listed in Overview: CIA World Factbook for the year 2003
The following is reproduced from the CIA World Factbook (where additional information is available). It is compiled and published annually by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States government.
The text is unchanged, except that the "Map Reference" section is omitted. Otherwise, only the layout and order was adapted for this website.
This entry in the original Factbook for the year 2003 was last updated by the CIA on 18 December, 2003.
Background: In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the US. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
Economic 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 remote location, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. In November 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in future revenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement with the US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.
| 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 |
| Area: | Total: 702 sq km note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie) water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) land: 702 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | Four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only) |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 6,112 km |
| Maritime claims: | Exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
| 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 extremes: | Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m |
| Natural resources: | Forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals |
| Land use: | Arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 45.71% other: 48.58% (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated land: | NA sq km |
| Natural hazards: | Typhoons (June to December) |
| Environment - current issues: | Overfishing, climate change, pollution |
| 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: | Four major island groups totaling 607 islands |
| Population: | 108,143 (July 2003 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 38.4% (male 21,163; female 20,335) 15-64 years: 58.5% (male 31,746; female 31,477) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 1,558; female 1,864) (2003 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.04% (2003 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 26.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -20.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | Total: 32.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 35.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 28.97 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | Total population: 69.13 years male: 67.39 years female: 70.95 years (2003 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.5 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA% |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | Noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese |
| Ethnic groups: | Nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47% |
| Languages: | English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi |
| Literacy: | Definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 91% female: 88% (1980 est.) |
| Country name: | Conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none abbreviation: FSM former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) |
| Government type: | Constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986; economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated |
| Capital: | Palikir |
| 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: | 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 Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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 2003 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA% |
| Legislative branch: | Unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four - one elected from each 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 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | No formal parties |
| International organization participation: | ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IMF, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | Chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam) FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | Chief of mission: Ambassador Larry M. DINGER embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186 |
| Flag: |
|
| Flag description: | Light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern |
| GDP: | Purchasing power parity - $277 million note: $277 million $277 million GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 1% (2002 est.) |
| GDP - per capita: | Purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | Agriculture: 50% industry: 4% services: 46% (2000 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 26.7% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | Lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 1% (2002 est.) |
| Labor force: | NA |
| Labor force - by occupation: | Two-thirds are government employees |
| Unemployment rate: | 16% (1999 est.) |
| Budget: | Revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants) expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) |
| Industries: | Tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity - production: | NA kWh |
| Electricity - production by source: | Fossil fuel: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% hydro: 0% |
| Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh |
| Agriculture - products: | Black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens |
| Exports: | $22 million (f.o.b.) (FY 99/00 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | Fish, garments, bananas, black pepper |
| Exports - partners: | Japan, US, Guam (2000) |
| Imports: | $149 million f.o.b. (FY 99/00 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | Food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages |
| Imports - partners: | US, Australia, Japan (2000) |
| Debt - external: | $53.1 million (FY 02/03 est.) |
| Economic aid - recipient: | Under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001 |
| Currency: | US dollar (USD) |
| Currency code: | USD |
| Exchange rates: | The US dollar is used 1 |
| Fiscal year: | 1 October - 30 September |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 11,000 (2001) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | Newly installed in Pohnpei and Yap |
| Telephone system: | General assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 2 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .fm |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 2,000 (2000) |
| Railways: | 0 km |
| Highways: | Total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.) |
| Waterways: | None |
| Ports and harbors: | Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen |
| Merchant marine: | None note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: US 1 (2002 est.) |
| Airports: | 7 (2002) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | Total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | Total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
| 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 |
| Disputes - international: | None |
Published by:
automatic_factbook_import
We are not responsible for this in any way - stephansmap.org.
This entry can only be changed by its creator, automatic_factbook_import.
You can always add a new entry.
stephansmap.org home Contact Us Terms of Service Privacy
Disclaimer: The entry above is the responsibility of whoever added it to stephansmap.org. We are not responsible for it in any way.
stephans