ARCHIVE // FM // 2002
Micronesia, Federated States of
2002 Edition — freely_associated
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Communications
Internet users
(Internet Service Providers (ISPs))
[time series]
1 (2000)
Internet country code
[time series]
.fm
Internet users
[time series]
2,000 (2000)
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
[time series]
9,400 (1996)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
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 - fixed lines
(Telephones - main lines in use)
[time series]
11,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
newly installed in Pohnpei and Yap
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
2 (1997)
Televisions
[time series]
2,800 (1999)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates
(Currency code)
[time series]
USD
Debt - external
[time series]
$66.5 million
Economic aid
(Economic aid - recipient)
[time series]
under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $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 remote location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. In 1996, the country experienced a 20% reduction in 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. Since these revenues accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues, reduced Compact funding resulted in a severe depression. Economic activity recovered in 1999-2001. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due to likely further reductions in external grants made under the US Compact funding. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production
[time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source
[time series]
fossil fuel: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% hydro: NA%
Exchange rates
[time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports
[time series]
$22 million (f.o.b.)
Exports - commodities
[time series]
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners
[time series]
Japan, US, Guam
Fiscal year
[time series]
1 October - 30 September
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $269 million note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2001 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 50% industry: 4% services: 46% (2000 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2001 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
2% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
[time series]
$149 million f.o.b.
Imports - commodities
[time series]
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners
[time series]
US, Australia, Japan
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)
[time series]
2.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
NA
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
two-thirds are government employees
Population below poverty line
[time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate
[time series]
16% (1999 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 702 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) land: 702 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
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: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
overfishing, climate change, pollution
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
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
[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: 5.71% permanent crops: 45.71% other: 48.58% (1998 est.)
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; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Capital
[time series]
Palikir
Constitution
[time series]
10 May 1979
Country name
[time series]
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
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry 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
[time series]
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
[time series]
chief of state: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); 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 NA May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%
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; economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated
Independence
[time series]
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
International organization participation
[time series]
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
[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 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 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003); elections for two-year term seats last held 6 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
National holiday
[time series]
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
no formal parties
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
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
Military - note
[time series]
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
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Birth rate
[time series]
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
[time series]
NA deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic groups
[time series]
nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
[time series]
English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
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; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Net migration rate
[time series]
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
[time series]
135,869 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
NA% (2002 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Sex ratio
[time series]
NA
Total fertility rate
[time series]
NA children born/woman
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
none
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
7 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1996)
Merchant marine
[time series]
none note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: United States 1 (2002 est.)
Ports
(Ports and harbors)
[time series]
Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Railways
[time series]
0 km (2003)
Waterways
[time series]
none