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
Micronesia, Federated States of
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
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)
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
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
of
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 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force 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)
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 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 eight executive departments 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 11 May
2007 (next to be held 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
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 6
March 2007 (next to be held in March 2009) election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU 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 Miriam K. HUGHES 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
Economy
Micronesia, Federated States of
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. 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):
$277 million; note -
supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002
est.)
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 34.4% services: 64.7% note:
two-thirds are government employees (FY05 est.)
Unemployment rate:
22% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26.7% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2005)
Budget:
revenues: $127.3 million
($69 million less grants) expenditures: $144.2 million (FY05
est.)
Agriculture - products:
black pepper, tropical fruits
and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), 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)
Electricity - production by source:
NA
Electricity - consumption:
178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Current account balance:
-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
Exports:
$14 million (f.o.b.) (2004
est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, garments, bananas, black
pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut
Exports - partners:
Japan, US, Guam (2006)
Imports:
$132.7 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods,
machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners:
US, Japan, Hong Kong (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$106.4 million (2005)
Debt - external:
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications
Micronesia, Federated States of
of
Telephones - main lines in use:
12,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14,100 (2005)
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 (cable TV also available)
(2004)
Televisions:
2,800 (1999)
Internet country code:
.fm
Internet hosts:
632 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
16,000 (2006)
Transportation
Micronesia, Federated States of
of
Airports:
6 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6 1,524 to
2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1000 GRT
or over) 3,560 GRT/2,060 DWT by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo
2 (2007)
