Federated States Of Micronesia

signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography""note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People

Population: 131,500 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA

15-64 years: NA

65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 27.32 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.01 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 33.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.48 years

male: 66.52 years

female: 70.48 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.87 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Micronesian(s)

adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

Ethnic groups: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%

Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 89%

male: 91%

female: 88% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name:

conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia

conventional short form: none

former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

abbreviation: FSM

Data code: FM

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

Capital: Palikir

Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap

Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979)

Constitution: 10 May 1979

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note""the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term

head of government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note""the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term

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 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note""because of the vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to become acting president, a new election to fill the position of vice president for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 1999)

election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of Congress vote""NA; Leo A. FALCAM elected vice president; percent of Congress vote""NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four""one elected from each of 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 7 March 1995 (next to be held 2 March 1999); elections for two-year term seats last held 3 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999)

election results: percent of vote""NA; seats""independents 14

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ann WRIGHT

embassy: address NA, Kolonia

mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941

telephone: [691] 320-2187

FAX: [691] 320-2186

Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economy

Economy""overview: 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 remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity""$220 million (1996 est.)

note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP""real growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)

GDP""per capita: purchasing power parity""$1,760 (1996 est.)

GDP""composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1996 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force""by occupation: two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)

Budget:

revenues: $58 million

expenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7 million (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity""production: NA kWh

Electricity""production by source:

fossil fuel: NA%

hydro: NA%

nuclear: NA%

other: NA%

Electricity""consumption: NA kWh

Electricity""exports: NA kWh

Electricity""imports: NA kWh

Agriculture""products: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Exports: $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)

Exports""commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports""partners: Japan, US, Guam

Imports: $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

Imports""commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports""partners: US, Japan, Australia

Debt""external: $129 million

Economic aid""recipient: $77.4 million (1995); note""under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October""30 September

Communications

Telephones: 960

Telephone system:

domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)

international: satellite earth stations""4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1

Radios: 17,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)

Televisions: 1,290 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:

total: 240 km

paved: 42 km

unpaved: 198 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports""with paved runways:

total: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports""with unpaved runways:

total: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military""note: 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

Transnational Issues

Disputes""international: none

*Information obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency's World Fact Book.