Micronesia Online Business Education. Administration. Economy. Politics. Culture. Religion. Media

Micronesia
Online Business Education. Economy. Politics. Culture. Religion. Media

Micronesia Flag
Micronesia

Capital City: Palikir, Pohnpei

Internet Links

The Federation of States of Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei (Ponape) and Yap

Official Sites of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia

Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

Permanent Mission of the FSM to the United Nations in New York

Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia

Maps
Political Map of the Federation of States of Micronesia

Detailed Maps of the FSM

Map of West Pacific Islands

Map of Oceania

Introduction

Micronesia, Federated States of

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

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

Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references: Oceania

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

Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 6,112 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern
islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally
severe damage

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

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

Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 46% other: 48% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)

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

Geography - note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People Micronesia, Federated States of

Population: 135,869 (July 2002 est.)

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

Population growth rate: NA% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Sex ratio: NA

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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

Ethnic groups: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%

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

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

Government Micronesia, Federated States of

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

Government type: constitutional government in free association with
the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November
1986 and is due for renegotiation

Capital: Palikir

Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap

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

National holiday: Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Constitution: 10 May 1979

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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: 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); note - a proposed constitutional amendment
would establish popular elections for president and vice president
election results: KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress
vote - NA%

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) 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: Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse
Bibiano MAREHALAU telephone: [1]
Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam) FAX:
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Larry DINGER embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box
1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone:
[691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186

Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered;
the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economy Micronesia, Federated States of

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 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 with the
US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial and technical
assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. Since these revenues
accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues, reduced Compact
funding resulted in a severe depression. Economic activity recovered in
1999-2001. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears 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.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $269 million (2001 est.) note: GDP is
supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 50% industry: 4% services: 46%
(2000 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2001 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force - by occupation: two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate: 16% (1999 est.)

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

Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from
shell, wood, and pearls

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity - production: NA kWh

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% nuclear: NA% other:
NA% hydro: NA%

Electricity - consumption: NA kWh

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

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

Exports - commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners: Japan, US, Guam

Imports: $149 million (f.o.b., FY99/00 est.)

Imports - commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment,
beverages

Imports - partners: US, Australia, Japan

Debt - external: $66.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

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

Currency: US dollar (USD)

Currency code: USD

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Communications Micronesia, Federated States of

Telephones - main lines in use: 11,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular: NA

Telephone system: general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands
interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government
purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific
Ocean) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios: 9,400 (1996)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)

Televisions: 2,800 (1999)

Internet country code: .fm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)

Internet users: 2,000 (2000)

Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of

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

Waterways: none

Ports and harbors: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Merchant marine: none note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered
here as a flag of convenience: United States 1 (2002 est.)

Airports: 7 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to
1,523 m: 2 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)

Military Micronesia, Federated States 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

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002