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.

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

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)

Geography
Note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands

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%

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

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

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA%
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

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

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

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

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

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 growth rate: 0.3% (1999 est.)

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

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.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

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

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

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

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

Debt external: $111 million (1997 est.)

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

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

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)

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

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.)

Railways: 0 km

Waterways: none

Merchant marine: none (2000 est.)