Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.fm
Internet users [time series]
6,000 (2002)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
10,100 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
1,800 (2002)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
3; note - cable TV also available (2004)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, 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]
$53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)
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, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. In November 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in future 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. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector. 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
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners [time series]
Japan, US, Guam (2000)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 October - 30 September
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $277 million note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 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 (2002 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
1% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Imports [time series]
$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners [time series]
US, Australia, Japan (2000)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA
Industries [time series]
tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1% (2002 est.)
Labor force [time series]
NA (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
two-thirds are government employees
Population below poverty line [time series]
26.7%
Unemployment rate [time series]
16% (1999 est.)
Geography
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 [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% (2001)
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]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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 Chuuk
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 former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) abbreviation: FSM
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, 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 chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); 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 11 May 2003 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL 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 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Independence [time series]
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, 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; 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; members elected by popular vote) elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2005) 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, which was amended and renewed in 2003. 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: 37.7% (male 20,830; female 19,993) 15-64 years: 59.2% (male 32,055; female 31,927) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,505; female 1,845) (2004 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
25.8 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate [time series]
4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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]
total: 31.28 deaths/1,000 live births male: 34.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 69.44 years male: 67.68 years female: 71.29 years (2004 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; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Net migration rate [time series]
-20.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Population [time series]
108,155 (July 2004 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.02% (2004 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Sex ratio [time series]
1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
3.37 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
6 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)
Merchant marine [time series]
none (2004 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen