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  Micronesia, Federated States of  
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This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


Map of Micronesia, Federated States of



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Micronesia, Federated States of
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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:
Definition Field Listing
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
6,112 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
overfishing, climate change, pollution
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
four major island groups totaling 607 islands
   People    Micronesia, Federated States of
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
108,105 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 37.1% (male 20,439/female 19,674)
15-64 years: 59.8% (male 32,382/female 32,313)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,461/female 1,836) (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.08% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 30.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 69.75 years
male: 67.96 years
female: 71.62 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Palikir
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
10 May 1979
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); 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 11 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Congress (14 seats; 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; members elected by popular vote)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 8 March 2005 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
no formal parties
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
   Economy    Micronesia, Federated States of
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 slow growth of the private sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $277 million
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
26.7%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16% (1999 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
192 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Japan, US, Guam (2000)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US, Australia, Japan (2000)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
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
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
USD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 October - 30 September
   Communications    Micronesia, Federated States of
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10,100 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,800 (2002)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
3; note - cable TV also available (2004)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.fm
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,000 (2002)
   Transportation    Micronesia, Federated States of
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,423 GRT/1,551 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1
foreign-owned: 2 (United States 2) (2005)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
   Military    Micronesia, Federated States of
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no ministry of defense and no standing armed forces; the paramilitary Maritime Wing, a small maritime law enforcement unit, is responsible to the Division of Maritime Surveillance within the Office of the Attorney General (2003)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


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