Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
total: 702 sq km
country comparison to the world: 191
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)
four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
arable land: 2.86%
permanent crops: 24.29%
other: 72.86% (2011)
typhoons (June to December)
overfishing, climate change, pollution
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
four major island groups totaling 607 islands
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 41.7% (Congregational 40.1%, Baptist 0.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 0.7%), other 3.8%, none or unspecified 0.8% (2000 Census)
106,104 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
0-14 years: 32.4% (male 17,478/female 16,915)
15-24 years: 20.4% (male 10,933/female 10,715)
25-54 years: 37.6% (male 19,370/female 20,551)
55-64 years: 6.3% (male 3,374/female 3,360)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 1,500/female 1,908) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 64.4 %
youth dependency ratio: 57.7 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 %
potential support ratio: 14.9 (2013)
total: 23.4 years
male: 22.8 years
female: 24 years (2013 est.)
-0.38% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
21.44 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
4.27 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
-20.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
urban population: 23% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
PALIKIR (capital) 7,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
100 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 73
total: 22.71 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 81
male: 25.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 72.07 years
country comparison to the world: 136
male: 70.09 years
female: 74.16 years (2013 est.)
2.68 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
13.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 7
0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
3.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)
40.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 12
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
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
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
name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979; amended 1990 (2012)
mixed legal system of common and customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both the 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); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Emanuel MORI reelected president by Congress unopposed; Alik L. ALIK reelected vice president
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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"
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.
$739 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
note: GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
$321.6 million (2012 est.)
0.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$7,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
agriculture: 14%
industry: 12%
services: 74% (2011 est.)
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish
tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)
15,920 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 213
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 20.6%
services: 78.5%
note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees (2011 est.)
22% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $107 million
expenditures: $102 million (FY10/11 est.)
33.3% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
1.6% of GDP (FY10/11 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
3.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
14.35% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$27.22 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
$118.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
$-56.77 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
$-34.3 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$24.9 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nuts
$132.7 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 207
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
$75.06 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
192 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 184
178.6 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 187
0 kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 196
0 kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 187
8,400 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 202
27,600 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 208
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)
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)
4,668 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 147
17,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 196
6 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 172
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
total: 240 km
country comparison to the world: 207
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (2000)
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 138
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2010)
major seaport(s): Colonia (Tomil Harbor), Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor
no regular military forces (2012)
males age 16-49: 26,712 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 22,008
females age 16-49: 23,501 (2010 est.)
male: 1,276
female: 1,253 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the US
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)
