Federated States of Micronesia
constitutional government in free association with the US
Federated States of Micronesia as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 139 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean; they became part of a UN Trust Territory under US administration following World War II. The eastern four island groups adopted a constitution in 1979 and chose to become the Federated States of Micronesia. (The westernmost island group became Palau.) Independence came in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, overdependence on US foreign aid, and state perception of inequitable allocation of US aid.
Geography
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
18 fieldsLocation
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
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
Land use
- agricultural land:
- 25.5%;
- arable land 2.3%;
- permanent crops 19.7%;
- permanent pasture 3.5%
- forest:
- 74.5%
- other:
- 0% (2011 est.)
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
People and Society
28 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2010 est.)
Religions(2010 est.)
Languages
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 0.94 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.81 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Government
Constitutional government in free association with the US; President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 12 May 2015); President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 12 May 2015)
21 fieldsCongress, 14 seats, elected 5 March 2013one dot, one seat
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 on 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in 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)
Constitution
drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979; amended 1990 (2012)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 12 May 2015);
- Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 12 May 2015);
- note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 12 May 2015); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 12 May 2015)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments
- elections/appointments:
- president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 11 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015)
- election results:
- Peter M. CHRISTIAN elected president by Congress; Yosiwo P. GEORGE elected vice president
Legislative branch
- description:
- unicameral Congress (14 seats; 10 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms and 4 directly elected from each of the 4 states by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 5 March 2013 (next to be held in March 2015)
- election results:
- percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions)
- judge selection and term of office:
- justices appointed by the president of the Federated States of Micronesia with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life
- subordinate courts:
- the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court;
- Korsae State Court;
- Pohnpei State Court;
- Yap State Court
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Asterio R. TAKESY (since 13 January 2012)
- 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 Dorothea-Maria (Doria) ROSEN (since 9 August 2012)
- embassy:
- 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
- mailing address:
- P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941; U.S. Embassy in Micronesia, 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120
- 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;
- blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
National symbol(s)
four, five-pointed, white stars on a light blue field; national colors: light blue, white
National anthem
- name:
- "Patriots of Micronesia"
- lyrics/music:
- unknown
note: adopted 1991; also known as "Across All Micronesia"; the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben", which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950;
variants of this tune are used in Johannes Brahms' "Festival Overture" and Gustav Mahler's "Third Symphony"
Economy
36 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
Economic activity consists largely of subsistence farming and fishing, and government, which employs two-thirds of the adult working population and receives funding largely - 58% in 2013 – from Compact of Free Association assistance provided by the US. The islands have few commercially valuable mineral deposits.
The potential for tourism is limited by isolation, lack of adequate facilities, and limited internal air and water transportation. Under the terms of the original Compact, the US provided $1.3 billion in grants and aid from 1986 to 2001. The US and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) negotiated a second (amended) Compact agreement in 2002-2003 that took effect in 2004.
The amended Compact runs for a 20-year period to 2023; during which the US will provide roughly $2.1 billion to the FSM. The amended Compact also develops a Trust Fund for the FSM that will provide a comparable income stream beyond 2024 when Compact grants end. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile because of dependence on US assistance and lackluster performance of its small and stagnant private sector.
Agriculture - products
taro, yams, coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, black pepper, fish, pigs, chickens
Labor force - by occupation
- agriculture:
- 0.9%
- industry:
- 5.2%
- services:
- 93.9%
note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees (2013 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
7.1% (2013 est.) · 6.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Current account balance
-$31.6 million (2013 est.) · -$41.2 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Imports - commodities
food, beverages, clothing, computers, household electronics, appliances, manufactured goods, automobiles, machinery and equipment, furniture, tools
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$75.06 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Debt - external
$93.6 million (2013 est.) · $93.5 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Energy
15 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 18,000 kW(2015 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
105 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 213
Communications
8 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2013–14 est.)
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;
- mobile-cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
- international:
- country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Broadcast media
- no TV broadcast stations;
- each state has a multi-channel cable service with TV transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming;
- about a half dozen radio stations (2009)
Transportation
5 fieldsMerchant marine, 3 ships by typeone square, one ship · (2010)
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
No regular military forces (2012)
5 fieldsTransnational Issues
2 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Micronesia, Federated States Of.” The World Factbook 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/micronesia/2015.