1996 Edition

Description

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

Location

6 55 N, 158 15 E -- Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia Flag ----

Area

comparative area

four times the size of Washington, DC

land area

702 sq km

note

includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae

total area

702 sq km

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

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geographic note

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

NA%

forest and woodland

NA%

meadows and pastures

NA%

other

NA%

permanent crops

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

Terrain

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

highest point

Totolom 791 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: 35% (est.) 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

27.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

6.22 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Infant mortality rate

35.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

69.99 years (1996 est.)

male

66.02 years

total population

67.99 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

female

88%

male

91%

total population

89%

Nationality

adjective

Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

noun

Micronesian(s)

Net migration rate

11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

125,377 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

3.34% (1996 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.96 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total) independents 14

Constitution

10 May 1979

Data code

FM

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU

telephone

[1] (202) 223-4383

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet

chief of state and head of government

President Bailey OLTER (since 21 May 1991) and Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991) were elected by the Congress from among the four Senators-at-Large; election last held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); results - Bailey OLTER reelected to a second term as president; Jacob NENA reelected to a second term as vice president

FAX

[1] (202) 223-4391

[691] 320-2186

consulate(s) general

Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

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)

International organization participation

AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

abbreviation

FSM

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 of government

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

black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$45 million

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

Economic 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.

Electricity

capacity

18,000 kW

consumption per capita

380 kWh (1990)

production

40 million kWh

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

$29.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

partners

Japan, US, Guam

External debt

$129 million

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $205 million (1994 est.)

note

GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$1,700 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

1.4% (1994 est.)

Imports

$141.1 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

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)

4% (1994 est.)

Labor force

NA

by occupation

two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate

27% (1989)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1

Radios

17,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)

international

satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

960

Television broadcast stations

6

Televisions

1,290 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

5

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

4

with paved runways under 914 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

39 km

total

226 km

unpaved

187 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

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

Railways

0 km