Compare Bouvet Island (2004) - Micronesia, Federated States of (2002)

This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island.

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

antarctic

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

Coastline

29.6 km

6,112 km

Constitution

-

10 May 1979

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Bouvet 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

territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo

-

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; declared a nature reserve

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: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Olav Peak 935 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Environment - current issues

NA

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 Norway 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

54 26 S, 3 24 E

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Geography - note

covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve

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 (1998 est.)

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% (93% ice) (2001)

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 Norway, 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

island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)

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

Map references

Antarctic Region

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 4 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 Norway

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

NA

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

none

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Net migration rate

-

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Political parties and leaders

-

no formal parties

Population

uninhabited (July 2004 est.)

135,869 (July 2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

NA% (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; offshore anchorage only

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

volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible

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