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|
Introduction |
Micronesia,
Federated States of |
|
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, which was amended and renewed in 2004.
Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and
overdependence on US aid. |
|
Geography |
Micronesia,
Federated States of |
|
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
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|
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) |
|
Area -
comparative: |
four times the size of
Washington, DC (land area only) |
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Land
boundaries: |
0 km |
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Coastline: |
6,112 km |
|
Maritime
claims: |
territorial sea:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate: |
tropical; heavy year-round
rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of
the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage |
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Terrain: |
islands vary geologically
from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings
on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk |
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Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m |
|
Natural
resources: |
forests, marine products,
deep-seabed minerals, phosphate |
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Land use: |
arable land:
5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2001) |
|
Irrigated
land: |
NA |
|
Natural
hazards: |
typhoons (June to December)
|
|
Environment -
current issues: |
overfishing, climate
change, pollution |
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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 |
|
People |
Micronesia,
Federated States of |
|
Population: |
108,105 (July 2005 est.)
|
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years:
37.1% (male 20,439/female 19,674)
15-64 years: 59.8% (male 32,382/female 32,313)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,461/female 1,836) (2005 est.)
|
|
Population
growth rate: |
-0.08% (2005 est.)
|
|
Birth rate: |
25.11 births/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate: |
4.87 deaths/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration
rate: |
-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
NA |
|
Infant
mortality rate: |
total:
30.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
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Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
69.75 years
male: 67.96 years
female: 71.62 years (2005 est.) |
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Total
fertility rate: |
3.25 children born/woman
(2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS -
adult prevalence rate: |
NA |
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HIV/AIDS -
people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
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HIV/AIDS -
deaths: |
NA |
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Nationality: |
noun:
Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
|
|
Ethnic groups: |
nine ethnic Micronesian and
Polynesian groups |
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Religions: |
Roman Catholic 50%,
Protestant 47% |
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Languages: |
English (official and
common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian,
Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi |
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Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.) |
|
Government |
Micronesia, Federated States of |
|
Country name: |
conventional long form:
Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands)
abbreviation: FSM |
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Government
type: |
constitutional government
in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered
into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May
2004 |
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Capital: |
Palikir |
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Administrative
divisions: |
4 states; Chuuk (Truk),
Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap |
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Independence: |
3 November 1986 (from the
US-administered UN Trusteeship) |
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National
holiday: |
Constitution Day, 10 May
(1979) |
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Constitution: |
10 May 1979 |
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Legal system: |
based on adapted Trust
Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary
laws |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
|
|
Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley
KILLION (11 May 2003); 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 (11 May 2003); 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 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% |
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Legislative
branch: |
unicameral Congress (14
seats; 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; members elected by popular vote)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March
2003 (next to be held March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last
held 8 March 2005 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
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|
Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court |
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Political
parties and leaders: |
no formal parties
|
|
International
organization participation: |
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO |
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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) |
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Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States
of Micronesia 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186 |
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Flag
description: |
light blue with four white
five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
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Economy |
Micronesia, Federated States of |
|
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 remote location, a lack of adequate
facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. The Amended
Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and
establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual
contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity
after 2023. 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. |
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GDP
(purchasing power parity): |
$277 million
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100
million annually (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real
growth rate: |
1% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per
capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$2,000 (2002 est.) |
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GDP -
composition by sector: |
agriculture:
50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.) |
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Labor force: |
NA |
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Labor force -
by occupation: |
two-thirds are government
employees |
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Unemployment
rate: |
16% (1999 est.)
|
|
Population
below poverty line: |
26.7% |
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Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate
(consumer prices): |
1% (2002 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues:
$161 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(1998 est.) |
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Agriculture -
products: |
black pepper, tropical
fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet
potatoes; pigs, chickens |
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Industries: |
tourism, construction, fish
processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and
pearls |
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Industrial
production growth rate: |
NA |
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Electricity -
production: |
192 million kWh (2002)
|
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Electricity -
production by source: |
NA |
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Electricity -
consumption: |
178.6 million kWh (2002)
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Electricity -
exports: |
0 kWh (2002) |
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Electricity -
imports: |
0 kWh (2002) |
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Exports: |
$22 million (f.o.b.)
(FY99/00 est.) |
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Exports -
commodities: |
fish, garments, bananas,
black pepper |
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Exports -
partners: |
Japan, US, Guam (2000)
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Imports: |
$149 million f.o.b.
(FY99/00 est.) |
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Imports -
commodities: |
food, manufactured goods,
machinery and equipment, beverages |
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Imports -
partners: |
US, Australia, Japan (2000)
|
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Debt -
external: |
$53.1 million (FY02/03
est.) |
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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; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced
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Currency
(code): |
US dollar (USD)
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Currency code: |
USD |
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Exchange
rates: |
the US dollar is used
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Fiscal year: |
1 October - 30 September
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Communications |
Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Telephones -
main lines in use: |
10,100 (2001) |
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Telephones -
mobile cellular: |
1,800 (2002) |
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Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
adequate system
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and
some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae,
Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002) |
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Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0
(2004) |
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Radios: |
9,400 (1996) |
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Television
broadcast stations: |
3; note - cable TV also
available (2004) |
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Televisions: |
2,800 (1999) |
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Internet
country code: |
.fm |
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Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
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Internet
users: |
6,000 (2002) |
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Transportation |
Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Highways: |
total:
240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.) |
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Ports and
harbors: |
Tomil Harbor |
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Merchant
marine: |
total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,423 GRT/1,551 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1
foreign-owned: 2 (United States 2) (2005) |
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Airports: |
6 (2004 est.) |
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Airports -
with paved runways: |
total:
6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Military |
Micronesia, Federated States of |
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Military
branches: |
no ministry of defense and
no standing armed forces; the paramilitary Maritime Wing, a small maritime
law enforcement unit, is responsible to the Division of Maritime
Surveillance within the Office of the Attorney General (2003) |
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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
|
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Transnational Issues |
Micronesia,
Federated States of |
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Disputes -
international: |
none |
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