ARCHIVE // FM // 2017

Micronesia, Federated States of

2017 Edition — freely_associated

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
no TV broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with TV transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half-dozen radio stations (2009)
Internet country code [time series]
.fm
Internet users [time series]
total: 33,000 | percent of population: 31.5% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196
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; mobile-cellular service available on the major islands | international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); in 2015, Fiber Optic was launched and is the primary communication path to the outside world (2016)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 6,808 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 31,400 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
taro, yams, coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, black pepper, fish, pigs, chickens
Budget [time series]
revenues: $213.8 million | expenditures: $192.1 million (FY12/13 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
6.7% of GDP (FY12/13 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
15.7% (31 December 2016 est.) | 15.93% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36
Current account balance [time series]
$10 million (2016 est.) | $26.98 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55
Debt - external [time series]
$93.6 million (2013 est.) | $93.5 million (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
61.1 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Economic activity consists largely of subsistence farming and fishing, and government, which employs two-thirds of the adult working population and receives funding largely - 58% in 2013 – from Compact of Free Association assistance provided by the US. The islands have few commercially valuable mineral deposits. The potential for tourism is limited by isolation, lack of adequate facilities, and limited internal air and water transportation. | Under the terms of the original Compact, the US provided $1.3 billion in grants and aid from 1986 to 2001. The US and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) negotiated a second (amended) Compact agreement in 2002-03 that took effect in 2004. The amended Compact runs for a 20-year period to 2023; during which the US will provide roughly $2.1 billion to the FSM. The amended Compact also develops a trust fund for the FSM that will provide a comparable income stream beyond 2024 when Compact grants end. | The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile because of dependence on US assistance and lackluster performance of its small and stagnant private sector.
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$88.3 million (2013 est.) | $39.88 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish, sakau (kava), betel nuts, black pepper
Fiscal year [time series]
1 October - 30 September
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$323 million (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$334 million (2016 est.) | $320 million (2015 est.) | $305 million (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 215
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 83.5% | government consumption: 41.8% | investment in fixed assets: 24.3% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 26.6% | imports of goods and services: -76.2% (2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 26.3% | industry: 18.9% | services: 54.8% (2013 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$3,300 (2016 est.) | $3,200 (2015 est.) | $3,100 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 190
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3% (2016 est.) | 3.7% (2015 est.) | -2.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$258.5 million (2013 est.) | $263.4 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203
Imports - commodities [time series]
food, beverages, clothing, computers, household electronics, appliances, manufactured goods, automobiles, machinery and equipment, furniture, tools
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0.5% (2016 est.) | -0.2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100
Labor force [time series]
37,920 (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 0.9% | industry: 5.2% | services: 93.9% | note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees (2013 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
26.7% (2000 est.)
Public debt [time series]
24.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | 25.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$157 million (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162
Stock of broad money [time series]
$178.3 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$15.8 million (2013 est.) | $34.4 million (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$56.98 million (2013 est.) | $-103 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$196 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
66.4% of GDP (FY12/13 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5
Unemployment rate [time series]
16.2% (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
105 Mt (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 214
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014) | country comparison to the world: 124
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014) | country comparison to the world: 128
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014) | country comparison to the world: 137
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2014) | country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - consumption [time series]
178.6 million kWh (2002) | country comparison to the world: 193
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
18,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - production [time series]
192 million kWh (2002) | country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 42,934 | electrification - total population: 59% | electrification - urban areas: 100% | electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2014) | country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m | country comparison to the world: 140
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day | country comparison to the world: 156
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014) | country comparison to the world: 144
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) | country comparison to the world: 191
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 [time series]
mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Nanlaud on Pohnpei 782 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]
composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km NA (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 25.5% | arable land 2.3%; permanent crops 19.7%; permanent pasture 3.5% | forest: 74.5% | other: 0% (2011 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]
territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
typhoons (June to December)
Natural resources [time series]
timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
the majority of the populaton lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas
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]
name: Palikir | geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E | time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Constitution [time series]
drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979; amended 1990; note - in 2001, all 26 amendments proposed by the FSM constitutional convention were defeated in a national referendum (2016)
Country name [time series]
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 | etymology: the term "Micronesia" is a 19th-century construct of two Greek words, "micro" (small) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Annan RILEY III (since 16 August 2016) | embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia | mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941; U.S. Embassy in Micronesia, 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120 | telephone: [691] 320-2187 | FAX: [691] 320-2186
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Akillino Harris SUSAIA (since 24 April 2017) | chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 | telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 | FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 | consulate(s) general: Honolulu (HI), Tamuning (Guam)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 11 May 2015); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 11 May 2015); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015) | cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments | elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2015 (next to be held in 2019) | election results: Peter M. CHRISTIAN elected president by Congress; Yosiwo P. GEORGE elected vice president
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
Government type [time series]
federal republic in free association with the US
Independence [time series]
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions) | judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president of the Federated States of Micronesia with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life | subordinate courts: the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of common and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral Congress (14 seats; 10 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms and 4 directly elected from each of the 4 states by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 7 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2019) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Patriots of Micronesia" | lyrics/music: unknown | note: adopted 1991; also known as "Across All Micronesia"; the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben", which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes Brahms' "Festival Overture" and Gustav Mahler's "Third Symphony"
National holiday [time series]
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
National symbol(s) [time series]
four, five-pointed, white stars on a light blue field; national colors: light blue, white
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
no formal parties
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean; they became part of a UN Trust Territory under US administration following World War II. The eastern four island groups adopted a constitution in 1979 and chose to become the Federated States of Micronesia. (The westernmost island group became Palau.) Independence came in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, overdependence on US foreign aid, and state perception of inequitable allocation of US aid.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces (2012)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 16,050/female 15,520) | 15-24 years: 19.59% (male 10,236/female 10,173) | 25-54 years: 39.19% (male 19,737/female 21,094) | 55-64 years: 6.99% (male 3,560/female 3,727) | 65 years and over: 3.93% (male 1,849/female 2,250) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
20 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Death rate [time series]
4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 62.4 | youth dependency ratio: 55.3 | elderly dependency ratio: 7.1 | potential support ratio: 14.1 (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 94.8% of population | rural: 87.4% of population | total: 89% of population | urban: 5.2% of population | rural: 12.6% of population | total: 11% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Chuukese/Mortlockese 49.3%, Pohnpeian 29.8%, Kosraean 6.3%, Yapese 5.7%, Yap outer islanders 5.1%, Polynesian 1.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
13.7% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 5
Hospital bed density [time series]
3.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 19.8 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 21.9 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Languages [time series]
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 73.1 years | male: 71.1 years | female: 75.3 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139
Major infectious diseases [time series]
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
PALIKIR (capital) 7,000 (2014)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
100 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72
Median age [time series]
24total: 25.1 years | male: 24.4 years | female: 25.8 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Nationality [time series]
noun: Micronesian(s) | adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Net migration rate [time series]
-20.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 221
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
45.8% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 10
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Population [time series]
104,196 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194
Population distribution [time series]
the majority of the populaton lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.52% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 222
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 41.1% (includes Congregational 38.5%, Baptist 1.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.8%, Assembly of God 0.7%), Mormon 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 85.1% of population | rural: 49% of population | total: 57.1% of population | urban: 14.9% of population | rural: 51% of population | total: 42.9% of population (2015 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.41 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 22.5% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Illicit drugs [time series]
major consumer of cannabis
Transportation
Airports [time series]
6 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 173
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 6 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
V6 (2016)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 3 | by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2010) | country comparison to the world: 140
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Colonia (Tamil Harbor), Molsron Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor
Roadways [time series]
total: 388 km | paved: 184 km | unpaved: 204 km (2015) | country comparison to the world: 201