Micronesia, Federated States of

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet country code

.fm

Internet users

2,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

11,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

newly installed in Pohnpei and Yap

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Agriculture - products

black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Budget

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

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

$53.1 million (FY 02/03 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

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.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% hydro: 0%

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used 1

Exports

$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY 99/00 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners

Japan, US, Guam (2000)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $277 million note: $277 million $277 million GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 50% industry: 4% services: 46% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$149 million f.o.b. (FY 99/00 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners

US, Australia, Japan (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2002 est.)

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

two-thirds are government employees

Population below poverty line

26.7%

Unemployment rate

16% (1999 est.)

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)

Climate

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

Coastline

6,112 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

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

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geography - note

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 45.71% other: 48.58% (1998 est.)

Location

Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

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 Chuuk

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Palikir

Constitution

10 May 1979

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION; 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; 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%

Flag description

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

Government type

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986; economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IMF, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; 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) 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

National holiday

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.4% (male 21,163; female 20,335) 15-64 years: 58.5% (male 31,746; female 31,477) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 1,558; female 1,864) (2003 est.)

Birth rate

26.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 32.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 35.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 28.97 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.13 years male: 67.39 years female: 70.95 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.)

Nationality

noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Net migration rate

-20.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

108,143 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

0.04% (2003 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

7 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Highways

total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

none note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: US 1 (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none