| Micronesia, Federated States of |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Micronesia, Federated States of | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

Micronesia, Federated States of | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Geographic coordinates: | 6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references: | Oceania

Area: | total: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae

Area - comparative: | four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: | 0 km

Coastline: | 6,112 km

Maritime claims: | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: | tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage

Terrain: | islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Totolom 791 m

Natural resources: | forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use: | arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Irrigated land: | NA sq km

Natural hazards: | typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues: | overfishing

Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: | four major island groups totaling 607 islands

Micronesia, Federated States of | People | Top of Page

Population: | 134,597 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: | 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA

Nationality: | noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Ethnic groups: | nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions: | Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%

Languages: | English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean

Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) abbreviation: FSM

Government type: | constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

Capital: | Palikir

Administrative divisions: | 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap

Independence: | 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday: | Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Constitution: | 10 May 1979

Legal system: | based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: | chief of state: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last held NA May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003) election results: Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%

Legislative branch: | unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four - one elected from each of state - to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population - to serve two-year terms) elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003); elections for two-year term seats last held 6 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Judicial branch: | Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: | no formal parties

International organization participation: | ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Diane E. WATSON embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186

Flag description: | light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Micronesia, Federated States of | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. In 1996, the country experienced a 20% reduction in revenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement between the US and Micronesia in which Micronesia receives $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001 - as a result of the second step-down under the agreement. Since these revenues accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues, reduced Compact funding resulted in a severe depression. While Micronesia's economy appears to have bottomed out in 1999, the country's medium-term economic outlook remains fragile due to likely further reductions in external grants made under the US Compact funding. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $263 million (1999 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP - real growth rate: | 0.3% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 19% industry: 4% services: 77% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: | NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.6% (FY98/99)

Labor force: | NA

Labor force - by occupation: | two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate: | 16% (1999 est.)

Budget: | revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Industries: | tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Industrial production growth rate: | NA%

Electricity - production: | NA kWh

Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh

Agriculture - products: | black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Exports: | $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports - commodities: | fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners: | Japan, US, Guam

Imports: | $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

Imports - commodities: | food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners: | US, Japan, Australia

Debt - external: | $111 million (1997 est.)

Economic aid - recipient: | under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Currency: | US dollar (USD)

Currency code: | USD

Exchange rates: | the US dollar is used

Fiscal year: | 1 October - 30 September

Micronesia, Federated States of | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 11,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular: | NA

Telephone system: | general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios: | NA

Television broadcast stations: | 2 (1997)

Televisions: | NA

Internet country code: | .fm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000)

Internet users: | 2,000 (2000)

Micronesia, Federated States of | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | 0 km

Highways: | total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1996)

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Merchant marine: | none (2000 est.)

Airports: | 7 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: | total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent on the US for its defense

Micronesia, Federated States of | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none