Background: In 1979, the Federated States of Micronesia, under a United Nations mandate under US tutelage, adopted a constitution. In 1986, independence was granted in accordance with the Treaty of Free Association with the United States. The country’s current problems are high unemployment, depleted fish stocks, and extreme dependence on US aid.
Geography
Location: Oceania, a group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, three-quarters of the way from the Hawaiian Islands to Indonesia. See franciscogardening.com to know more about Micronesia Geography.
Geographical coordinates: 6° 55′ N. latitude, 158° 15′ E
Reference map: Oceania.
Area: total: 702 sq. km; land surface area: 702 sq. km; water surface area: 0 sq. km; note: includes Ponape, Truk, Yap and Kosrae islands.
Comparative area: four times the size of Washington, DC.
Land borders: 0 km.
Coastline: 6,112 km.
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles; territorial waters: 12 nautical miles.
Climate: tropical; heavy rainfall throughout the year, especially around the western islands; location on the southern edge of the typhoon zone at times leads to devastating consequences.
Relief: the geological structure of the islands is diverse: some are coral, others are mountainous, with outcrops of volcanic rocks (Ponape, Kosrae and Truke).
Maximum and minimum heights: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m; highest point: Totolom 791 m.
Natural resources: forests, seafood, mineral deposits on the seabed.
Land use: arable land: no data; cultivated land: no data; pastures: no data; forests and plantations: no data; others: no data.
Irrigated land: no data.
Natural Hazards: Typhoons from June to December.
Current environmental issues: depletion of fish stocks.
International agreements on environmental protection: participant: Biodiversity, Climate change, Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous wastes, Law of the sea, Protection of the ozone layer; signed but not ratified: no.
Note to the section “Geography”: 607 islands, forming four large groups.
Population
Population: 134,597 (July 2001 est.).
Age structure: up to 14 years: no data; from 15 to 64 years: no data; over 65 years: no data.
Population growth: 3.28% (2000 est.).
Birth rate: 27.09 newborns / 1000 people. (2000 est.).
Mortality: 5.95 deaths / 1000 people. (2000 est.).
Migration: 11.65 people / 1000 people (2000 est.).
Sex ratio:
Child mortality: 33.48 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.).
Life expectancy: for the general population: 68.63 years; men: 66.67 years; women: 70.62 years (2000 est.).
Total fertility rate: 3.83 children/wives. (2000 est.).
Proportion of the adult population infected with HIV: no data available.
Number of people infected with HIV: no data.
Mortality due to AIDS: no data available.
Nationality: noun: Micronesian; adjective: Micronesian; related to Kosrae, Ponapa, Truk, Yap.
Ethnic Groups: Nine ethnic groups of Micronesians and Polynesians.
Believers: Catholics 50%, Protestants 47%, adherents of other religions 3%.
Language(s): English (official and lingua franca), Truk, Ponape, Yap, Kosrae.
Literacy: definition: persons aged 15 and over who can read and write; for the general population: 89%; men: 91%; women: 88% (1980 est.).
Politics
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia;
Common short form: no; former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Counties (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands); abbreviation: FSM.
Government: constitutional government in free association with the United States; The Free Association Agreement with the United States entered into force on November 3, 1986.
Capital: Palikir.
Administrative division: 4 states: Truk, Ku-saye, Ponape, Yap.
Dependent Territories:
Independence: from November 3, 1986 (until 1986 – territory under the trusteeship of the United States).
National holiday: Constitution Day, 10 May (1979).
Constitution: adopted May 10, 1979
Legal system: based on the adapted laws of the trust territory, the laws of the court, local government, common and customary law.
Suffrage: from 18 years old; universal.
chief of state: President Leo A. FALCAM (since May 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since May 1999); note – the president is both head of state and head of government;
head of government: President Leo FALCAM (since May 1999); Vice President Ridley KILLION (since May 1999); note – the president is both head of state and head of government;
government: cabinet of ministers; elections: the president and vice president are elected by Congress from among four senators, elected to four-year terms; elections last held in May 1999 (next to be held in May 2003); election results: Leo FALCUM elected president; distribution of votes in Congress – no data; Ridley KILLION elected vice president; distribution of votes in Congress – no data.
Legislature: unicameral Congress (14 seats; members are elected by popular vote; four members – one from each state -o are elected for a four-year term, ten – from single-member districts – for a two-year term); elections: elections for a four-year term were last held on 2 March 1999 (next to be held in March 2003); elections for a two-year term were last held in March 2001 (next to be held in March 2003); election results: distribution of votes – no data; distribution of seats – 14 independent.
Judiciary: Supreme Court.
Political parties and leaders: There are no formal parties.
Political influence groups and their leaders:
Participation in international organizations: АСР, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO.
US Diplomatic Mission: Head of Mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU; office: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone: [1] (202) 223-4383; fax: [C (202) 223-4391; consulates general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam).
US Mission: Chief of Mission: Ambassador Diane E. WATSON; embassy: no data; mailing address: R. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941; phone: [691] 320-2187; fax: [691] 320-2186.
Description of the flag: blue with four five-pointed white stars in the center, located at the ends of an imaginary rhombus.
