Federated States of Micronesia

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

constitutional government in free association with the US

Federated States of Micronesia as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalPalikir
Position6 55 N, 158 15 E
Area702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae
LocationOceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
2001

Every edition of Federated States of Micronesia

Populationas each edition published it
134,597 people July 2001 est. · 104,937 in 1990
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 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
Not in this edition 5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
Not in this edition 26 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,000 1999 est. · $1,500 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
0.3% 1999 est. · 4% in 1995

Introduction

1 field

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 United States. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

Geography

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

18 fields
Coastline
6,112km
land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

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

Area

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

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: Totolom 791 m

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

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

10 fields
Population
134,597
(July 2001 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 50%Protestant 47%other and none 3%

Age structure

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

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Languages

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

Literacy

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

Government

Constitutional government in free association with the US; President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999)

19 fields

Congress, 14 seatsone dot, one seat

independents 14

Country name

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

Government type

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

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

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: 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) 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 of 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

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

FAX

[1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Diane E. WATSON 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

Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing.

30 fields
Real growth rate
0.3%
(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%
Unemployment rate
16%
(1999 est.)
Debt - external
$111million
(1997 est.)

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 remoteness of the 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 between the US and Micronesia in which Micronesia receives $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001 - as a result of the second step-down under the agreement.

Since these revenues accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues, reduced Compact funding resulted in a severe depression. While Micronesia's economy appears to have bottomed out in 1999, the country's medium-term economic outlook remains 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 - $263 million (1999 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 19% industry: 4% services: 77% (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

two-thirds are government employees

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners

Japan, US, Guam

Imports

$168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners

US, Japan, Australia

Economic aid - 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

US dollar (USD)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Communications

10 fields
Fixed lines
11,000
(2001) · country code .fm

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Internet users

2,000 (2000)

Transportation

8 fields

Highways

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

Ports and harbors

Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

Airports

7 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Military

1 field

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

1 field

Central Intelligence Agency. “Micronesia, Federated States of.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/micronesia/2001.

How to cite ← 2000 edition 2002 edition →