Micronesia, Federated States of




                                 Geography


Location:
     Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters
     of the way between Hawaii and Indonesia
Map references:
     Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
     702 sq km
land area:
     702 sq km
comparative area:
     slightly less than four times the size of Washington, DC
note:
     includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk), Yap, and Kosrae
Land boundaries:
     0 km
Coastline:
     6,112 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
     200 nm
territorial sea:
     12 nm
International disputes:
     none
Climate:
     tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern
     islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasional
     severe damage
Terrain:
     islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral
     atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk
Natural resources:
     forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land:
     NA%
permanent crops:
     NA%
meadows and pastures:
     NA%
forest and woodland:
     NA%
other:
     NA%
Irrigated land:
     NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
     NA
natural hazards:
     subject to typhoons (June to December)




international agreements:
     party to - Climate Change, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified -
     Biodiversity
Note:
     four major island groups totaling 607 islands


                                  People


Population:
     120,347 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
     3.36% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
     28.3 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
     6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
     11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
     37.24 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
     67.63 years
male:
     65.67 years
female:
     69.62 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
     4.01 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
     Micronesian(s)
adjective:
     Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
Ethnic divisions:
     nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions:
     Christian (divided between Roman Catholic and Protestant; other
     churches include Assembly of God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day
     Adventist, Latter-Day Saints, and the Baha'i Faith)
Languages:
     English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese,
     Kosrean
Literacy:
     age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
     90%
male:
     90%
female:
     85%
Labor force:
     NA
by occupation:
     two-thirds are government employees




note:
     45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65


                                Government


Names:
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
Digraph:
     FM
Type:
     constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact
     of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986
Capital:
     Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei)
note:
     a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the Palikir
     valley
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 and head of government:
     President Bailey OLTER (since 21 May 1991); Vice President Jacob NENA
     (since 21 May 1991); election last held ll May 1991 (next to be held
     March 1995); results - President Bailey OLTER elected president;
     Vice-President Jacob NENA
cabinet:
     Cabinet
Legislative branch:
     unicameral
Congress:
     elections last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held March 1993);
     results - percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total)
Judicial branch:
     Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
     no formal parties




Member of:
     AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN,
     UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
     Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU
chancery:
     1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
     (202) 223-4383
FAX:
     (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general:
     Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
     Ambassador Aurelia E. BRAZEAL
embassy:
     address NA, Kolonia
mailing address:
     P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941
telephone:
     691-320-2187
FAX:
     691-320-2186
Flag:
     light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are
     arranged in a diamond pattern


                                  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 l990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly
     developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth.
National product:
     GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $150 million (1989 est.)
note:
     GNP numbers reflect US spending
National product real growth rate:
     NA%
National product per capita:
     $1,500 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
     NA%
Unemployment rate:
     27% (1989)
Budget:
revenues:
     $165 million




expenditures:
     $115 million, including capital expenditures of $20 million (1988
     est.)
Exports:
     $2.3 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
     copra
partners:
     NA
Imports:
     $67.7 million (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
     NA
partners:
     NA
External debt:
     $NA
Industrial production:
     growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
     18,000 kW
production:
     40 million kWh
consumption per capita:
     380 kWh (1990)
Industries:
     tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood,
     and pearls
Agriculture:
     mainly a subsistence economy; black pepper; tropical fruits and
     vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs, chickens
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


Highways:
total:
     226 km
paved:
     39 km (on major islands)
unpaved:
     stone, coral, laterite 187 km
Ports:
     Colonia (Yap), Truk, Okat and Lelu (Kosrae)




Airports:
total:
     6
usable:
     5
with permanent-surface runways:
     4
with runways over 3,659 m:
     0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
     0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
     4
Telecommunications:
     telephone network - 960 telephone lines total at Kolonia and Truk;
     islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government
     purposes); 16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est. 1987);
     broadcast stations - 5 AM, 1 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 4 Pacific Ocean
     INTELSAT earth stations


                              Defense Forces


Note:
     defense is the responsibility of the US