Home > CIA World Fact Book > Micronesia, Federated States of (FM)

Micronesia, Federated States of (FM)

Micronesia, Federated States of (FM)

Flag of Micronesia, Federated States ofMap of Micronesia, Federated States of

Introduction

BackgroundIn 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

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 (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 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, 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

Population 107,862 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure 0-14 years: 35.9% (male 19,726/female 19,011) 15-64 years: 61.2% (male 32,891/female 33,071) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,379/female 1,784) (2007 est.)
Median age total: 21.2 years male: 20.8 years female: 21.7 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate -0.154% (2007 est.)
Birth rate 24.14 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate 4.66 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate -21.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio NA (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate total: 28.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth total population: 70.35 years male: 68.52 years female: 72.28 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate 3.07 children born/woman (2007 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 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), 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

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 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force 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
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch chief of state: President Emmanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (11 May 2007) note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Emmanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (11 May 2007) cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the eight executive departments 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 11 May 2007 (next to be held May 2011); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Emmanuel 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 6 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders no formal parties
International organization participation ACP, ADB, 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 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, Tamuning (Guam) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Miriam K. HUGHES 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

Economy

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. 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): $277 million; note - supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $232 million (2005) GDP - real growth rate: 0.3% (2005 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,300 (2005 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28.9% industry: 15.2% services: 55.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force 37,410 (2000)
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.)
Population below poverty line 26.7% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2005)
Budget revenues: $127.3 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $144.2 million (FY05 est.)
Agriculture - products black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), 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)
Electricity - consumption 178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002)
Current account balance -$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
Exports $14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut
Exports - partners Japan, US, Guam (2006)
Imports $132.7 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners US, Japan, Hong Kong (2006)
Economic aid - recipient $106.4 million note: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced (2005)
Debt - external $60.8 million (FY05 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares $NA Currency (code): US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 12,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 14,100 (2005)
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)
Television broadcast stations 3 (cable TV also available) (2004)
Internet country code .fm
Internet hosts 632 (2007)
Internet users 16,000 (2006)

Transportation

Airports 6 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999)
Merchant marine total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,560 GRT/2,060 DWT by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2007)
Ports and terminals Tomil Harbor

Military

Military branches no regular military forces (2007)
Manpower available for military service males age 18-49: 23,816 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service males age 18-49: 18,914 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually males age 18-49: 1,305 (2005 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international none
Illicit drugs major consumer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008