Edition 2001 — Micronesia

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

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

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

7 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) Micronesia, Federated States of Military

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

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 United States. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid. Micronesia, Federated States of Geography

Budget

revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Capital

Palikir

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

Constitution

10 May 1979

Country name

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

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

$111 million (1997 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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

Disputes - international

none

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. In 1996, the country experienced a 20% reduction in revenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement between the US and Micronesia in which Micronesia receives $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001 - as a result of the second step-down under the agreement. Since these revenues accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues, reduced Compact funding resulted in a severe depression. While Micronesia's economy appears to have bottomed out in 1999, the country's medium-term economic outlook remains fragile due to likely further reductions in external grants made under the US Compact funding. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

overfishing

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

Ethnic groups

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Executive branch

chief of state: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); 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 NA May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003) election results: Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%

Exports

$73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners

Japan, US, Guam

FAX

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

[691] 320-2186

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September Micronesia, Federated States of Communications

Flag description

light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern Micronesia, Federated States of Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $263 million (1999 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 19% industry: 4% services: 77% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.3% (1999 est.)

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geography - note

four major island groups totaling 607 islands Micronesia, Federated States of People

Government type

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

Highways

total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1996)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners

US, Japan, Australia

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (FY98/99)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Internet country code

.fm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

2,000 (2000) Micronesia, Federated States of Transportation

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

two-thirds are government employees

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests 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 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 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003); elections for two-year term seats last held 6 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.) Micronesia, Federated States of Government

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

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

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 Micronesia, Federated States of Transnational Issues

National holiday

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Nationality

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

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Population

134,597 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

NA

Railways