| The World Factbook | ||
|
|
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), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie) 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:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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 Chuuk |
|
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% (2001) |
|
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:
|
108,155 (July 2004 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 20,830; female 19,993)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 32,055; female 31,927) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,505; female 1,845) (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
-0.02% (2004 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
25.8 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
-20.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 31.28 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 69.44 years
male: 67.68 years female: 71.29 years (2004 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
3.37 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
|
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.) |
| 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; 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 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 NA 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:
|
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 NA March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2005) 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, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, 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 Suzanne K. HALE
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, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. In November 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in future 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. 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:
|
purchasing power parity - $277 million
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
1% (2002 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 50%
industry: 4% services: 46% (2000 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
26.7% |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
1% (2002 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
NA (2000 est.) |
|
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.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens |
|
Industries:
|
tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
NA |
|
Electricity - production:
|
NA kWh |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
NA |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
NA kWh |
|
Exports:
|
$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Japan, US, Guam (2000) |
|
Imports:
|
$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages |
|
Imports - partners:
|
US, Australia, Japan (2000) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$53.1 million (FY02/03 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:
|
10,100 (2001) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
1,800 (2002) |
|
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) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) |
|
Radios:
|
9,400 (1996) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
3; note - cable TV also available (2004) |
|
Televisions:
|
2,800 (1999) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.fm |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
1 (2000) |
|
Internet users:
|
6,000 (2002) |
| Transportation | Micronesia, Federated States of |
|
Highways:
|
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen |
|
Merchant marine:
|
none |
|
Airports:
|
6 (2003 est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2003 est.) |
| 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 30 November, 2004 |