Micronesia, Federated States of

Airports

total: 6 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 4

Highways

39 km of paved roads on major islands; also 187 km stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads

Ports

Colonia (Yap), Truk, Okat and Lelu (Kosrae)

Telecommunications

telephone network - 960 telephone lines total at Kolonia and Truk; islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes); 16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est. 1987); broadcast stations - 5 AM, 1 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Affiliation

(territory of the US)

Note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Agriculture

mainly a subsistence economy; black pepper; tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs, chickens

Budget

revenues $165 million; expenditures $115 million, including capital expenditures of $20 million (1988)

Currency

US currency is used

Economic aid

under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Electricity

18,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced, 380 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

$2.3 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: copra partners: NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Imports

$67.7 million (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: NA partners: NA

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

National product

GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $150 million (1989 est.) note: GNP numbers reflect US spending

National product per capita

$1,500 (1989 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

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. Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the l990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total area: 702 km2 land area: 702 km2 comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of Washington, DC note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk), Yap, and Kosrae

Climate

tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasional severe damage

Coastline

6,112 km

Environment

subject to typhoons from June to December; four major island groups totaling 607 islands

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA km2

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Location

Oceania, in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Indonesia

Map references

Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Terrain

islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk

Abbreviation

FSM

Administrative divisions

4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Yap

Capital

Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei) note: a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the Palikir valley

Constitution

10 May 1979

Digraph

FM

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU chancery: 1725 N St., NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 223-4383

Elections

President: last held ll May 1991 (next to be held March 1995); results - President Bailey OLTER elected president; Vice-President Jacob NENA Congress: last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held March 1993); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total)

Executive branch

president, vice president, Cabinet

Flag

light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Independence

3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Bailey OLTER (since 21 May 1991); Vice President Jacob NENA (since 21 May 1991)

Legal system

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Legislative branch

unicameral Congress

Member of

AsDB, ESCAP, ICAO, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO

Names

conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

National holiday

Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979)

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia BRAZEAL embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: 691-320-2187 FAX: 691-320-2186

Birth rate

28.48 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate

6.46 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic divisions

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Infant mortality rate

37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force

NA by occupation: two-thirds are government employees note: 45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65

Languages

English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.45 years male: 65.49 years female: 69.44 years (1993 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 90% male: 90% female: 85%

Nationality

noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Net migration rate

11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population

117,588 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate

3.37% (1993 est.)

Religions

Christian (divided between Roman Catholic and Protestant; other churches include Assembly of God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist, Latter-Day Saints, and the Baha'i Faith)

Total fertility rate

4.04 children born/woman (1993 est.)