MICRONÉSIA

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 2004. 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
country comparison to the world: 191
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)
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:

Current Weather
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:

timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use:

arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:

NA
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:

107,434 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.8% (male 19,010/female 18,411)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 33,286/female 33,629)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,317/female 1,781) (2010 est.)
Median age:

total: 22.4 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:

-0.238% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Birth rate:

23.1 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Death rate:

4.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Net migration rate:

-21.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Urbanization:

urban population: 22% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:

total: 26.1 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 82
male: 28.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.94 years
country comparison to the world: 134
male: 69.06 years
female: 72.93 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.8 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
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:

Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)
Religions:

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%
Languages:

English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy:

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

7.3% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 18

Government ::MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF
Country name:

conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Federated States of Micronesia
local short form: none
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts
abbreviation: FSM
Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Capital:

name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2011); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Emanuel MORI elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Alik L. ALIK elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA
Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - 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: last held on 3 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:

no formal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA
International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter A. PRAHAR
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 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; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

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. Under the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the current slow growth of the private sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$238.1 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
$277 million (2002 est.)
note:
GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
GDP (official exchange rate):

$238.1 million (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:

NA%
0.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$2,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 28.9%
industry: 15.2%
services: 55.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:

16,360 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 210
Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 34.4%
services: 64.7%
note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)
Unemployment rate:

22% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Population below poverty line:

26.7% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:

revenues: $166 million (FY07 est.)
expenditures: $152.7 million (FY07 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 80
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

14.38% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 57
14.03% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:

$21.21 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 161
$22.45 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:

$76.8 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 158
$72.49 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:

$NA
Agriculture - products:

black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish
Industries:

tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)
Industrial production growth rate:

NA%
Electricity - production:

192 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - consumption:

178.6 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)
Current account balance:

-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Exports:

$14 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Exports - commodities:

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut
Imports:

$132.7 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 207
Imports - commodities:

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Debt - external:

$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications ::MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF
Telephones - main lines in use:

8,700 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 206
Telephones - mobile cellular:

34,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 201
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; mobile-cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Broadcast media:

no television broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with television transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half dozen radio stations in operation (2009)
Internet country code:

.fm
Internet hosts:

1,050 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 159
Internet users:

16,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 194

Transportation ::MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF
Airports:

6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 170
Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:

total: 240 km
country comparison to the world: 205
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (2000)
Merchant marine:

total: 3
country comparison to the world: 142
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2008)
Ports and terminals:

Tomil Harbor

Military ::MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF
Military branches:

no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 26,687 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 21,909
females age 16-49: 23,410 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,270
female: 1,221 (2010 est.)
Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues ::MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF
Disputes - international:

none
Illicit drugs:

major consumer of cannabis