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.

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 NA (2012)

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

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: 101,675 (July 2021 est.)
Growth rate: -0.64% (2021 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.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 28.24% (male 14,585/female 14,129)
15-24 years: 18.62% (male 9,473/female 9,461)
25-54 years: 40.81% (male 19,998/female 21,493)
55-64 years: 7.38% (male 3,602/female 3,898)
65 years and over: 4.95% (male 2,260/female 2,776) (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 55.2
Youth dependency ratio: 48.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.8
Potential support ratio: 14.7 (2020 est.)

Median age
Total: 26.3 years
Male: 25.5 years
Female: 27.1 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.64% (2021 est.)

Birth rate: 18.65 births/1000 population (2021 est.)

Death rate: 4.18 deaths/1000 population (2021 est.)

Net migration rate: -20.9 migrant(s)/1000 population (2021 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: 23.1% of total population (2021)
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; climate change; 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: 10.23 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 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
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 88 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 22.45 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 25.65 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 19.08 deaths/1000 live births (2021 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.17 years
Male: 72.06 years
Female: 76.4 years (2021 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (2021 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: 12.6% (2018)

Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1000 population

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

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

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high (2020)
Food or water borne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vector borne diseases: malaria

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 45.8% (2016)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 9.7% of GDP (2018)

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

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)
Timezone note: Micronesia has two time zones

Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap

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 descentonly: 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 David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015)
Cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments
Elections and 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 11 May 2019 (next to be held in 2023)
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 2 March 2021 (next to be held on March 2023)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14; composition - men 14, women 0

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 Akillino Harris SUSAIA (since 24 April 2017)
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 Carmen G. CANTOR (since 31 January 2020)
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 and music: unknown
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'

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

Real gdp growth rate: 2% (2017 est.)

2.9% (2016 est.)

3.9% (2015 est.)

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

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: NA

Labor force: 37,920 (2010 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 0.9%
By occupation industry: 5.2%
By occupation services: 93.9% (2013 est.)
By occupation note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees

Unemployment rate: 16.2% (2010 est.)

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

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

Budget
Revenues: $213.8 million (FY12/13 est.)
Expenditures: $192.1 million (FY12/13 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $6.6% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 65.2% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)

Public debt: 24.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

25.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

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

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.5% (2017 est.)

0.5% (2016 est.)

Current account balance: $12 million (2017 est.)

$11 million (2016 est.)

Exports: $88.3 million (2013 est.)
Partners: Thailand 73%, Japan 10%, China 9% (2019)
Commodities: fish and fish products, coral/shells, scrap metals, mollusks, office machinery/parts (2019)

Imports: $167.8 million (2015 est.)

$258.5 million (2013 est.)
Partners: United States 32%, China 16%, Japan 14%, Taiwan 9%, Philippines 6%, South Korea 6% (2019)
Commodities: poultry meats, netting, broadcasting equipment, various meats, fish products (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $203.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$135.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Debt external: $93.6 million (2013 est.)

$93.5 million (2012 est.)

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 82% (2018)
Access electrification urban areas: 93.5% (2018)
Access electrification rural areas: 78.7% (2018)
Production: 192 million kWh (2002)
Consumption: 178.6 million kWh (2002)
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 18,000 kW (2015 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources: 3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2014)
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2014)
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2014)
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2014)

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

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2014)
Proven reserves: 0 m³

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 6,947 (2018)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6.23 (2018 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 23,114 (2018)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20.74 (2019 est.)

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: 40,800 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 35.3% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 3,776 (2018 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.39 (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: no military forces; Federated States of Micronesia National Police (includes a maritime wing)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V6

Airports
Total: 6 (2013)
With paved runways total: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2017)

Roadways: note - paved and unpaved circumferential roads, most interior roads are unpaved

Merchant marine
Total: 38
By type: general cargo 19, oil tanker 4, other 15 (2021)

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

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs: major consumer of cannabis