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:


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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)
Country comparison total: 0 km

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.)
Agricultural land forest: 74.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 0% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 0 m³ (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
Total: 99,603
Male: 48,708
Female: 50,895 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: -0.73% (2024 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% (male 13,673/female 13,239)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 32,527/female 34,487)
65 years and over: 5.7% (2024 est.) (male 2,508/female 3,169)

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: 28.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 27.3 years
Female: 29.1 years

Population growth rate: -0.73% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 17.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

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

Infant mortality rate
Total: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 23.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.9 years
Female: 77.2 years

Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (2024 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

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 88.3% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 11.7% of population (2017 est.)

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)
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)
Head of government: President Wesley W. SIMINA (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)
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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)
Elections results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 14; composition - men 11, women 2; percentage women 15.4%

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 Jackson T. SORAM (since 27 February 2024)
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: dcmission@fsmembassy.fm; [link]
In the us consulates general: Honolulu, Portland (OR), Tamuning (Guam)
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: koloniaacs@state.gov; [link]

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: $437.922 million (2023 est.); $434.514 million (2022 est.); $437.922 million (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 0.78% (2023 est.); -0.78% (2022 est.); 2.8% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $3,800 (2023 est.); $3,800 (2022 est.); $3,900 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Exports of goods and services: 27.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -67.5% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Industry: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Services: 66.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: coconuts, cassava, vegetables, sweet potatoes, bananas, pork, plantains, fruits, beef, eggs (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 0.78% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

Unemployment rate

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

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $137.795 million (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $87.355 million (2020 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 7.05% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 27.86% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

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

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 5.41% (2022 est.); 3.19% (2021 est.); 0.55% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on 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: $12 million (2017 est.); $11 million (2016 est.); $22.408 million (2014 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $179 million (2021 est.); $122 million (2020 est.); $130 million (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Thailand 78%, Philippines 12%, Japan 5%, Ecuador 2%, US 1% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: fish, integrated circuits, garments, aircraft parts, broadcasting equipment (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $126 million (2021 est.); $133 million (2020 est.); $121 million (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 37%, China 21%, Japan 10%, South Korea 8%, Taiwan 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: plastic products, ships, poultry, refined petroleum, fish (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $497.434 million (2021 est.); $451.913 million (2020 est.); $397.158 million (2019 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external

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
Access electrification total population: 85.3% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 98.6%
Access electrification rural areas: 79.4%

Coal

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 166,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 166,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: (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

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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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 (2024)

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: 7 (2024)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 388 km (2022)
Note: paved and unpaved circumferential roads, most interior roads are unpaved

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: major consumer of cannabis