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CIA Seal  World Factbook Seal Micronesia, Federated States of
Flag of Micronesia, Federated States of
Map of Micronesia, Federated States of
Introduction Micronesia, Federated States of
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
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:
total: 702 sq km
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
land: 702 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries:
0 km
6,112 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
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: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:
overfishing, climate change, pollution
Environment - international agreements:
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People Micronesia, Federated States of
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
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:
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:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups:
nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
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; economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated
Administrative divisions:
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
10 May 1979
Legal system:
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
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
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 to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley 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: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
no formal parties
International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
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.
purchasing power parity - $269 million
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2001 est.)
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:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
Labor force - by occupation:
two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate:
16% (1999 est.)
revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:
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
$22 million (f.o.b.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners:
Japan, US, Guam
$149 million f.o.b.
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:
US, Australia, Japan
Debt - external:
$66.5 million
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
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
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:
newly installed in Pohnpei and Yap
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)
9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
2,800 (1999)
Internet country code:
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of
0 km (2003)
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1996)
Ports and harbors:
Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine:
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: United States 1 (2002 est.)
7 (2001)
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
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:

This page was last updated on 19 March 2003