{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "
Each of the four states that compose the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) -- Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap -- has its own unique history and cultural traditions. The first humans arrived in what is now the FSM in the second millennium B.C. In the 800s A.D., construction of the artificial islets at the Nan Madol complex in Pohnpei began, with the main architecture being built around 1200. At its height, Nan Madol united the approximately 25,000 people of Pohnpei under the Saudeleur Dynasty. By 1250, Kosrae was united in a kingdom centered in Leluh. Yap’s society became strictly hierarchical, with chiefs receiving tributes from islands up to 1,100 km (700 mi) away. Widespread human settlement in Chuuk began in the 1300s, and the different islands in the Chuuk Lagoon were frequently at war with one another.
Portuguese and Spanish explorers visited a few of the islands in the 1500s, and Spain began exerting nominal, but not day-to-day, control over some of the islands -- which they named the Caroline Islands -- in the 1600s. In 1899, Spain sold all of the FSM to Germany. Japan seized the islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer them in 1920. During WWII, Japan built military bases across most of the islands and headquartered their Pacific naval operations in Chuuk. The US bombed Chuuk in 1944 but largely bypassed the other islands in its leapfrog campaign across the Pacific.
In 1947, the FSM came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which comprised six districts: Chuuk, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, and Yap; Kosrae was separated from Pohnpei into a separate district in 1977. In 1979, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap ratified the FSM Constitution and declared independence while the other three districts opted to pursue separate political status. There are significant inter-island rivalries stemming from their different histories and cultures. Chuuk, the most populous but poorest state, has pushed for secession, but an independence referendum has been repeatedly postponed.
" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "6 55 N, 158 15 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Oceania" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "702 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "702 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "0 sq km (fresh water only)" }, "note": "note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)" }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "four times the size of Washington, D.C. (land area only)" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "0 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "6,112 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage" }, "Terrain": { "text": "islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Nanlaud on Pohnpei 782 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Pacific Ocean 0 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "7.1% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "92.2% (2023 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "0.7% (2023 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "0 sq km (2022)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "the majority of the population lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "typhoons (June to December)" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "99,603 (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "48,708" }, "female": { "text": "50,895" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Micronesian(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Chuukese/Mortlockese 49.3%, Pohnpeian 29.8%, Kosraean 6.3%, Yapese 5.7%, Yap outer islanders 5.1%, Polynesian 1.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi" }, "Religions": { "text": "Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 41.1% (includes Congregational 38.5%, Baptist 1.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.8%, Assembly of God 0.7%), Church of Jesus Christ 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "27% (male 13,673/female 13,239)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "67.3% (male 32,527/female 34,487)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "5.7% (2024 est.) (male 2,508/female 3,169)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "48.6 (2024 est.)" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "40.2 (2024 est.)" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "8.5 (2024 est.)" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "11.8 (2024 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "28.7 years (2025 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "27.3 years" }, "female": { "text": "29.1 years" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "-0.77% (2025 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "17.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-20.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "the majority of the population lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "23.4% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.94 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.79 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)" } }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "129 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "20.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "23.8 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "17.8 deaths/1,000 live births" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "75 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "72.9 years" }, "female": { "text": "77.2 years" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "1.06 (2025 est.)" }, "Health expenditure": { "Health expenditure (as % of GDP)": { "text": "11% of GDP (2021)" }, "Health expenditure (as % of national budget)": { "text": "1.9% of national budget (2022 est.)" } }, "Physician density": { "text": "0.97 physicians/1,000 population (2020)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: total": { "text": "total: 88.3% of population" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "45.8% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "51.7% (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditure": { "Education expenditure (% GDP)": { "text": "11.6% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Education expenditure (% national budget)": { "text": "18.6% national budget (2020 est.)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environmental issues": { "text": "overfishing; sea-level rise; water and toxic pollution from mining; solid waste disposal" }, "International environmental agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "7.1% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "92.2% (2023 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "0.7% (2023 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "23.4% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "121,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "121,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" } }, "Particulate matter emissions": { "text": "8.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)" }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "26,000 tons (2024 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "15.2% (2022 est.)" } } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Federated States of Micronesia" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "none" }, "local long form": { "text": "Federated States of Micronesia" }, "local short form": { "text": "none" }, "former": { "text": "New Philippines; Caroline Islands; Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts" }, "abbreviation": { "text": "FSM" }, "etymology": { "text": "the name is a 19th-century construct of two Greek words, mikros (small) and nesoi (islands), and refers to its thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean" } }, "Government type": { "text": "federal republic in free association with the US" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Palikir" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "6 55 N, 158 09 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "time zone note": { "text": "Micronesia has two time zones" }, "note": "note: Palikir became the new capital of the country in 1989, three years after independence; Kolonia, the former capital, remains the site for many foreign embassies; it also serves as the Pohnpei state capital" }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap" }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed system of common and customary law" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979" }, "amendment process": { "text": "proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote in at least three fourths of the states" }, "note": "note: at least every ten years, voters are asked as part of a general or special election whether to hold a constitution convention; a majority of affirmative votes is required to proceed" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "5 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023)" }, "head of government": { "text": "President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments" }, "election/appointment process": { "text": "president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "12 May 2023" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "2027" }, "note": "note: the president is both chief of state and head of government" }, "Legislative branch": { "legislature name": { "text": "Congress" }, "legislative structure": { "text": "unicameral" }, "number of seats": { "text": "14 (all directly elected)" }, "electoral system": { "text": "plurality/majority" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "partial renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "2 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "3/4/2025" }, "percentage of women in chamber": { "text": "21.4%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "March 2027" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "Federated States of Micronesia 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": { "text": "justices appointed by the FSM president with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court" } }, "Political parties": { "text": "no formal parties" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Jackson T. SORAM (since 27 February 2024)" }, "chancery": { "text": "1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 223-4383" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 223-4391" }, "email address and website": { "text": "the US dollar is used
" } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "85.3% (2022 est.)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "98.6%" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "79.4%" } }, "Petroleum": { "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "800 bbl/day (2023 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "7,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "6 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "22,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "19 (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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 half a dozen radio stations (2009)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".fm" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "41% (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "7,000 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "6 (2022 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "V6" }, "Airports": { "text": "7 (2025)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "38 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 17, oil tanker 4, other 17" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "4 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "0" }, "medium": { "text": "0" }, "small": { "text": "1" }, "very small": { "text": "3" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "3" }, "key ports": { "text": "Colonia, Lele Harbor, Moen, Pohnpei Harbor" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "no military forces; Federated States of Micronesia National Police (includes a maritime wing)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "defense is the responsibility of the US; in 1982, the FSM signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the FSM financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986; Micronesians can serve in the US armed forces