Micronesia, Federated States of

Geography

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

Map references: Oceania

Area:
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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 6,112 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

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

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People

Population: 122,950 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 3.35% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 28.12 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 36.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.81 years
male: 65.84 years
female: 69.81 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%

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

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

Labor force: NA
by occupation: two-thirds are government employees
note: 45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65

Government

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

Abbreviation: FSM

Digraph: FM

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

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 and head of government: President Bailey OLTER (since 21 May 1991); Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991); election last held 11 May 1991 (next to be held 7 March 1995); results - Bailey OLTER elected president; Jacob NENA elected vice-president
cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral
Congress: elections last held 5 March 1991 (next to be held 7 March 1995); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total) independents 14

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. 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)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador March Fong EU
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

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 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $160 million (1990 est.)
note: GDP was supplemented by approximately $100 million in grant aid in 1990

National product real growth rate: 4% (1994)

National product per capita: $1,500 (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)

Budget:
revenues: $45 million
expenditures: $31 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)

Exports: $3.2 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities: fish, copra, bananas, black pepper
partners: Japan, US

Imports: $91.2 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
partners: US, Japan, Australia

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity:
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

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: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways:
total: 226 km
paved: 39 km (on major islands)
unpaved: stone, coral, laterite 187 km

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

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 6
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1

Communications

Telephone system: 960 telephones on Kolonia and Truk
local: NA
intercity: islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes
international: 4 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations

Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1
radios: 16,000

Television:
broadcast stations: 6
televisions: 1,125 (1987 est.)

Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US