CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Micronesia, Federated States of

Micronesia, Federated States of

Introduction	Micronesia, Federated States of

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, which was amended and renewed in 2003. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

Geography	Micronesia, Federated States of

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 references:	Oceania
Area:	total: 702 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie) water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) land: 702 sq km
Area - comparative:	four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries:	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 extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m 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% (2001)
Irrigated land:	NA sq km
Natural hazards:	typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:	overfishing, climate change, pollution
Environment - international agreements:	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:	four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People	Micronesia, Federated States of

Population:	108,155 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:	0-14 years: 37.7% (male 20,830; female 19,993) 15-64 years: 59.2% (male 32,055; female 31,927) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,505; female 1,845) (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:	-0.02% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:	25.8 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:	4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:	-20.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:	1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:	total: 31.28 deaths/1,000 live births male: 34.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:	total population: 69.44 years male: 67.68 years female: 71.29 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:	3.37 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:	NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:	NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:	NA
Nationality:	noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups:	nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions:	Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Languages:	English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy:	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.)

Government	Micronesia, Federated States of

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 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Capital:	Palikir
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:	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 Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); 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 11 May 2003 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA
Legislative branch:	unicameral Congress (14 seats; four - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote) elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2005) 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, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:	chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam) FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:	chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186
Flag description:	light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economy	Micronesia, Federated States of

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, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. In November 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in future 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. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.
GDP:	purchasing power parity - $277 million note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:	1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:	purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:	agriculture: 50% industry: 4% services: 46% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:	26.7%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):	1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:	NA (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:	two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate:	16% (1999 est.)
Budget:	revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.)
Agriculture - products:	black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Industries:	tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate:	NA
Electricity - production:	NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:	NA kWh
Exports:	$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)
Exports - commodities:	fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners:	Japan, US, Guam (2000)
Imports:	$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)
Imports - commodities:	food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:	US, Australia, Japan (2000)
Debt - external:	$53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:	under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency:	US dollar (USD)
Currency code:	USD
Exchange rates:	the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:	1 October - 30 September

Communications	Micronesia, Federated States of

Telephones - main lines in use:	10,100 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:	1,800 (2002)
Telephone system:	general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:	AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:	9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations:	3; note - cable TV also available (2004)
Televisions:	2,800 (1999)
Internet country code:	.fm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):	1 (2000)
Internet users:	6,000 (2002)

Transportation	Micronesia, Federated States of

Highways:	total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:	Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine:	none (2004 est.)
Airports:	6 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:	total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military	Micronesia, Federated States of

Military - note:	Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent on the US for its defense

This page was last updated on 1 January 2003

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This is a snapshot of the CIA World Fact Book as it existed on 26 March 2005