Federated States of Micronesia

constitutional government in free association with the US

Federated States of Micronesia as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 117 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalKolonia (on the island of Pohnpei)
LocationOceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters
1994

Every edition of Federated States of Micronesia

Populationas each edition published it
120,347 people July 1994 est. · 104,937 in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.36% 1994 est. · 3.37% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 20.9 yrs in 2006
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 67.45 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.01 children per woman 1994 est. · 5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
37.24 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 26 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,500 1989 est. · $1,500 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 4% in 1995

Geography

Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters | of the way between Hawaii and Indonesia

24 fields
Coastline
6,112km
land boundaries: 0 km

Location

Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Indonesia

Map references

Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

702 sq km

land area

702 sq km

comparative area

slightly less than four times the size of Washington, DC

note

includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk), Yap, and Kosrae

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 occasional severe damage

Terrain

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

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

arable land

NA%

permanent crops

NA%

meadows and pastures

NA%

forest and woodland

NA%

other

NA%

current issues

NA

natural hazards

subject to typhoons (June to December)

international agreements

party to - Climate Change, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Note

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People

22 fields
Population
120,347
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 3.36% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
28.3Death
6.38Net migration
11.65
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1980)

Infant mortality rate

37.24 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

67.63 years

male

65.67 years

female

69.62 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.01 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Micronesian(s)

adjective

Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Ethnic divisions

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions

Christian (divided between Roman Catholic and Protestant; other churches include Assembly of God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist, Latter-Day Saints, and the Baha'i Faith)

Languages

English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean

total population

90%

male

90%

female

85%

by occupation

two-thirds are government employees

note

45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65

Government

Constitutional government in free association with the US

32 fields

conventional long form

Federated States of Micronesia

conventional short form

none

former

Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Type

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

Capital

Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei)

note

a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the Palikir valley

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

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

National holiday

Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979)

Constitution

10 May 1979

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

chief of state and head of government

  • President Bailey OLTER (since 21 May 1991);
  • Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991);
  • election last held ll May 1991 (next to be held March 1995);
  • results - President Bailey OLTER elected president;
  • Vice-President Jacob NENA

cabinet

Cabinet

Congress

  • elections last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held March 1993);
  • results - percent of vote NA;
  • seats - (14 total)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Member of

AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO

chief of mission

Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU

chancery

1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone

(202) 223-4383

FAX

(202) 223-4391

consulate(s) general

Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

chief of mission

Ambassador Aurelia E. BRAZEAL

embassy

address NA, Kolonia

mailing address

P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941

telephone

691-320-2187

FAX

691-320-2186

Flag

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

Economy

Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and | fishing.

26 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,500
(1989 est.)

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 remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development.

Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the l990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

National product

GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $150 million (1989 est.)

note

GNP numbers reflect US spending

revenues

$165 million

expenditures

$115 million, including capital expenditures of $20 million (1988 est.)

Exports

$2.3 million (f.o.b., 1988)

commodities

copra

partners

NA

Imports

$67.7 million (c.i.f., 1988)

commodities

NA

partners

NA

capacity

18,000 kW

production

40 million kWh

consumption per capita

380 kWh (1990)

Industries

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

Agriculture

  • mainly a subsistence economy;
  • black pepper;
  • tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs, chickens

recipient

under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Communications

11 fields

total

226 km

paved

39 km (on major islands)

unpaved

stone, coral, laterite 187 km

Ports

Colonia (Yap), Truk, Okat and Lelu (Kosrae)

total

6

usable

5

with permanent-surface runways

4

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

0

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

4

Telecommunications

  • telephone network - 960 telephone lines total at Kolonia and Truk;
  • islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes);
  • 16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est. 1987);
  • broadcast stations - 5 AM, 1 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave;
  • 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Defense Forces

2 fields

Note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Affiliation

(territory of the US)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Micronesia, Federated States of.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/micronesia/1994.

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