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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. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

[edit] 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
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae
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 

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: 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% (1998 est.)

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

[edit] People

Population 

135,869 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

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

Population growth rate 

NA% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate 

NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate 

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Sex ratio 

NA

Infant mortality rate 

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate 

NA children born/woman

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.)

[edit] Government

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; economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated

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 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); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
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 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, IFRCS (associate), IMF, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, 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 Larry DINGER
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

[edit] 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 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 with the US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. Since these revenues accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues, reduced Compact funding resulted in a severe depression. Economic activity recovered in 1999-2001. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears 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 - $269 million
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

2% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line 

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

2.5% (2001 est.)

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%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
hydro: NA%

Electricity - consumption 

NA kWh

Agriculture - products 

black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Exports 

$22 million (f.o.b.)

Exports - commodities 

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners 

Japan, US, Guam

Imports 

$149 million f.o.b.

Imports - commodities 

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners 

US, Australia, Japan

Debt - external 

$66.5 million

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

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

11,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

newly installed in Pohnpei and Yap

Telephone system 

general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios 

9,400 (1996)

Television broadcast stations 

2 (1997)

Televisions 

2,800 (1999)

Internet country code 

.fm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

1 (2000)

Internet users 

2,000 (2000)

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

0 km (2003)

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
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: United States 1 (2002 est.)

Airports 

7 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

[edit] Military

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

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

none