| The World Factbook 2002 | ||
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Micronesia, Federated States of |
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| Introduction | Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Background:
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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 |
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Location:
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Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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6 55 N, 158 15 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 702 sq km
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae water: 0 sq km land: 702 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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four times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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6,112 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage |
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Terrain:
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islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m |
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Natural resources:
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forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals |
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Land use:
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arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 46% other: 48% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons (June to December) |
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Environment - current issues:
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overfishing, climate change, pollution |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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four major island groups totaling 607 islands |
| People | Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Population:
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135,869 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
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Population growth rate:
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NA% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population |
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Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population |
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Sex ratio:
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NA |
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Infant mortality rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese |
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Ethnic groups:
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nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47% |
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Languages:
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English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.) |
| Government | Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Country name:
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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) |
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Government type:
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constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and is due for renegotiation |
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Capital:
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Palikir |
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Administrative divisions:
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4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap |
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Independence:
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3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, 10 May (1979) |
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Constitution:
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10 May 1979 |
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Legal system:
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based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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: 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 would establish popular elections for president and vice president election results: Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA% |
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Legislative branch:
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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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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no formal parties |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IMF, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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Flag description:
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light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern |
| Economy | Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $269 million (2001 est.)
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 50%
industry: 4% services: 46% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.5% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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two-thirds are government employees |
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Unemployment rate:
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16% (1999 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) |
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Industries:
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tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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NA kWh |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: NA%
nuclear: NA% other: NA% hydro: NA% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh |
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Agriculture - products:
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black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens |
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Exports:
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$22 million (f.o.b., FY99/00 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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fish, garments, bananas, black pepper |
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Exports - partners:
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Japan, US, Guam |
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Imports:
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$149 million (f.o.b., FY99/00 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages |
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Imports - partners:
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US, Australia, Japan |
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Debt - external:
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$66.5 million (FY99/00 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001 |
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Currency:
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US dollar (USD) |
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Currency code:
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USD |
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Exchange rates:
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the US dollar is used |
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Fiscal year:
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1 October - 30 September |
| Communications | Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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11,000 (2001) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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NA |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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9,400 (1996) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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2 (1997) |
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Televisions:
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2,800 (1999) |
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Internet country code:
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.fm |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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2,000 (2000) |
| Transportation | Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Highways:
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total: 240 km
paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1996) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen |
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Merchant marine:
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none
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: United States 1 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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7 (2001) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2001) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001) |
| Military | Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Military - note:
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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 |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
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This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 |