2008 Edition

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.

Area

total: 702 sq km land: 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)

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: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 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

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geography - note

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 45.71% other: 48.58% (2005)

Location

Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 35.3% (male 19,344/female 18,687) 15-64 years: 61.8% (male 33,142/female 33,389) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,320/female 1,783) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

23.66 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

7.3% of GDP (2000)

Ethnic groups

Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 27.03 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.65 years male: 68.79 years female: 72.61 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 21.6 years male: 21.1 years female: 22.1 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-21.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

107,665 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.191% (2008 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Palikir geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

10 May 1979

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Miriam K. HUGHES embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo GEORGE chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

Executive branch

chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007) cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the eight executive departments elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 11 May 2007 (next to be held May 2011); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Emanuel MORI elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Alik L. ALIK elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA

FAX

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

[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 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004

Independence

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - 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) elections: last held 6 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

National holiday

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $127.3 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $144.2 million (FY05 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.03% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Current account balance

-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)

Debt - external

$60.8 million (FY05 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$106.4 million (2005)

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. Under the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced. 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 current slow growth of the private sector.

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

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut

Exports - partners

Japan, US, Guam (2006)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 28.9% industry: 15.2% services: 55.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,300 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.3% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$232 million (2005)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$277 million; note - supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$132.7 million f.o.b. (2004)

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners

US, Japan, Hong Kong (2006)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2005)

Labor force

37,410 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 0.9% industry: 34.4% services: 64.7% note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

26.7% (2000)

Stock of domestic credit

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$22.45 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$72.49 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

22% (2000 est.)

Internet country code

.fm

Internet hosts

866 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

15,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios

9,400 (1996)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate 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 international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

8,700 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

27,400 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

3 (cable TV also available) (2004)

Televisions

2,800 (1999)

Airports

6 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 3 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2008)

Ports and terminals

Tomil Harbor

Roadways

total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 26,686 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 21,748 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,310 female: 1,262 (2008 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military branches

no regular military forces

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major consumer of cannabis This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008