Micronesia, Federated States of

Micronesia, Federated States of

Introduction

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.

Geography

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
country comparison to the world: 191 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)

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

timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Land use

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

Irrigated land

NA

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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective:Micronesian

Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

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)

Languages

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 41.7% (Congregational 40.1%, Baptist 0.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 0.7%), other 3.8%, none or unspecified 0.8% (2000 Census)

Population

106,836 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Age structure

0-14 years: 33.6% (male 18,223/female 17,639)
15-64 years:63.4% (male 33,566/female 34,215)
65 years and over:3% (male 1,375/female 1,818) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 22.7 years
male:22.2 years
female:23.3 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.313% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215

Birth rate

22.22 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Death rate

4.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203

Net migration rate

-20.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219

Urbanization

urban population: 23% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

PALIKIR (capital) 7,000 (2009)

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 (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 24.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 82 male:26.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female:21.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.52 years
country comparison to the world: 134 male:69.58 years
female:73.55 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.74 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Health expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 163

Physicians density

0.564 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 121

Hospital bed density

3.22 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 94% of population
rural: 92% of population
total: 92% of population
unimproved:
urban: 6% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 8% of population (2000)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 59% of population
rural: 16% of population
total: 26% of population
unimproved:
urban: 41% of population
rural: 84% of population
total: 74% of population (2000)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Government

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

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

Capital

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

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

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 the World 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 2011 (next to be held in May 2015)

note – a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results:Emanuel MORI reelected president by Congress unopposed

Alik L. ALIK reelected vice president

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 8 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2013)
election results:percent of vote – NA%

seats – independents 14

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

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)

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

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 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”

Economy

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$238.1 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213 $277 million (2002 est.)
note:data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP (official exchange rate)

$238.1 million (2008)

GDP – real growth rate

NA%
0.3% (2005 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$2,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186 $2,300 (2005 est.)
note:data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

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

Labor force

16,360 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 210

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

22% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Population below poverty line

26.7% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Budget

revenues: $166 million (FY07 est.)
expenditures:$152.7 million (FY07 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

69.7% of GDP (FY07 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

5.6% of GDP (FY07 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 70

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.13% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45 15.38% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$29.02 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 187 $21.21 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money

$114 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187 $98 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$65.68 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 185 $43.75 million (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

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

pigs, chickens

fish

Industries

tourism, construction

fish processing, specialized aquaculture

craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

192 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity – consumption

178.6 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 184

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2002)

Current account balance

-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Exports

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

Exports – commodities

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

Imports

$132.7 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 208

Imports – commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Debt – external

$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Transportation

Airports

6 (2010)
country comparison to the world:171

Airports – with paved runways

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

Roadways

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

Merchant marine

total: 3
country comparison to the world: 137 by type:cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Colonia (Tomil Harbor), Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 26,712 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 22,008
females age 16-49:23,501 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,276
female:1,253 (2010 est.)

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation: the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a source country for women subjected to sex trafficking

FSM women have been recruited to the United States and its territories with promises of well-paying jobs, and forced into prostitution upon arrival

little data on the scope of human trafficking in FSM is available, as the government has not conducted any inquiries, investigations, studies, or surveys on human trafficking
tier rating:Tier 3 – the FSM Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so

the government did not investigate or prosecute any trafficking cases, made no efforts to identify or assist victims of trafficking, and failed to make efforts to prevent trafficking or increase the general public’s awareness of trafficking (2011)

Illicit drugs

major consumer of cannabis