2018 Edition

Background

The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean; they became part of a UN Trust Territory under US administration following World War II. The eastern four island groups adopted a constitution in 1979 and chose to become the Federated States of Micronesia. (The westernmost island group became Palau.) Independence came in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, overdependence on US foreign aid, and state perception of inequitable allocation of US aid.As a signatory to the COFA with the US, Micronesians enjoy the right to migrate to and settle in any part of the US and its territories - this privilege reduces stresses on the island economy and the environment.

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)

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

0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean

note

782 highest point: Nanlaud on Pohnpei

Environment Current Issues

overfishing; climate change; water pollution, toxic pollution from mining; solid waste disposal

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

composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands

Irrigated Land

0 sq km NA (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

arable land: 2.3% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 19.7% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 3.5% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

25.5% (2011 est.)

forest

74.5% (2011 est.)

other

0% (2011 est.)

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

timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Population Distribution

the majority of the populaton lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

29.81% (male 15,707 /female 15,186)

15-24 years

19.38% (male 10,068 /female 10,020)

25-54 years

39.57% (male 19,799 /female 21,208)

55-64 years

7.09% (male 3,574 /female 3,777)

65 years and over

4.15% (male 1,943 /female 2,361) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

19.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7.1 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

14.1 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

62.4 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

55.3 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 94.8% of population

rural: 87.4% of population

total: 89% of population

unimproved: urban: 5.2% of population

rural: 12.6% of population

total: 11% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

12.5% of GDP (2015)

Ethnic Groups

Chuukese/Mortlockese 49.3%, Pohnpeian 29.8%, Kosraean 6.3%, Yapese 5.7%, Yap outer islanders 5.1%, Polynesian 1.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)

Health Expenditures

13.7% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Hospital Bed Density

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

21.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

19.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

75.6 years (2018 est.)

male

71.3 years (2018 est.)

total population

73.4 years (2018 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Major Urban Areas Population

7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

100 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

26.2 years (2018 est.)

male

24.7 years

total

25.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

noun

Micronesian(s)

Net Migration Rate

-20.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

45.8% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

103,643 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-0.55% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 41.1% (includes Congregational 38.5%, Baptist 1.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.8%, Assembly of God 0.7%), Mormon 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 85.1% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 49% of population (2015 est.)

total: 57.1% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 14.9% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 51% of population (2015 est.)

total: 42.9% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.37 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.05% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

22.7% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 09 E

name

Palikir

note

Micronesia has two time zones

time difference

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority of votes in at least three-fourths of the states; note – at least every 10 years as part of a general or special election, voters are asked whether to hold a constitution convention; a majority of affirmative votes is required to proceed; amended 1990 (2018)

history

drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979 (2018)

Country Name

abbreviation

FSM

conventional long form

Federated States of Micronesia

conventional short form

none

etymology

the term "Micronesia" is a 19th-century construct of two Greek words, "micro" (small) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean

former

New Philippines; Caroline Islands; Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts

local long form

Federated States of Micronesia

local short form

none

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert Annan RILEY III (since 16 August 2016)

embassy

101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia

FAX

[691] 320-2186

mailing address

P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941; U.S. Embassy in Micronesia, 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120

telephone

[691] 320-2187

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Akillino Harris SUSAIA (since 24 April 2017)

consulate(s) general

Honolulu (HI), Tamuning (Guam)

FAX

[1] (202) 223-4391

telephone

[1] (202) 223-4383

Executive Branch

cabinet

Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments

chief of state

President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 11 May 2015); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Peter M. CHRISTIAN elected president by Congress; Yosiwo P. GEORGE elected vice president

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2015 (next to be held in 2019)

head of government

President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 11 May 2015); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015)

Flag Description

light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

Government Type

federal republic in free association with the US

Independence

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

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International Organization Participation

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

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions)

judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the president of the Federated States of Micronesia with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life

subordinate courts

the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court

Legal System

mixed legal system of common and customary law

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral Congress (14 seats; 10 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms and 4 at- large members directly elected from each of the 4 states by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14

elections

last held on 7 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2019)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

unknown

name

Patriots of Micronesia

note

adopted 1991; also known as "Across All Micronesia"; the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben", which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes Brahms' "Festival Overture" and Gustav Mahler's "Third Symphony"

National Holiday

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

National Symbol S

four, five-pointed, white stars on a light blue field; national colors: light blue, white

Political Parties And Leaders

no formal parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

taro, yams, coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, black pepper, fish, pigs, chickens

Budget

expenditures

192.1 million (FY12/13 est.)

revenues

213.8 million (FY12/13 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

6.6% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

15.73% (31 December 2017 est.)

15.7% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$12 million (2017 est.)

$11 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$93.6 million (2013 est.)

$93.5 million (2012 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

61.1 (2013 est.)

Economy Overview

Economic activity consists largely of subsistence farming and fishing, and government, which employs two-thirds of the adult working population and receives funding largely - 58% in 2013 – from Compact of Free Association assistance provided by the US. The islands have few commercially valuable mineral deposits. The potential for tourism is limited by isolation, lack of adequate facilities, and limited internal air and water transportation.Under the terms of the original Compact, the US provided $1.3 billion in grants and aid from 1986 to 2001. The US and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) negotiated a second (amended) Compact agreement in 2002-03 that took effect in 2004. The amended Compact runs for a 20-year period to 2023; during which the US will provide roughly $2.1 billion to the FSM. The amended Compact also develops a trust fund for the FSM that will provide a comparable income stream beyond 2024 when Compact grants end.The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile because of dependence on US assistance and lackluster performance of its small and stagnant private sector.

Exchange Rates

note

the US dollar is used

Exports

$88.3 million (2013 est.)

Exports Commodities

fish, sakau (kava), betel nuts, black pepper

Fiscal Year

1 October - 30 September

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

27.5% (2016 est.)

government consumption

48.4% (2016 est.)

household consumption

83.5% (2013 est.)

imports of goods and services

-77% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

29.5% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories

1.9% (2016 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

26.3% (2013 est.)

industry

18.9% (2013 est.)

services

54.8% (2013 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$328 million (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$3,400 (2017 est.)

$3,300 (2016 est.)

$3,200 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$348 million (2017 est.)

$341.1 million (2016 est.)

$331.4 million (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

2% (2017 est.)

2.9% (2016 est.)

3.9% (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$167.8 million (2015 est.)

$258.5 million (2013 est.)

Imports Commodities

food, beverages, clothing, computers, household electronics, appliances, manufactured goods, automobiles, machinery and equipment, furniture, tools

Industrial Production Growth Rate

NA

Industries

tourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood)

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

0.5% (2017 est.)

0.5% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

37,920 (2010 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

0.9%

industry

5.2%

note

two-thirds of the labor force are government employees

services

93.9% (2013 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

note

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

26.7% (2000 est.)

Public Debt

24.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

25.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$203.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$135.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$178.3 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$225.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$15.8 million (2013 est.)

$34.4 million (2012 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$56.98 million (31 December 2017 est.)

-$103 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$NA (31 December 2016)

$44.07 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$196 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

65.2% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)

Unemployment Rate

16.2% (2010 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

105 Mt (2010 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

45% (2012)

electrification - total population

59% (2012)

electrification - urban areas

100% (2012)

population without electricity

42,934 (2012)

Electricity Consumption

178.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

18,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity Production

192 million kWh (2002)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2014)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2014)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2017 est.)

total

3,776 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

no TV broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with TV transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half-dozen radio stations (2009)

Internet Country Code

.fm

Internet Users

percent of population

31.5% (July 2016 est.)

total

33,000 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; mobile-cellular service available on the major islands (2016)

general assessment

adequate system (2016)

international

country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); in 2015, Fiber Optic was launched and is the primary communication path to the outside world (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

6,947 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

23,114 (2017 est.)

Airports

6 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

4 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2017)

total

6 (2017)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

V6 (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, general cargo 63, oil tanker 6, other 17 (2017)

total

88 (2017)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Colonia (Tamil Harbor), Molsron Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor

Roadways

paved

184 km (2015)

total

388 km (2015)

unpaved

204 km (2015)

Military Branches

no regular military forces (2012)

Military Note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes International

none

Illicit Drugs

major consumer of cannabis