Micronesia, Federated States of

@Micronesia, Federated States of: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 note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae

Area-comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC

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 Truk

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

Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

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

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)

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: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography-note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands

@Micronesia, Federated States of:People

Population: 129,658 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 3.31% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 27.55 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 34.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.34 years male: 66.38 years female: 70.34 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.9 children born/woman (1998 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.)

@Micronesia, Federated States of: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

National capital: Palikir

Administrative divisions: 4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), 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 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 NA March 1999); elections for two-year term seats last held NA 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, 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: (202) 223-4383 FAX: (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cheryl A. MARTIN embassy: address NA, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 telephone: 320-2187 FAX: 320-2186

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

@Micronesia, Federated States of: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%

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 4% (1996 est.)

Labor force: NA 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-capacity: 38,500 kW (1995)

Electricity-production: NA kWh

Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh

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

Exports: total value: $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper partners: Japan, US, Guam

Imports: total value: $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages partners: US, Japan, Australia

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

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: 6

Televisions: 1,290 (1993 est.)

@Micronesia, Federated States of: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 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

@Micronesia, Federated States of:Military

Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US

@Micronesia, Federated States of:Transnational Issues

Disputes-international: none