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 US. 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
Note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae
Water: 0 km² (fresh water only)
Land: 702 km²
Comparative: four times the size of Washington DC (land area only)

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: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Natural resources: forests marine products deep-seabed minerals

Land use
Arable land: 5.71%
Permanent crops: 45.71%
Other: 48.58% (1998 est.)

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: 135,869 (July 2002 est.)
Growth rate: NA% (2002 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Micronesian
Adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen, Pohnpeian, Yapese

Ethnic groups: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Languages: English (official and common language) Trukese Pohnpeian Yapese Kosrean Ulithian Woleaian Nukuoro Kapingamarangi

Religions: Roman Catholic 50% Protestant 47%

Demographic profile

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

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: NA% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: overfishing climate change pollution
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: NA

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA years
Male: NA years
Female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

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
Abbreviation: FSM
Former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986; economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated

Capital: Palikir

Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk) Kosrae (Kosaie) Pohnpei (Ponape) 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); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
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 IFRCS (associate) IMF 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 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4,383
In the us consulates general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
In the us fax: [1] (202) 223-4,391
In the us chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20,036
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Larry DINGER
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 remote 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 with the US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. Since these revenues accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues reduced Compact funding resulted in a severe depression. Economic activity recovered in 1999-2001. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears 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: 2% (2001 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $2000 (2001 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 50%
Industry: 4%
Services: 46% (2000 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: 2.5% (2001 est.)

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: $22 million (f.o.b.)
Commodities: fish garments bananas black pepper
Partners: Japan US Guam

Imports: $149 million f.o.b.
Commodities: food manufactured goods machinery and equipment beverages
Partners: US Australia Japan

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $66.5 million

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 nuclear: NA%
Production by source other: NA%
Production by source hydro: 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: newly installed in Pohnpei and Yap

Telephone system
General assessment: adequate system
Domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
International: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

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 (2001)
With paved runways total: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2002)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km (2003)

Roadways

Waterways: none

Merchant marine
Note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: United States 1 (2002 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs