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. (The fifth, westernmost island group became Palau.) Independence came in 1986 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
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 (sq km)
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 (sq km)
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries (km)
0 km
Coastline (km)
6,112 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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 (m)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
Natural resources
timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use (%)
arable land: 2.86%
permanent crops: 24.29%
other: 72.86% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
NA
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
People and Society
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 .7%), Mormon 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Population
105,681 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 31.9% (male 17,120/female 16,561)
15-24 years: 20.2% (male 10,755/female 10,609)
25-54 years: 38% (male 19,483/female 20,686)
55-64 years: 6.5% (male 3,440/female 3,477)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 1,576/female 1,974) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 23.8 years
male: 23.2 years
female: 24.4 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
-0.42% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
20.97 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
4.25 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-20.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 22.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
PALIKIR (capital) 7,000 (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
100 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 21.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 72.35 years
male: 70.34 years
female: 74.45 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
2.55 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures (% of GDP)
13.4% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)
3.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Drinking water source (% of population)
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 (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 85.1% of population
rural: 49% of population
total: 57.2% of population
unimproved: urban: 14.9% of population
rural: 51% of population
total: 42.8% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
40.6% (2008)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
NA
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
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: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts
abbreviation: FSM
Government type
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Capital
name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979; amended 1990 (2012)
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the eight executive departments
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015)
election results: Emanuel MORI re-elected president by Congress unopposed; Alik L. ALIK reelected vice president
Legislative branch
unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - 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: last held on 5 March 2013 (next to be held in March 2015)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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 president of the Federated States of Micronesia 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
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Asterio R. TAKESY (since 13 January 2012)
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 Dorothea-Maria (Doria) ROSEN (since 9 August 2012)
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941; U.S. Embassy in Micronesia, 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120
telephone: [691] 320-2187
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 anthem
name: "Patriots of Micronesia"
lyrics/music: unknown
note: adopted 1991; the anthem is 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 of subsistence farming and fishing and government which is funded largely by Compact of Free Association (Compact) assistance provided by the US. The islands have few known mineral deposits worth commercial exploration. The potential for tourism is also limited by isolation, lack of adequate facilities, and limited air and water connections hinder development. Under the terms of the original Compact, the US provided $1.3 billion in grants and aid in 1986-2001. The US and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) negotiated a second (amended) Compact agreement in 2002-2003 that took effect in 2004. The amended Compact runs for a 20-year period to 2024; during which the US will provide roughly $2.1 billion to the FSM. The amended Compact also includes a Trust Fund for the people of the FSM which is to provide an income stream beyond 2024 when Compact grants are to end. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile because of reduced US assistance and lackluster performance of its small and stagnant private sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$754 million (2013 est.)
$749.1 million (2012 est.)
$746.8 million (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars; GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
GDP (official exchange rate)
$339 million (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
0.6% (2013 est.)
2.1% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$7,300 (2013 est.)
$7,200 (2012 est.)
$7,200 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 14%
industry: 12%
services: 74% (2011 est.)
Labor force
15,920 (2011)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 20.6%
services: 78.5%
note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees (2011 est.)
Unemployment rate (%)
22% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)
26.7% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget
revenues: $107 million
expenditures: $102 million (FY10/11 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
31.6% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
1.5% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
3.4% (2011 est.)
3.5% (2010 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)
14.35% (31 December 2013 est.)
14.35% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$27.22 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$27.22 million
Stock of broad money
$118.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$113.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$-56.77 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$56.77 million
Agriculture - products
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish
Industries
tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)
Industrial production growth rate (%)
NA%
Current account balance
-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
Exports
$24.9 million (2009 est.)
$14 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nuts
Imports
$132.7 million (2004)
Imports - commodities (%)
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$75.06 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$75.06 million
External debt ($)
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
192 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
0 kWh (2002)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
8,400 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
27,600 (2012)
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; mobile-cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
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 hosts
4,668 (2012)
Internet users
17,000 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
6 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
Roadways (km)
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (2000)
Merchant marine
total: 3
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2010)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Colonia (Tomil Harbor), Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor
Military
Military branches
no regular military forces (2012)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 26,712 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 22,008
females age 16-49: 23,501 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 1,276
female: 1,253 (2010 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Trafficking in persons
current situation: Micronesia is a source, and to a limited extent, destination country for women subjected to sex trafficking; Micronesian women are fraudulently recruited for jobs in the US and its territories only to be forced into prostitution or labor upon arrival; Micronesian and foreign women and children are also reportedly prostituted on fishing vessels in Micronesia or its territorial waters, as well as restaurants and clubs frequented by fishermen; complaints of nonpayment and inhuman treatment on fishing boats has led to investigations of labor trafficking
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Micronesia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; despite passage of implementing regulations for Micronesia's 2012 trafficking law, the government has not reported any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions for sex or labor trafficking; the government also makes no efforts to identify trafficking victims and refer them to protective services; no NGOs provide services to victims; limited efforts are made to increase the public's awareness of human trafficking (2013)
Illicit drugs
major consumer of cannabis
Largest cities of Micronesia, Federated States of
These are the 50 largest cities of Micronesia, Federated States of ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
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