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The World Factbook 2002
| 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. 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), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae water: 0 sq km land: 702 sq km
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: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Natural resources: | forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use: | arable land: 6% permanent crops: 46% other: 48% (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

People | Micronesia, Federated States of

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
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, Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, 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 is due for renegotiation
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); note - a proposed constitutional amendment would establish popular elections for president and vice president
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

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 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 (2001 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
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., FY99/00 est.)
Exports - commodities: | fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners: | Japan, US, Guam
Imports: | $149 million (f.o.b., FY99/00 est.)
Imports - commodities: | food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners: | US, Australia, Japan
Debt - external: | $66.5 million (FY99/00 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: | 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 - 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)

Transportation | Micronesia, Federated States of

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 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)

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 1 January 2002