Map of Federated States of Micronesia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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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 United States. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment overfishing and overdependence on US aid.


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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 reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 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 claims
Exclusive 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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Totolom 791 m

Natural resources: forests marine products deep-seabed minerals

Land use
Arable land: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)

Geography
Note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands


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Population: 134,597 (July 2001 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Micronesian
Adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae, Pohnpeian, 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 profile

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

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate

Death rate

Net migration rate

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: overfishing
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: NA%
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 89%
Male: 91%
Female: 88% (1980 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
Conventional short form: none
Former: 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; Chuuk (Truk) Kosrae Pohnpei Yap

Dependent areas

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet
Elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last held NA May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003)
Election results: Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%

Legislative branch
Elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003); elections for two-year term seats last held 6 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2003)
Election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

International organization participation: ACP AsDB ESCAP G-77 IBRD ICAO IDA IFC IMF Intelsat IOC ITU OPCW Sparteca SPC SPF UN UNCTAD UNESCO WHO WMO

Diplomatic representation
In 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 Diane E. WATSON
From the us embassy: address NA, Kolonia
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, 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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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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 remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. In 1996 the country experienced a 20% reduction in revenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement between the US and Micronesia in which Micronesia receives $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001 - as a result of the second step-down under the agreement. Since these revenues accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues reduced Compact funding resulted in a severe depression. While Micronesia's economy appears to have bottomed out in 1999 the country's medium-term economic outlook remains fragile due to likely further reductions in external grants made under the US Compact funding. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 0.3% (1999 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $2000 (1999 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 19%
Industry: 4%
Services: 77% (1996 est.)

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: 16% (1999 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)
Expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.6% (FY98/99)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $73 million (f.o.b. 1996 est.)
Commodities: fish garments bananas black pepper
Partners: Japan US Guam

Imports: $168 million (c.i.f. 1996 est.)
Commodities: food manufactured goods machinery and equipment beverages
Partners: US Japan Australia

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $111 million (1997 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used


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Electricity
Production: NA kWh
Production by source fossil fuel: NA%
Production by source hydro: NA%
Production by source nuclear: NA%
Production by source other: NA%
Consumption: NA kWh

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 11,000 (2001)
Mobile cellular: NA

Telephone system
General assessment: adequate system
Domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
International: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .fm
Service providers isps: 1 (2000)
Users: 2000 (2000)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 7 (2000 est.)
With paved runways total: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2000 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways: none

Merchant marine: none (2000 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs