Compare Baker Island (2008) - Micronesia, Federated States of (2002)

The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.

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. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

Birth rate

-

NA births/1,000 population

Budget

-

revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)

expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Capital

-

Palikir

Climate

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage

Coastline

4.8 km

6,112 km

Constitution

-

10 May 1979

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Baker Island

conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia

conventional short form: none

former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

abbreviation: FSM

Currency

-

US dollar (USD)

Death rate

-

NA deaths/1,000 population

Debt - external

-

$66.5 million

Dependency status

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

-

Diplomatic representation from the US

-

chief of mission: Ambassador Larry DINGER

embassy: address NA, Kolonia

mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941

telephone: [691] 320-2187

FAX: [691] 320-2186

Diplomatic representation in the US

-

chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU

chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383

FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391

consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Disputes - international

none

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

Economy - overview

no economic activity

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 and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. In 1996, the country experienced a 20% reduction in revenues from the Compact of Free Association - the agreement with the US in which Micronesia received $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001. Since these revenues accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues, reduced Compact funding resulted in a severe depression. Economic activity recovered in 1999-2001. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due to likely further reductions in external grants made under the US Compact funding. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.

Electricity - consumption

-

NA kWh

Electricity - production

-

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel: NA%

hydro: NA%

nuclear: NA%

other: NA%

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location 8 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Environment - current issues

no natural fresh water resources

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

Ethnic groups

-

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Exchange rates

-

the US dollar is used

Executive branch

-

chief of state: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet: Cabinet

elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last held NA May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed

election results: Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%

Exports

-

$22 million (f.o.b.)

Exports - commodities

-

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners

-

Japan, US, Guam

Fiscal year

-

1 October - 30 September

Flag description

the flag of the US is used

light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

GDP

-

purchasing power parity - $269 million

note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: 50%

industry: 4%

services: 46% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

2% (2001 est.)

Geographic coordinates

0 13 N, 176 28 W

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geography - note

treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

Highways

-

total: 240 km

paved: 42 km

unpaved: 198 km (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Imports

-

$149 million f.o.b.

Imports - commodities

-

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners

-

US, Australia, Japan

Independence

-

3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

Industrial production growth rate

-

NA%

Industries

-

tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Infant mortality rate

-

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

2.5% (2001 est.)

International organization participation

-

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IMF, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

1 (2000)

Irrigated land

0 sq km

NA sq km

Judicial branch

-

Supreme Court

Labor force

-

NA

Labor force - by occupation

-

two-thirds are government employees

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (2005)

arable land: 5.71%

permanent crops: 45.71%

other: 48.58% (1998 est.)

Languages

-

English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

Legal system

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Legislative branch

-

unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; 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)

elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003); elections for two-year term seats last held 6 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2003)

election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population: NA years

male: NA years

female: NA years

Literacy

-

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 89%

male: 91%

female: 88% (1980 est.)

Location

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Merchant marine

-

none

note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: United States 1 (2002 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

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

National holiday

-

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Nationality

-

noun: Micronesian(s)

adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Natural hazards

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Net migration rate

-

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Political parties and leaders

-

no formal parties

Population

uninhabited

note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service

135,869 (July 2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

NA% (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

-

Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen

Radio broadcast stations

-

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

-

9,400 (1996)

Railways

-

0 km (2003)

Religions

-

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%

Sex ratio

-

NA

Suffrage

-

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

-

general assessment: adequate system

domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)

international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Telephones - main lines in use

-

11,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

newly installed in Pohnpei and Yap

Television broadcast stations

-

2 (1997)

Terrain

low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef

islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk