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| 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. |
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| Geography |
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| 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 |
| Area: | total: 702 sq km
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie) |
| Area—comparative: | four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only) |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 6,112 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| 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 |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m |
| Natural resources: | forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate |
| Land use: | arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | NA |
| 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 |
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| People |
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| Population: | 107,862 (July 2007 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 35.9% (male 19,726/female 19,011)
15-64 years: 61.2% (male 32,891/female 33,071)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,379/female 1,784) (2007 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 21.2 years
male: 20.8 years
female: 21.7 years (2007 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | -0.154% (2007 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 24.14 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death rate: | 4.66 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -21.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | NA (2007 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 28.15 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 70.35 years
male: 68.52 years
female: 72.28 years (2007 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.07 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS—adult prevalence rate: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS—people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS—deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese |
| Ethnic groups: | 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% |
| Languages: | English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.) |
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| Government |
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| 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 |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Emmanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (11 May 2007) note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Emmanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (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: Emmanuel 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 |
| 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 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, 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 |
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| Economy |
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| 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. 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. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $277 million; note – supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $232 million (2005) |
| GDP—real growth rate: | 0.3% (2005 est.) |
| GDP—per capita (PPP): | $2,300 (2005 est.) |
| GDP—composition by sector: | agriculture: 28.9%
industry: 15.2%
services: 55.9% (2004 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 22% (2000 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 26.7% (2000) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.2% (2005) |
| Budget: | revenues: $127.3 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $144.2 million (FY05 est.) |
| Agriculture—products: | 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 |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity—production: | 192 million kWh (2002) |
| Electricity—consumption: | 178.6 million kWh (2002) |
| Electricity—exports: | 0 kWh (2002) |
| Electricity—imports: | 0 kWh (2002) |
| Current account balance: | $-34.3 million (FY05 est.) |
| Exports: | $14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.) |
| Exports—commodities: | fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut |
| Exports—partners: | Japan, US, Guam (2006) |
| Imports: | $132.7 million f.o.b. (2004) |
| Imports—commodities: | food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages |
| Imports—partners: | US, Japan, Hong Kong (2006) |
| Debt—external: | $60.8 million (FY05 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Economic aid—recipient: | $106.4 million
note: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced (2005) |
| Currency (code): | US dollar (USD) |
| Exchange rates: | the US dollar is used |
| Fiscal year: | 1 October – 30 September |
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| Communications |
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| Telephones—main lines in use: | 12,400 (2005) |
| Telephones—mobile cellular: | 14,100 (2005) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 3 (cable TV also available) (2004) |
| Internet country code: | .fm |
| Internet hosts: | 632 (2007) |
| Internet users: | 16,000 (2006) |
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| Transportation |
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| Airports: | 6 (2007) |
| Airports—with paved runways: | total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007) |
| Roadways: | total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,560 GRT/2,060 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2007) |
| Ports and terminals: | Tomil Harbor |
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| Military |
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| Military branches: | no regular military forces (2007) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 23,816 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 18,914 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males age 18-49: 1,305 (2005 est.) |
| Military—note: | defense is the responsibility of the US |
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| Transnational Issues |
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| Disputes—international: | none |
| Illicit drugs: | major consumer of cannabis |
