Micronesia, Federated States of Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

§1. Micronesia, Federated Introduction 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 United States. Present
  concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence
  on US aid.

§2. Micronesia, Federated Geography 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 kmē
  land: 702 kmē
  water: 0 kmē
  note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and
    Kosrae

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: Totolom 791 m

Natural resources:
  forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use:
  arable land: NA%
  permanent crops: NA%
  permanent pastures: NA%
  forests and woodland: NA%
  other: NA%

Irrigated land:
  NA kmē

Natural hazards:
  typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:
  overfishing

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

§3. Micronesia, Federated People States of

Population:
  134,597 (July 2001 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA

Nationality:
  noun: Micronesian(s)
  adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Ethnic groups:
  nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions:
  Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%

Languages:
  English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean

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

§4. Micronesia, Federated Government States of

Country name:
  conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
  conventional short form: none
  former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific
    Islands)
  abbreviation: FSM

Government type:
  constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of
  Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

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)
  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 of 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, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU,
  OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, 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 and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Diane E. WATSON 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

§5. Micronesia, Federated Economy 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
  remoteness of the 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 between the US and
  Micronesia in which Micronesia receives $1.3 billion in financial and
  technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001 - as a result of the
  second step-down under the agreement. Since these revenues accounted for
  57% of consolidated government revenues, reduced Compact funding resulted
  in a severe depression. While Micronesia's economy appears to have bottomed
  out in 1999, the country's medium-term economic outlook remains 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 - $263 million (1999 est.)
  note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million
    annually

GDP - real growth rate:
  0.3% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita:
  purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 19% industry: 4%
  services: 77% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.6% (FY98/99)

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

Electricity - consumption:
  NA kWh

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

Exports:
  $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners:
  Japan, US, Guam

Imports:
  $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners:
  US, Japan, Australia

Debt - external:
  $111 million (1997 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $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

§6. Micronesia, Federated Communications 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 - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
  NA

Television broadcast stations:
  2 (1997)

Televisions:
  NA

Internet country code:
  .fm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
  1 (2000)

Internet users:
  2,000 (2000)

§7. Micronesia, Federated Transportation States of

Railways:
  0 km

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 (2000 est.)

Airports:
  7 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
  914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

§8. Micronesia, Federated Military 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

§9. Micronesia, Federated Transnational Issues States of

Disputes - international:
  none
