Map of Federated States of Micronesia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: Each of the four states that compose the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) - Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap - has its own unique history and cultural traditions. The first humans arrived in what is now the FSM in the second millennium B.C. In the 800s A.D., construction of the artificial islets at the Nan Madol complex in Pohnpei began, with the main architecture being built around 1200. At its height, Nan Madol united the approximately 25,000 people of Pohnpei under the Saudeleur Dynasty. Around the same time, Kosrae was united in a kingdom centered in Leluh by 1250. Yap’s society became strictly hierarchical, with chiefs receiving tributes from islands up to 1,100 km (700 mi) away. Widespread human settlement in Chuuk began in the 1300s, and the different islands in the Chuuk Lagoon were frequently at war with one another.


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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 (fresh water only)
Note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)
Comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)

Land boundaries
Total: 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
Highest point: Nanlaud on Pohnpei 782 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Land use
Agricultural land: 25.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 2.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 19.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 74.5% (2018 est.)
Other: 0% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)

Geography
Note: composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands


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Population
Distribution: the majority of the populaton lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas: 100,319 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: -0.7% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 41.2% (2013 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Micronesian(s)
Adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Ethnic groups: Chuukese/Mortlockese 49.3%, Pohnpeian 29.8%, Kosraean 6.3%, Yapese 5.7%, Yap outer islanders 5.1%, Polynesian 1.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 41.1% (includes Congregational 38.5%, Baptist 1.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.8%, Assembly of God 0.7%), Church of Jesus Christ 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 27.41% (male 13,968/female 13,527)
15-64 years: 67.13% (male 32,721/female 34,627)
65 years and over: 5.46% (2023 est.) (male 2,433/female 3,043)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 57.7
Youth dependency ratio: 48.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 9.3
Potential support ratio: 10.8 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 27.8 years (2023 est.)
Male: 26.9 years
Female: 28.6 years

Population growth rate: -0.7% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 18.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -20.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: the majority of the populaton lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas

Urbanization
Urban population: 23.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: overfishing; sea level rise due to climate change threatens land; water pollution, toxic pollution from mining; solid waste disposal
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 7.79 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.14 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 74 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 18.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.7 years (2023 est.)
Male: 72.6 years
Female: 76.9 years

Total fertility rate: 2.22 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved: total: 78.6% of population
Unimproved: total: 21.4% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: 11.6% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density: (2020)

Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 45.8% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 9.7% of GDP (2018 est.)

Literacy
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 18.9% (2014)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 10.4%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 29.9%


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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: New Philippines; Caroline Islands; Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts
Abbreviation: FSM
Etymology: the term "Micronesia" is a 19th-century construct of two Greek words, "micro" (small) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean

Government type: federal republic in free association with the US

Capital
Name: Palikir
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
Time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Time zone note: Micronesia has two time zones
Note: Palikir became the new capital of the country in 1989, three years after independence; Kolonia, the former capital, remains the site for many foreign embassies; it also serves as the Pohnpei state capital

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
History: drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979
Amendments: proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote in at least three fourths of the states; amended 1990; note - at least every 10 years as part of a general or special election, voters are asked whether to hold a constitution convention; a majority of affirmative votes is required to proceed; amended many times, last in 2019 (approval by referendum to hold a constitutional convention)

Legal system: mixed legal system of common and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023); Vice President Aren B. PALIK (since 12 May 2023); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023); Vice President Aren B. PALIK (since 12 May 2023)
Cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments
Elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 May 2023 (next to be held in 2,027)
Election results: David W. PANUELO elected president by Congress; Yosiwo P. GEORGE reelected vice president

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Congress (14 seats; 10 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms and 4 at- large members directly elected from each of the 4 states by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 7 March 2023 (next to be held in March 2025)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14; composition - men 12, women 2; percentage of women 14.3%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions)
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the FSM president with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life
Subordinate courts: the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jackson SORAM (since 31 March 2023)
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 email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jennifer JOHNSON (since 13 September 2023)
From the us embassy: 1286 US Embassy Place, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96,941
From the us mailing address: 4,120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20,521-4,120
From the us telephone: [691] 320-2,187
From the us FAX: [691] 320-2,186
From the us email address and website:

Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

National symbols: four, five-pointed, white stars on a light blue field, hibiscus flower; national colors: light blue, white

National anthem
Name: "Patriots of Micronesia"
Lyrics/music: unknown/August Daniel BINZER
Note: adopted 1991; also known as "Across All Micronesia"; the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben", which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes BRAHMS' "Festival Overture" and Gustav MAHLER's "Third Symphony"

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview: lower middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance, sunsetting in 2024; low entrepreneurship; mostly fishing and farming; US dollar user; no patent laws; tourism remains underdeveloped; significant corruption

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 83.5% (2013 est.)
Government consumption: 48.4% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 29.5% (2016 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.9% (2016 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 27.5% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -77% (2016 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 26.3% (2013 est.)
Industry: 18.9% (2013 est.)
Services: 54.8% (2013 est.)

Agriculture products: coconuts, cassava, vegetables, sweet potatoes, bananas, pork, plantains, fruit, eggs, beef

Industries: tourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood)

Industrial production growth rate: -8.33% (2021 est.) NA

Labor force: 37,920 (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate: 16.2% (2010 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 18.9% (2014)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 10.4%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 29.9%

Population below poverty line: 41.2% (2013 est.)

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 40.1 (2013 est.)

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

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $320 million (2018 est.)
Expenditures: $223 million (2018 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: 6.6% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 6.43% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:

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:
Partners: Thailand 81%, China 9%, Japan 4%, Philippines 4%, United States 1% (2021)
Commodities: skipjack, tuna, fish fillets, aircraft, scrap iron (2021)

Imports:
Partners: United States 34%, China 16%, Japan 11%, Taiwan 7%, South Korea 6% (2021)
Commodities: poultry meats, broadcasting equipment, other meats, cars, fish products, rice, lumber (2021)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 83.6% (2021)
Access electrification-urban areas: 97.5% (2021)
Access electrification-rural areas: 79.4% (2021)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2014)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 7,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 22,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media: no TV broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with TV transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half-dozen radio stations (2009)

Internet
Country code: .fm
Users total: 44,000 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 40% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 6,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces: no military forces; Federated States of Micronesia National Police (includes a maritime wing); the Department of Justice oversees the National Police; State police forces are responsible for law enforcement in their respective states and are under the jurisdiction of each state’s director of public safety (2023)

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V6

Airports: 6 (2021)
With paved runways: 6
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: (2015)
Paved: (2015)
Unpaved:

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 37 (2022)
By type: general cargo 19, oil tanker 4, other 14

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Colonia (Tamil Harbor), Molsron Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor


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Disputes international: none identified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: major consumer of cannabis