View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1997 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1

Radios [time series]

17,000 (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

960

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

1,290 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $45 million expenditures: $31 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$129 million

Economic aid [time series]

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

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

38,500 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production [time series]

NA kWh

Exchange rates [time series]

US currency is used

Exports [time series]

total value: $29.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities : fish, garments, bananas, black pepper partners: Japan, US, Guam

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $205 million (1994 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

1.4% (1994 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $141.1 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages partners: US, Japan, Australia

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

4% (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA by occupation: two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate [time series]

27% (1989)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 702 sq km land : 702 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae

Area - comparative [time series]

four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

6,112 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point : Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Totolom 791 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geography - note [time series]

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land : NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources [time series]

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

10 May 1979

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cheryl MARTIN embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address : P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU chancery : 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. SALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term head of government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. SALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term 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 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note - because of the vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to become acting president, a new election to fill the position for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 1999) election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Leo A. SALCAM elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[691] 320-2186

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four - one elected from each of state - to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population - to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 14

Capital (National capital) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

no formal parties

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years : 35% (est.) 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate [time series]

27.75 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.14 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Infant mortality rate [time series]

35.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.18 years male: 66.21 years female: 70.18 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

127,616 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.33% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years : NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.93 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none MIDWAY ISLANDS (territory of the US)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

5 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m : 4 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 235 km paved: 41 km unpaved: 194 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

0 km

Micronesia, Federated States of