1995 Edition

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

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

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: typhoons (June to December) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Note

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

28.12 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Infant mortality rate

36.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force

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

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.81 years male: 65.84 years female: 69.81 years (1995 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population

122,950 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate

3.35% (1995 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

3.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Abbreviation

FSM

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Congress

elections last held 5 March 1991 (next to be held 7 March 1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total) independents 14

Constitution

10 May 1979

Digraph

FM

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

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 11 May 1991 (next to be held 7 March 1995); results - Bailey OLTER elected president; Jacob NENA elected vice-president cabinet: Cabinet

FAX

[1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

[691] 320-2186

Flag

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)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral

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)

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type

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

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador March Fong EU embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187

Agriculture

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

Budget

revenues: $45 million expenditures: $31 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

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)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

$3.2 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: fish, copra, bananas, black pepper partners: Japan, US

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Imports

$91.2 million (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages partners: US, Japan, Australia

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $160 million (1990 est.) note: GDP was supplemented by approximately $100 million in grant aid in 1990

National product per capita

$1,500 (1990 est.)

National product real growth rate

4% (1994)

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 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

Unemployment rate

27% (1989)

Radio

broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1 radios: 16,000

Telephone system

960 telephones on Kolonia and Truk local: NA intercity: islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes international: 4 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations

Television

broadcast stations: 6 televisions: 1,125 (1987 est.)

Airports

total: 6 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1

Highways

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

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Railroads

0 km

Note

defense is the responsibility of the US ________________________________________________________________________ MIDWAY ISLANDS (territory of the US)