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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 3,776 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2017 est.)

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 (July 2016 est.) | percent of population: 31.5% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: adequate system (2016) | 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 (2016) | 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: 6,947 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 23,114 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2017 est.)

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 (FY12/13 est.) | expenditures: 192.1 million (FY12/13 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

6.6% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

15.73% (31 December 2017 est.) | 15.7% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$12 million (2017 est.) | $11 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$93.6 million (2013 est.) | $93.5 million (2012 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

61.1 (2013 est.)

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.)

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]

$328 million (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

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

$348 million (2017 est.) | $341.1 million (2016 est.) | $331.4 million (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 83.5% (2013 est.) | government consumption: 48.4% (2016 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 29.5% (2016 est.) | investment in inventories: 1.9% (2016 est.) | exports of goods and services: 27.5% (2016 est.) | imports of goods and services: -77% (2016 est.)

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

agriculture: 26.3% (2013 est.) | industry: 18.9% (2013 est.) | services: 54.8% (2013 est.)

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

$3,400 (2017 est.) | $3,300 (2016 est.) | $3,200 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

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

2% (2017 est.) | 2.9% (2016 est.) | 3.9% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$167.8 million (2015 est.) | $258.5 million (2013 est.)

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]

Industries [time series]

tourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.5% (2017 est.) | 0.5% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

37,920 (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 0.9% | industry: 5.2% | services: 93.9% (2013 est.) | note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

Population below poverty line [time series]

26.7% (2000 est.)

Public debt [time series]

24.5% of GDP (2017 est.) | 25.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$203.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $135.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$178.3 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $225.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$15.8 million (2013 est.) | $34.4 million (2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$56.98 million (31 December 2017 est.) | -$103 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$NA (31 December 2016) | $44.07 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $196 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

65.2% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

16.2% (2010 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

105 Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2014)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

178.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

18,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

192 million kWh (2002)

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 42,934 (2012) | electrification - total population: 59% (2012) | electrification - urban areas: 100% (2012) | electrification - rural areas: 45% (2012)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2014)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014)

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 [time series]

0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean | 782 highest point: Nanlaud on Pohnpei

Environment - current issues [time series]

overfishing; climate change; water pollution, toxic pollution from mining; solid waste disposal

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% (2011 est.) | arable land: 2.3% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 19.7% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 3.5% (2011 est.) | forest: 74.5% (2011 est.) | 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 [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) | note: Micronesia has two time zones

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]

history: drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979 (2018) | amendments: proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority of votes in at least three-fourths of the states; note – at least every 10 years as part of a general or special election, voters are asked whether to hold a constitution convention; a majority of affirmative votes is required to proceed; amended 1990 (2018)

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: New Philippines; Caroline Islands; 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 courts: 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 at- large members 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

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 (COFA) 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. As a signatory to the COFA with the US, Micronesians enjoy the right to migrate to and settle in any part of the US and its territories - this privilege reduces stresses on the island economy and the environment.

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: 29.81% (male 15,707 /female 15,186) | 15-24 years: 19.38% (male 10,068 /female 10,020) | 25-54 years: 39.57% (male 19,799 /female 21,208) | 55-64 years: 7.09% (male 3,574 /female 3,777) | 65 years and over: 4.15% (male 1,943 /female 2,361) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Australia - Oceania :: Micronesia, Federated States of Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Micronesia, Federated States of. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

19.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 62.4 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 55.3 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 7.1 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 14.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

12.5% of GDP (2015)

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]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

13.7% of GDP (2014)

Hospital bed density [time series]

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 19.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | female: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.4 years (2018 est.) | male: 71.3 years (2018 est.) | female: 75.6 years (2018 est.)

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

Major urban areas - population [time series]

7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

100 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 25.5 years | male: 24.7 years | female: 26.2 years (2018 est.)

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.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

45.8% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population [time series]

103,643 (July 2018 est.)

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]

-0.55% (2018 est.)

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]

improved: urban: 85.1% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 49% of population (2015 est.) | total: 57.1% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 14.9% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 51% of population (2015 est.) | total: 42.9% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.37 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 22.7% of total population (2018) | rate of urbanization: 1.05% 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)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 6 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

V6 (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 88 (2017) | by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 63, oil tanker 6, other 17 (2017)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Colonia (Tamil Harbor), Molsron Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor

Roadways [time series]

total: 388 km (2015) | paved: 184 km (2015) | unpaved: 204 km (2015)