Guide to Micronesia Introduction , 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 , 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
Map references: Oceania
Area: total
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea
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: lowest point
Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use: arable land
Irrigated land: NA
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues: overfishing, climate change, pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to
Geography - note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People , Federated States of Population: 108,105 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years
Population growth rate: -0.08% (2005 est.)
Birth rate: 25.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate: 4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate: -21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: total
Life expectancy at birth: total population
Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun
Ethnic groups: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Literacy: definition
Government , Federated States of Country name: conventional long form
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
Capital: Palikir
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: 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
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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
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
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy , 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $277 million note
GDP - real growth rate: 1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate: 16% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 26.7%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2002 est.)
Budget: revenues
Agriculture - products: black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens
Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Electricity - production: 192 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: NA
Electricity - consumption: 178.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2002)
Exports: $22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)
Exports - commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports - partners: Japan, US, Guam (2000)
Imports: $149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)
Imports - commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
Imports - partners: US, Australia, Japan (2000)
Debt - external: $53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)
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
Currency (code): US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications , Federated States of Telephones - main lines in use: 10,100 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,800 (2002)
Telephone system: general assessment
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios: 9,400 (1996)
Television broadcast stations: 3; note - cable TV also available (2004)
Televisions: 2,800 (1999)
Internet country code: .fm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: 6,000 (2002)
Transportation , Federated States of Highways: total
Ports and harbors: Tomil Harbor
Merchant marine: total
Airports: 6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total
Military , Federated States of 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)
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
Transnational Issues , Federated States of Disputes - international: none
Last updated: 20 October, 2005
| Weather Statistics | Kosrae |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | | Mean | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | 28 C | | Prcp | 388mm | 458mm | 494mm | 589mm | 498mm | 471mm | 416mm | 383mm | 370mm | 311mm | 401mm | 494mm |
| Source: Global Historical Climatology Network |
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