The World Factbook (1990)/Micronesia, Federated States of
Micronesia, Federated States of
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See regional map X
Geography
Total area: 702 km²; land area: 702 km²;
includes Pohnpei, Truk, Yap, and Kosrae
Comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claims:
- Extended 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 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: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other
Environment: subject to typhoons from June to December; four major island groups totaling 607 islands
Note: located 5,150 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Indonesia
People
Population: 104,937 (July 1990), growth
rate 2.6% (1990)
Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: -2 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 73 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Micronesian(s); adjective—Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
Ethnic divisions: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religion: predominantly 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
Language: English is the official and common language; most indigenous languages fall within the Austronesian language family, the exceptions are the Polynesian languages; major indigenous languages are Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, and Kosrean
Literacy: NA%, but education compulsory through eight grades
Labor force: NA; two-thirds are government employees; 45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65
Organized labor: NA
Government
Long-form name: Federated States of
Micronesia (no short-form name)
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, Truk, Yap
Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship; formerly the Kosrae, Pohnpei, Truk, and Yap districts of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
Constitution: 10 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979)
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government—President John R. HAGLELGAM (since 11 May 1987); Vice President Hiroshi H. ISMAEL (since 11 May 1987)
Political parties and leaders: no formal parties
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections: President—last held 11 May 1987 (next to be held May 1991); results—John R. Haglelgam was elected;
House of Representatives—last held on NA (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(NA total)
Communists: none
Member of: SPF, ESCAP (associate)
Diplomatic representation: Deputy Representative Jesse B. MAREHALAN; Representative Office at 706 G Street SE, Washington DC 20003; telephone (202) 544-2640; US—Representative Michael G. WYGANT; US Office at address NA, Kolonia (mailing address is P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941); telephone 691-320-2187
Flag: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy
Overview: 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. Micronesia also
earns about $4 million a year in fees from
foreign commercial fishing concerns.
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;
note—GNP numbers reflect US spending.
GNP: $150 million, per capita $1,500; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: 80%
Budget: revenues $110.8 million; expenditures NA, including capital expenditures of NA (1987 est.)
Exports: $1.6 million (f.o.b., 1983); commodities—copra; partners—NA
Imports: $48.9 million (c.i.f., 1983); commodities—NA; partners—NA
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 15,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 340 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearl
Agriculture: mainly a subsistence economy; copra, black pepper; tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigs, chickens
Aid: under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency: US currency is used
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Communications
Highways: 39 km of paved macadam and
concrete roads on major islands, otherwise
187 km stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced
roads
Ports: Colonia (Yap), Truk (Kosrae), Okat (Kosrae)
Airports: 11 total, 10 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est. 1987); telephone network—960 telephone lines at both Kolonia and Truk; islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes); 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