Statistical information Federated States of Micronesia 1998

Federated States of Micronesia in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: 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 reference:
OceaniaAreaTotal: 702 km²
Land: 702 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae
Comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claimsExclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 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 Truk
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Totolom 791 m
Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land useArable land: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
GeographyNote: four major island groups totaling 607 islands
top of pagePopulation: 129,658 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 3.31% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: 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
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.31% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 27.55 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 34.51 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 68.34 years
Male: 66.38 years
Female: 70.34 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.9 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 89%
Male: 91%
Female: 88% (1980 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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
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; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Yap
Dependent areasIndependence: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term: ead of
Government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term
Cabinet: Cabinet
Elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note_because of the vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to become acting president, a new election to fill the position for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 1999)
Election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of Congress vote_NA; Leo A. FALCAM 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 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999); elections for two-year term seats last held NA March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999)
Election results: percent of vote_NA; seats_independents 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
In the us chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 223-4,383
In the us fax: [1] (202) 223-4,391
In the us consulates general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cheryl A. MARTIN
From the us embassy: address NA, Kolonia
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96,941
From the us telephone: [691] 320-2,187
From the us fax: [691] 320-2,186
Flag description
: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,760 (1996 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%
Agriculture products: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: NA
By occupation: two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $58 million
Expenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7 million (FY95/96 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 October_30 September
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Partners: Japan, US, Guam
Imports: total value:$168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Partners: US, Japan, Australia
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $129 million
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: US currency is used
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 38,500 kW (1995)
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 960
Telephone systemDomestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
International: satellite earth stations_4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 6 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 5
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs