Australia-Oceania :: Micronesia, Federated States of
page last updated on May 12, 2010
Flag of Micronesia, Federated States of
Location 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, which was amended and renewed in 2004. 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
6 55 N, 158 15 E
total: 702 sq km
country comparison to the world: 191
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
0 km
6,112 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Current Weather
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 Chuuk
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2005)
NA
typhoons (June to December)
overfishing, climate change, pollution
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
four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People ::Micronesia, Federated States of
107,154 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
0-14 years: 34.2% (male 18,613/female 18,023)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 33,448/female 33,940)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,336/female 1,794) (2010 est.)
total: 22.4 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.9 years (2010 est.)
-0.284% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
22.57 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
4.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
urban population: 22% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
total: 25.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 83
male: 27.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
total population: 71.23 years
country comparison to the world: 134
male: 69.32 years
female: 73.24 years (2010 est.)
2.8 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
NA
NA
NA
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
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)
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
7.3% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 18
Government ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
10 May 1979
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
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 8 executive departments
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
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 on 11 May 2007 (next to be held in 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
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 on 3 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
Supreme Court
no formal parties
NA
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo GEORGE
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)
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
FAX: [691] 320-2186
light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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.
$238.1 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
$277 million (2002 est.)
note:
GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
$238.1 million (2008)
NA%
0.3% (2005 est.)
$2,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$2,300 (2005 est.)
agriculture: 28.9%
industry: 15.2%
services: 55.9% (2004 est.)
16,360 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 210
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 34.4%
services: 64.7%
note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)
22% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
26.7% (2000)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $166 million (FY07 est.)
expenditures: $152.7 million (FY07 est.)
2.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 75
14.38% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 57
14.03% (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2008)
$22.45 million (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2008)
$72.49 million (31 December 2007)
$NA
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish
tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)
NA%
192 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 177
178.6 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 180
0 kWh (2002)
0 kWh (2002)
-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$14 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut
$132.7 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 207
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Micronesia, Federated States of
8,700 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 206
34,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 200
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; mobile-cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
3 (cable TV also available) (2004)
.fm
1,050 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 159
16,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 194
Transportation ::Micronesia, Federated States of
6 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 170
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)
total: 240 km
country comparison to the world: 205
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (2000)
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 137
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2008)
Tomil Harbor
Military ::Micronesia, Federated States of
no regular military forces
males age 16-49: 26,687 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 21,909
females age 16-49: 23,410 (2010 est.)
male: 1,270
female: 1,221 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Micronesia, Federated States of
none
major consumer of cannabis