1998 Edition

Area

total: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae

Area-comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

6,112 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Totolom 791 m

Environment-current issues

NA

Environment-international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geography-note

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests 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 hazards

typhoons (June to December)

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

Age structure

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

Birth rate

27.55 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Infant mortality rate

34.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.34 years male: 66.38 years female: 70.34 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

129,658 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

3.31% (1998 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

3.9 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

10 May 1979

Country name

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

Data code

FM

Executive branch

chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term head of government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term 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 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note-because of the vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to become acting president, a new election to fill the position for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 1999) election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of Congress vote-NA; Leo A. FALCAM elected vice president; percent of Congress vote-NA

FAX

[1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cheryl A. embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187

[691] 320-2186

Flag description

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

Government type

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

Independence

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

International organization participation

AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

Judicial branch

Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four - one elected from each of state-to serve four-year terms and 10-elected from single-member districts delineated by population-to serve two-year terms) elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999); elections for two-year term seats last held NA March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 14

National capital

Palikir

National holiday

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

revenues : $58 million expenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7 million (FY95/96 est.)

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Debt-external

$129 million

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

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 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

38,500 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

NA kWh

Electricity-production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

total value: $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper partners: Japan, US, Guam

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$220 million (1996 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

purchasing power parity-$1,760 (1996 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

1% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 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 price index

4% (1996 est.)

Labor force

NA by occupation: two-thirds are government employees

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.)

Unemployment rate

27% (1989)

Airports

6 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Merchant marine

none

Railways

0 km

Military-note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes-international

none (territory of the US)