2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.1% (male 20,439/female 19,674) 15-64 years: 59.8% (male 32,382/female 32,313) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,461/female 1,836) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.) Military Micronesia, Federated States of

Area

land

702 sq km

total

702 sq km

water

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

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, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid. Geography Micronesia, Federated States of

Birth rate

25.11 births/1,000 population (2005 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 (code)

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Death rate

4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE

embassy

101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia

FAX

[691] 320-2186

mailing address

P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941

telephone

[691] 320-2187

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU

consulate(s) general

Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

FAX

[1] (202) 223-4391

telephone

[1] (202) 223-4383

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

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; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced

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. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. 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

178.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

192 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

NA

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet

chief of state

President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); 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 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 (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners

Japan, US, Guam (2000)

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 - 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.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$277 million note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (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 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004

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

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 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

26.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

33.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

30.21 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Internet country code

.fm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

6,000 (2002) Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of

Irrigated land

NA

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% (2001)

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; 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; members elected by popular vote)

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 March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 8 March 2005 (next to be held March 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.62 years (2005 est.)

male

67.96 years

total population

69.75 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

by type

cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1

foreign-owned

2 (United States 2) (2005)

total

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,423 GRT/1,551 DWT

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

Military branches

no ministry of defense and no standing armed forces; the paramilitary Maritime Wing, a small maritime law enforcement unit, is responsible to the Division of Maritime Surveillance within the Office of the Attorney General (2003)

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, phosphate

Net migration rate

-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Population

108,105 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

26.7%

Population growth rate

-0.08% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Tomil Harbor

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios

9,400 (1996)

Religions

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%

Sex ratio

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

general assessment

adequate system

international

country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

10,100 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,800 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

3; note - cable TV also available (2004)

Televisions

2,800 (1999)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

16% (1999 est.)