Federated States of Micronesia

constitutional government in free association with the US

Federated States of Micronesia as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 111 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.

CapitalPalikir, UTC+11

Position6 55 N, 158 15 E

Area702 sq km

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

2008

Every edition of Federated States of Micronesia

Populationas each edition published it

107,665 people July 2008 est. · 104,937 in 1990

Population growth% a year

-0.191% 2008 est. · 3.37% in 1993

Median ageyears

21.6 years 2008 est. · 20.9 yrs in 2006

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.65 years 2008 est. · 67.45 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.98 children per woman 2008 est. · 5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

27.03 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 26 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,300 2005 est. · $1,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0.3% 2005 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 US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. 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

Land useshare of 702 sq km

arable land 5.71%permanent crops 45.71%other 48.58% (2005)

Area

702sq km

land: 702 sq kmwater: 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)

Coastline

6,112km

land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Highest point

791m

Dolohmwar (Totolom)lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

Map references

Oceania

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 Chuuk

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Irrigated land

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues

overfishing, climate change, pollution

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

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

1,320

65 and over2.9%

1,783

33,142

15-6461.8%

33,389

19,344

0-1435.3%

18,687

MaleFemale

Population

107,665

(July 2008 est.)growth rate: -0.191% (2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth

23.66Death

4.53Net migration

-21.04

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)70.65

68.79 · 72.61Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)27.03

29.8 · 24.13

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1980 est.)89%

91% · 88%Median age years (2008 est.)21.6

21.1 · 22.1

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(2000 census)

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)

Religions

Roman Catholic 50%Protestant 47%other 3%

Sex ratio

Total fertility rate

2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun:: Micronesian(s)
adjective:: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Languages

English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

Education expenditures

7.3% of GDP (2000)

Government

Constitutional government in free association with the US; President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007)

18 fields

Congress, 14 seats, elected 6 March 2007one dot, one seat

independents 14

Country name

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

Government type

constitutional government in free association with the US;
the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004

Capital

name:: Palikir
geographic coordinates:: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference:: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

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

National holiday

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Constitution

10 May 1979

Legal system

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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 eight executive departments
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 11 May 2007 (next to be held 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

Legislative branch

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 6 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2009)
election results:: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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.

34 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$277million

note - supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)official exchange rate: $232 million (2005)

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,300

(2005 est.)

Real growth rate

0.3%

(2005 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.2%

(2005)

GDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)

agriculture 28.9%industry 15.2%services 55.9% (2004 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$127.3 million ($69 million less grants)Expenditures

$144.2 million (FY05 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

192 million (2002)Electricity consumption

178.6 million (2002)

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, 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.

Labor force

37,410 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:: 0.9%
industry:: 34.4%
services:: 64.7%

note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)

black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), betel nuts, sweet potatoes;
pigs, chickens;
fish

Industries

tourism, construction;
fish processing, specialized aquaculture;
craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

27,400

(2007)

Internet users

866

(2008)

Fixed lines

8,700

(2007) · country code .fm

Telephone system

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;
cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
international:: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)