Micronesia, Federated States of
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
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, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
Geography	Back To Top
Land boundaries: 0 km 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 Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage Map references: Australia/Oceania Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk Geography - note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands 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) Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia Coastline: 6,112 km Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only) Irrigated land: NA Environment - current issues: overfishing, climate change, pollution Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December) Land use: arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 45.71% other: 48.58% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: 2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.) Sex ratio: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.65 years male: 68.79 years female: 72.61 years (2008 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.) Net migration rate: -21.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) 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) Median age: total: 21.6 years male: 21.1 years female: 22.1 years (2008 est.) Population: 107,665 (July 2008 est.) Education expenditures: 7.3% of GDP (2000) Population growth rate: -0.191% (2008 est.) Languages: English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi Death rate: 4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 27.03 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.3% (male 19,344/female 18,687) 15-64 years: 61.8% (male 33,142/female 33,389) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,320/female 1,783) (2008 est.) Birth rate: 23.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3% Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Government	Back To Top
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 National holiday: Constitution Day, 10 May (1979) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 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 Political pressure groups and leaders: NA Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo GEORGE chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam) 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 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 Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) Country name (Goverment): 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 Political parties and leaders: no formal parties Capital: name: Palikir geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Constitution: 10 May 1979 Executive branch: chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 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: Emanuel MORI elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Alik L. ALIK elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Economy	Back To Top
Electricity - consumption: 178.6 million kWh (2002) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2002) Current account balance: -$34.3 million (FY05 est.) Debt - external: $60.8 million (FY05 est.) Unemployment rate: 22% (2000 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,300 (2005 est.) Stock of domestic credit: NA 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) Exchange rates: the US dollar is used GDP - real growth rate: 0.3% (2005 est.) Stock of money: $22.45 million (31 December 2007) Labor force: 37,410 (2000) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2005) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28.9% industry: 15.2% services: 55.9% (2004 est.) Exports: $14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.) Currency (code): US dollar (USD) 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. Under the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced. 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. Imports - commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages Industries: tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2002) Population below poverty line: 26.7% (2000) Commercial bank prime lending rate: 14.03% (31 December 2007) Stock of quasi money: $72.49 million (31 December 2007) Electricity - production: 192 million kWh (2002) Imports: $132.7 million f.o.b. (2004) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.9% industry: 34.4% services: 64.7% note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.) Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA Currency code: USD Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Exports - commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut Economic aid - recipient: $106.4 million (2005) Electricity - production by source: NA Budget: revenues: $127.3 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $144.2 million (FY05 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: 15,000 (2007) Telephones - main lines in use: 8,700 (2007) Televisions: 2,800 (1999) Internet country code: .fm Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) Radios: 9,400 (1996) Telephones - mobile cellular: 27,400 (2007) Television broadcast stations: 3 (cable TV also available) (2004) 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) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000) Internet hosts: 866 (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Ports and terminals: Tomil Harbor Merchant marine: total: 3 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2008) 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 (2000) Airports: 6 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 26,686 (2008 est.) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 21,748 (2008 est.) Military branches: no regular military forces Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 1,310 female: 1,262 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: major consumer of cannabis

Got something to say on this page? Feel free to post your comments ! Please limit your comments to discussions about the subject matter of the content. To report bugs or problems with the ExchangeRate.com web site, please use our contact form here. Thank You!