Micronesia, Federated States of

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1

Radios

17,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

960

Television broadcast stations

6

Televisions

1,290 (1993 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $45 million expenditures: $31 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$129 million

Economic aid

recipient: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001

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.

Electricity - capacity

38,500 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

total value: $29.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities : fish, garments, bananas, black pepper partners: Japan, US, Guam

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $205 million (1994 est.) note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1994 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.4% (1994 est.)

Imports

total value: $141.1 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages partners: US, Japan, Australia

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate - consumer price index

4% (1994 est.)

Labor force

NA by occupation: two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate

27% (1989)

Area

total: 702 sq km land : 702 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae

Area - comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage

Coastline

6,112 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point : Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Totolom 791 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geography - note

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land : NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Location

Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Terrain

islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk

Administrative divisions

4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Yap

Constitution

10 May 1979

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cheryl MARTIN embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address : P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU chancery : 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

Executive branch

chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. SALCAM (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. SALCAM (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 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. SALCAM elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA

FAX

[1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

FAX

[691] 320-2186

Flag description

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

Government type

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

Independence

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

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

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: last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 14

National capital

Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei) note: a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the Palikir valley

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years : 35% (est.) 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

27.75 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

6.14 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Infant mortality rate

35.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.18 years male: 66.21 years female: 70.18 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male : 91% female: 88% (1980 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

127,616 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

3.33% (1997 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years : NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.93 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

none MIDWAY ISLANDS (territory of the US)

Airports

5 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m : 4 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Highways

total: 235 km paved: 41 km unpaved: 194 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Railways

0 km