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| Micronesia, Federated States of |

Introduction | Micronesia, Federated States of

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 US, which was amended and renewed in 2003. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

Geography | Micronesia, Federated States of

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 note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie) water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) land: 702 sq km
Area - comparative: | four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries: | 0 km
Coastline: | 6,112 km
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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 Chuuk
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Natural resources: | forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use: | arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 45.71% other: 48.58% (2001)
Irrigated land: | NA sq km
Natural hazards: | typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues: | overfishing, climate change, pollution
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

People | Micronesia, Federated States of

Population: | 108,155 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 37.7% (male 20,830; female 19,993) 15-64 years: 59.2% (male 32,055; female 31,927) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,505; female 1,845) (2004 est.)
Population growth rate: | -0.02% (2004 est.)
Birth rate: | 25.8 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate: | 4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate: | -20.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio: | 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 31.28 deaths/1,000 live births male: 34.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 69.44 years male: 67.68 years female: 71.29 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 3.37 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA
Nationality: | noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups: | nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions: | Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Languages: | English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.)

Government | Micronesia, Federated States of

Country name: | conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none abbreviation: FSM former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
Government type: | constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Capital: | Palikir
Administrative divisions: | 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), 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 Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); 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 11 May 2003 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA
Legislative branch: | unicameral Congress (14 seats; four - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote) elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2005) 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, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam) FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, 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

Economy | Micronesia, Federated States of

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 remote location, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. In November 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in future revenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement with the US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.
GDP: | purchasing power parity - $277 million note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 50% industry: 4% services: 46% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 26.7%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 1% (2002 est.)
Labor force: | NA (2000 est.)
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.)
Agriculture - products: | black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Industries: | tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate: | NA
Electricity - production: | NA kWh
Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh
Exports: | $22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)
Exports - commodities: | fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners: | Japan, US, Guam (2000)
Imports: | $149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)
Imports - commodities: | food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners: | US, Australia, Japan (2000)
Debt - external: | $53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: | under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $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

Communications | Micronesia, Federated States of

Telephones - main lines in use: | 10,100 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 1,800 (2002)
Telephone system: | general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios: | 9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations: | 3; note - cable TV also available (2004)
Televisions: | 2,800 (1999)
Internet country code: | .fm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000)
Internet users: | 6,000 (2002)

Transportation | Micronesia, Federated States of

Highways: | total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors: | Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine: | none (2004 est.)
Airports: | 6 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military | Micronesia, Federated States of

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

Transnational Issues | Micronesia, Federated States of

Disputes - international: | none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005