Micronesia, Federated States of

Broadcast media

no television broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with television transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half dozen radio stations in operation (2009)

Internet country code

.fm

Internet hosts

3,097 (2010) country comparison to the world: 144

Internet users

17,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 194

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; mobile-cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

8,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 203

Telephones - mobile cellular

38,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 199

Agriculture - products

black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.38% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 14.38% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$34.3 million (FY05 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Debt - external

$60.8 million (FY05 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

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. Under the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the current slow growth of the private sector.

Electricity - consumption

178.6 million kWh (2002) country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

192 million kWh (2002) country comparison to the world: 177

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$14 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Exports - commodities

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut

GDP (official exchange rate)

$238.1 million (2008)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$238.1 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 214 $277 million (2002 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 28.9% industry: 15.2% services: 55.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $2,300 (2005 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

NA% 0.3% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$132.7 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 207

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2005) country comparison to the world: 64

Labor force

16,360 (2008) country comparison to the world: 211

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 0.9% industry: 34.4% services: 64.7% note: two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)

Population below poverty line

26.7% (2000)

Stock of broad money

$114 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 $98 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$65.68 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 180 $43.75 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money

$29.02 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 185 $21.21 million (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

22% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Area

total: 702 sq km country comparison to the world: 190 land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 45.71% other: 48.58% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

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

name: Palikir geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

10 May 1979

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: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts abbreviation: FSM

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter A. PRAHAR embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo GEORGE chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007) cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2011); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Emanuel MORI elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Alik L. ALIK 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; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

Government type

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - 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: last held on 3 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2011) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

National anthem

name: "Patriots of Micronesia" lyrics/music: unknown note: adopted 1991; the anthem is 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"

National holiday

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

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, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 26,687 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 21,909 females age 16-49: 23,410 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,270 female: 1,221 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military branches

no regular military forces

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.8% (male 19,010/female 18,411) 15-64 years: 62.3% (male 33,286/female 33,629) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 1,317/female 1,781) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

22.57 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Death rate

4.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Education expenditures

7.3% of GDP (2000) country comparison to the world: 16

Ethnic groups

Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 25.2 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 83 male: 27.82 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.23 years country comparison to the world: 132 male: 69.32 years female: 73.24 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 22.4 years male: 21.8 years female: 22.9 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

Population

107,154 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Population growth rate

-0.284% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 218

Religions

Roman Catholic 52.7%, Congregational 40.1%, Baptist 0.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 0.7%, other 3.8%, none or unspecified 0.8% (2000 Census)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.8 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Urbanization

urban population: 22% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major consumer of cannabis

Airports

6 (2010) country comparison to the world: 170

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 3 country comparison to the world: 140 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Colonia (Tomil Harbor), Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor

Roadways

total: 240 km country comparison to the world: 206 paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (2000)