in the Marshall Islands include agriculture, copra, tuna processing and tourism. The United States Government provides direct aid to the Marshall Islands. Government assistance from the United States of America is the mainstay of the economy. Current surveys and socioeconomic indicators suggest that poverty and hardship are on the rise.