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Compare Micronesia, Federated States of (2001) - Belgium (2003)

Compare Micronesia, Federated States of (2001) z Belgium (2003)

 Micronesia, Federated States of (2001)Belgium (2003)
 Micronesia, Federated States ofBelgium
Administrative divisions 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen
Age structure 0-14 years:
NA%

15-64 years:
NA%

65 years and over:
NA%
0-14 years: 17.2% (male 905,856; female 865,589)


15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,400,419; female 3,346,182)


65 years and over: 17.2% (male 725,162; female 1,045,880) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Airports 7 (2000 est.) 42 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
6

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 25


over 3,047 m: 6


2,438 to 3,047 m: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 17


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 15 (2002)
Area total:
702 sq km

land:
702 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae
total: 30,510 sq km


land: 30,230 sq km


water: 280 sq km
Area - comparative four times the size of Washington, DC about the size of Maryland
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 United States. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid. Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
Birth rate - 10.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$161 million ($69 million less grants)

expenditures:
$160 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
revenues: $113.4 billion


expenditures: $106 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.17 billion (2000)
Capital Palikir Brussels
Climate tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Coastline 6,112 km 66 km
Constitution 10 May 1979 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state
Country name 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
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium


conventional short form: Belgium


local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie


local short form: Belgique/Belgie
Currency US dollar (USD) euro (EUR)


note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Death rate - 10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $111 million (1997 est.) $28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Diane E. WATSON

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
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER


embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels


mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710


telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111


FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725
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)
chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE


chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900


FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $764 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001 -
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 remoteness of the 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 between the US and Micronesia in which Micronesia receives $1.3 billion in financial and technical assistance over a 15-year period until 2001 - as a result of the second step-down under the agreement. Since these revenues accounted for 57% of consolidated government revenues, reduced Compact funding resulted in a severe depression. While Micronesia's economy appears to have bottomed out in 1999, the country's medium-term economic outlook remains 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. This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is about 100% of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancing its budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown. Prospects for 2004 again depend largely on recovery in the EU and the US.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 78.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 6.712 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 15.82 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production NA kWh 74.28 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
NA%

hydro:
NA%

nuclear:
NA%

other:
NA%
fossil fuel: 38.4%


hydro: 0.6%


nuclear: 59.3%


other: 1.8% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Totolom 791 m
lowest point: North Sea 0 m


highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Environment - current issues overfishing the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
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
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Ethnic groups nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Exchange rates the US dollar is used euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999), 36.3 (1998)
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)

election results:
Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%
chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch


head of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by Parliament


note: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
Exports $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) 450,000 bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities fish, garments, bananas, black pepper machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners Japan, US, Guam Germany 18.6%, France 16.3%, Netherlands 11.6%, UK 9.6%, US 7.9%, Italy 5.4% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
Flag description light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
GDP purchasing power parity - $263 million (1999 est.)

note:
GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
purchasing power parity - $299.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
19%

industry:
4%

services:
77% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 1.3%


industry: 24.4%


services: 74.3% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.) purchasing power parity - $29,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.3% (1999 est.) 0.7% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 55 N, 158 15 E 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Geography - note four major island groups totaling 607 islands crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total:
240 km

paved:
42 km

unpaved:
198 km (1996)
total: 148,216 km


paved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways)


unpaved: 31,529 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 23% (1996)
Illicit drugs - growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; money laundering related to trafficking of drugs, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco
Imports $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) 1.042 million bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners US, Japan, Australia Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 15.6%, France 12.8%, UK 7.3%, Ireland 7%, US 6.4%, Italy 4% (2002)
Independence 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) 4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to the throne
Industrial production growth rate NA% 4.5% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal
Infant mortality rate - total: 4.57 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.6% (FY98/99) 1.7% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 61 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch, although selected by the Government)
Labor force NA 4.44 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation two-thirds are government employees services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,385 km


border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
Land use arable land:
NA%

permanent crops:
NA%

permanent pastures:
NA%

forests and woodland:
NA%

other:
NA%
arable land: 25%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 75%


note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
Languages English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Legal system based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four - one elected from each of 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
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 June 2003 (next to be held in NA May 2007)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit 15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH 5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5, VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR 11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit 23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2


note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other acronyms of the listed parties see the Political parties and leaders entry
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 78.29 years


male: 74.97 years


female: 81.78 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
89%

male:
91%

female:
88% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Map references Oceania Europe
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
continental shelf: median line with neighbors


exclusive economic zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 32,215 GRT/55,725 DWT


ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, petroleum tanker 4, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)
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 -
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Components, Federal Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $3.077 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1.4% (FY01/02)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 2,497,423 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 2,059,131 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 60,921 (2003 est.)
National holiday Constitution Day, 10 May (1979) 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
Nationality noun:
Micronesian(s)

adjective:
Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
noun: Belgian(s)


adjective: Belgian
Natural hazards typhoons (June to December) flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Natural resources forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals coal, natural gas
Net migration rate - 0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders no formal parties AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Dirk HOLEMANS]; Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Yves LETERME]; note - used to be the Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP; Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUK, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT]; Francophone Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH (used to be Social Christian Party or PSC) [Joelle MILQUET]; Francophone Reformist Movement or MR (used to be Liberal Reformation Party or PRL) [Antoine DUQUESNE]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Steve STEVAERT]; note - was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT]; note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders - Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants
Population 134,597 (July 2001 est.) 10,289,088 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 4%
Population growth rate - 0.14% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios NA -
Railways 0 km total: 3,471 km


standard gauge: 3,471 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified) (2002)
Religions Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3% Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment:
adequate system

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

international:
satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities


domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network


international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
Telephones - main lines in use 11,000 (2001) 4.769 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 974,494 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Terrain islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Total fertility rate - 1.62 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 16% (1999 est.) 7.2% (2002 est.)
Waterways none 1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001)
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