ARCHIVE // FM // 2005

Micronesia, Federated States of

2005 Edition — freely_associated

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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 (code)) [time series]
US dollar (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; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced
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. 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 slow growth of the private sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production [time series]
192 million kWh (2002)
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 (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$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
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
Area [time series]
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
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, phosphate
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 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 March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 8 March 2005 (next to be held March 2007) 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 2004. 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
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no ministry of defense and no standing armed forces; the paramilitary Maritime Wing, a small maritime law enforcement unit, is responsible to the Division of Maritime Surveillance within the Office of the Attorney General (2003)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 37.1% (male 20,439/female 19,674) 15-64 years: 59.8% (male 32,382/female 32,313) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,461/female 1,836) (2005 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
25.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate [time series]
4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 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: 30.21 deaths/1,000 live births male: 33.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 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: 69.75 years male: 67.96 years female: 71.62 years (2005 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]
-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Population [time series]
108,105 (July 2005 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.08% (2005 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Sex ratio [time series]
NA
Total fertility rate [time series]
3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
6 (2004 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]
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,423 GRT/1,551 DWT by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 foreign-owned: 2 (United States 2) (2005)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Tomil Harbor