Edition 2003 — Micronesia

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.4% (male 21,163; female 20,335) 15-64 years: 58.5% (male 31,746; female 31,477) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 1,558; female 1,864) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

7 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) Military Micronesia, Federated States of

Area

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

Area - comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)

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

Birth rate

26.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

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

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

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

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Death rate

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$53.1 million (FY 02/03 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Larry M. DINGER
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
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $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 remote location, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. In November 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in future revenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement with the US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector. 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: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%

Elevation extremes

highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

overfishing, climate change, pollution

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 1

Executive branch

cabinet: Cabinet
chief of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for four-year terms; election last held 11 May 2003 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY 99/00 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners

Japan, US, Guam (2000)

FAX

[1] (202) 223-4391; [691] 320-2186
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September Communications Micronesia, Federated States of

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $277 million
note: $277 million $277 million GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986; economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated

Highways

paved: 42 km
total: 240 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)

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

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

Imports

$149 million f.o.b. (FY 99/00 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners

US, Australia, Japan (2000)

Independence

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female: 28.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 35.65 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 32.39 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IMF, 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) Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of

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: 5.71%
other: 48.58% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 45.71%

Languages

English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

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 state to serve four-year terms; and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2005)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 70.95 years (2003 est.)
male: 67.39 years
total population: 69.13 years

Literacy

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

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
convenience: US 1 (2002 est.)
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of

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 Transnational Issues Micronesia, Federated States of

National holiday

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Nationality

adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
noun: Micronesian(s)

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Net migration rate

-20.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Population

108,143 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

26.7%

Population growth rate

0.04% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

9,400 (1996)

Railways