Micronesia, Federated States of

Introduction

Background

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 (FSM). (The westernmost island group became Palau.) Independence came in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which was amended in 2004. The COFA has been a force for stability and democracy in the FSM since it came into force in 1986. Present concerns include economic uncertainty after 2023 when direct US economic assistance is scheduled to end, large-scale unemployment, overfishing, overdependence on US foreign aid, and state perceptions of inequitable allocation of US aid.As a signatory to the COFA with the US, eligible Micronesians can live, work, and study in any part of the US and its territories without a visa - this privilege reduces stresses on the island economy and the environment. Micronesians serve in the US armed forces and military recruiting from the Federated States of Micronesia, per capita, is higher than many US states.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

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: 192

Area - comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

6,112 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Elevation

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

Natural resources

timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Land use

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.)

Irrigated land

0 sq kmNA (2012)

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People and Society

Population

103,643 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Nationality

noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Ethnic groups

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.)

Languages

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

Religions

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.)

Age structure

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:

Dependency ratios

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.)

Median age

total: 25.5 years (2018 est.)
male: 24.7 years
female: 26.2 years
country comparison to the world: 156

Population growth rate

-0.55% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223

Birth rate

19.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Death rate

4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Net migration rate

-20.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 22.8% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 1.05% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

88 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Infant mortality rate

total: 19.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 81

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.4 years (2018 est.)
male: 71.3 years
female: 75.6 years
country comparison to the world: 137

Total fertility rate

2.37 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 94.8% of population
rural: 87.4% of population
total: 89% of population
unimproved: urban: 5.2% of population
rural: 12.6% of population
total: 11% of population (2015 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

12.6% (2016)

Physicians density

0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Hospital bed density

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Sanitation facility access

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

Major infectious diseases

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

45.8% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 10

Education expenditures

12.5% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 2

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 18.9%
male: 10.4%
female: 29.9% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 71

Government

Country name

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

Government type

federal republic in free association with the US

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

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

National holiday

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Constitution

history: drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979
amendments: proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote in at least three fourths of the states; amended 1990; 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 (2018)

Legal system

mixed legal system of common and customary law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); 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 David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); 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 2019 (next to be held in 2023)
election results: David W. PANUELO elected president by Congress; Yosiwo P. GEORGE reelected vice president

Legislative branch

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 5 March 2019 (next to be held in March 2021)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14; composition - men 14, women 0

Judicial branch

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 FSM president 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

Political parties and leaders

no formal parties

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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, Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Annan RILEY III (since 16 August 2016)
telephone: [691] 320-2187
embassy: 1986 U.S. Embassy Place, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941; U.S. Embassy in Micronesia, 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120
FAX: [691] 320-2186

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

four, five-pointed, white stars on a light blue field; national colors: light blue, white

National anthem

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"

Economy

Economy - overview

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$348 million (2017 est.)
$341.1 million (2016 est.)
$331.4 million (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 215

GDP (official exchange rate)

$328 million (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2017 est.)
2.9% (2016 est.)
3.9% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,400 (2017 est.)
$3,300 (2016 est.)
$3,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 189

GDP - composition, by end use

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

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

Agriculture - products

taro, yams, coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, black pepper, fish, pigs, chickens

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Labor force

37,920 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

16.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Population below poverty line

26.7% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index

61.1 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Budget

revenues: 213.8 million (FY12/13 est.)
expenditures: 192.1 million (FY12/13 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

65.2% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

6.6% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

Public debt

24.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
25.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.5% (2017 est.)
0.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.73% (31 December 2017 est.)
15.7% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34

Stock of narrow money

$NA (31 December 2016)
$44.07 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$196 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Stock of broad money

$178.3 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$225.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Stock of domestic credit

$56.98 million (31 December 2017 est.)
-$103 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Market value of publicly traded shares

NA

Current account balance

$12 million (2017 est.)
$11 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Exports

$88.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Exports - commodities

fish, sakau (kava), betel nuts, black pepper

Imports

$167.8 million (2015 est.)
$258.5 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212

Imports - commodities

food, beverages, clothing, computers, household electronics, appliances, manufactured goods, automobiles, machinery and equipment, furniture, tools

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$203.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$135.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Debt - external

$93.6 million (2013 est.)
$93.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$15.8 million (2013 est.)
$34.4 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 75.4% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 91.9% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 70.7% (2016)

Electricity - production

192 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity - consumption

178.6 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity - installed generating capacity

18,000 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - from other renewable sources

3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014)
country comparison to the world: 174

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014)
country comparison to the world: 165

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014)
country comparison to the world: 167

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014)
country comparison to the world: 169

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014)
country comparison to the world: 178

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day
country comparison to the world: 182

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014)
country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m
country comparison to the world: 170

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

105 Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 6,947
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 23,114
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Telephone system

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; landing points for the Chuukk-Pohnpei Cable and HANTRU-1 submarine cable system linking the Federated States of Micronesia and the US; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

Broadcast media

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

.fm

Internet users

total: 33,000
percent of population: 31.5% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 3,776
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Military and Security

Military and security forces

no military forces; Federated States of Micronesia National Police (2019)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

V6 (2016)

Airports

6 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 173

Airports - with paved runways

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

Roadways

note - paved and unpaved circumferential roads, most interior roads are unpaved

Merchant marine

total: 63
by type: general cargo 40, oil tanker 6, other 17 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 105

Ports and terminals

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major consumer of cannabis

Flag of Micronesia, Federated States of