1994 Edition

Abbreviation

FSM

Administrative divisions

4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Yap

Agriculture

mainly a subsistence economy; black pepper; tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs, chickens

Airports

total: 6 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 4

Area

total area: 702 sq km land area: 702 sq km comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of Washington, DC note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk), Yap, and Kosrae

Birth rate

28.3 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Budget

revenues: $165 million expenditures: $115 million, including capital expenditures of $20 million (1988 est.)

Capital

Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei) note: a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the Palikir valley

Climate

tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasional severe damage

Coastline

6,112 km

Congress

elections last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held March 1993); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total)

Constitution

10 May 1979

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Death rate

6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Digraph

FM

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 223-4383

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

Electricity

capacity: 18,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 380 kWh (1990)

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to typhoons (June to December) international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Ethnic divisions

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government: President Bailey OLTER (since 21 May 1991); Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991); election last held ll May 1991 (next to be held March 1995); results - President Bailey OLTER elected president; Vice-President Jacob NENA cabinet: Cabinet

Exports

$2.3 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: copra partners: NA

External debt

$NA

FAX

(202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

691-320-2186

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Flag

light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Highways

total: 226 km paved: 39 km (on major islands) unpaved: stone, coral, laterite 187 km

Imports

$67.7 million (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: NA partners: NA

Independence

3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Infant mortality rate

37.24 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

NA by occupation: two-thirds are government employees note: 45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Languages

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

Legal system

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Legislative branch

unicameral

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.63 years male: 65.67 years female: 69.62 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 90% male: 90% female: 85%

Location

Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Indonesia

Map references

Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Member of

AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO

Names

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

National holiday

Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979)

National product

GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $150 million (1989 est.) note: GNP numbers reflect US spending

National product per capita

$1,500 (1989 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Nationality

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

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Net migration rate

11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

defense is the responsibility of the US

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. Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the l990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Population

120,347 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

3.36% (1994 est.)

Ports

Colonia (Yap), Truk, Okat and Lelu (Kosrae)

Religions

Christian (divided between Roman Catholic and Protestant; other churches include Assembly of God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist, Latter-Day Saints, and the Baha'i Faith)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunications

telephone network - 960 telephone lines total at Kolonia and Truk; islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes); 16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est. 1987); broadcast stations - 5 AM, 1 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Terrain

islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk

Total fertility rate

4.01 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

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

Unemployment rate

27% (1989)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia E. BRAZEAL embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: 691-320-2187