Federated States of Micronesia

Australia and Oceania Palikir

Population

99.6K

Area

702 km²

GDP

$471.43M

GDP Per Capita

$3,800

Pop. Density

142/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

$United States dollar(USD)

Calling Code

+691

Primary Timezone

UTC+10:00

+1 more

Languages

English

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Micronesian

Background

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑89.6% since 2006

$249M (2006)$471M (2024)

Population

↑2.2% since 2006

110,729 (2006)113,160 (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 67.2 years

2006: 64.9 years2023: 67.2 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography17

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total : 702 sq km
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)

Area - comparative

four times the size of Washington, D.C. (land area only)

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

6,112 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Elevation

highest point: Nanlaud on Pohnpei 782 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Land use

agricultural land

7.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)

forest

92.2% (2023 est.)

other

0.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

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

typhoons (June to December)

Geography - note

composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People & Society28

Population

total: 99,603 (2024 est.)
male: 48,708
female: 50,895

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

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

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

Religions

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: 27% (male 13,673/female 13,239)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 32,527/female 34,487)
65 years and over: 5.7% (2024 est.) (male 2,508/female 3,169)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 48.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 40.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 8.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 11.8 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 28.7 years (2025 est.)
male: 27.3 years
female: 29.1 years

Population growth rate

-0.77% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

17.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-20.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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: 23.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

129 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 23.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.9 years
female: 77.2 years

Total fertility rate

2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.06 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 11% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 1.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.97 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total: total: 88.3% of population

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

45.8% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.7% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 11.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 18.6% national budget (2020 est.)

Government23

Country name

conventional long form

Federated States of Micronesia

conventional short form

none

local long form

Federated States of Micronesia

local short form

none

former

New Philippines; Caroline Islands; Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts

abbreviation

FSM

etymology

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

federal republic in free association with the US

Capital

name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
time zone note: Micronesia has two time zones

Administrative divisions

4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap

Legal system

mixed system of common and customary law

Constitution

history: drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979
amendment process: 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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023)

head of government

President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023)

cabinet

Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments

election/appointment process

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

12 May 2023

expected date of next election

2027

Legislative branch

legislature name

Congress

legislative structure

unicameral

number of seats

14 (all directly elected)

electoral system

plurality/majority

scope of elections

partial renewal

term in office

2 years

most recent election date

3/4/2025

percentage of women in chamber

21.4%

expected date of next election

March 2027

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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: justices appointed by the FSM president 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

Political parties

no formal parties

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jackson T. SORAM (since 27 February 2024)

chancery

1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone

[1] (202) 223-4383

FAX

[1] (202) 223-4391

email address and website

[email protected]

https://fsmembassy.fm/

consulate(s) general

Honolulu, Portland (OR), Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jennifer L. JOHNSON (since 13 September 2023)

embassy

1286 US Embassy Place, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941

mailing address

4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120

telephone

[691] 320-2187

FAX

[691] 320-2186

email address and website

[email protected]

https://fm.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

Independence

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

National holiday

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Flag

description: light blue with four five-pointed white stars centered and arranged in a diamond pattern

meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, and the stars for the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

National symbol(s)

four five-pointed white stars on a light blue field, hibiscus flower

National color(s)

light blue, white

National anthem(s)

title: "Patriots of Micronesia"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: adopted 1991

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Nan Madol: Ceremonial Center of Eastern Micronesia

Economy23

Economic overview

lower middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance, sunsetting in 2024; low entrepreneurship; mostly fishing and farming; US dollar user; no patent laws; tourism remains underdeveloped; significant corruption

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $432.679 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $429.59 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $427.529 million (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: -2.9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,800 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$471.425 million (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 3.2% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 0.6% (2020 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 23.3% (2023 est.)
industry: 5% (2023 est.)
services: 69.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

coconuts, cassava, vegetables, sweet potatoes, bananas, pork, plantains, fruits, beef, eggs (2023)

Industries

tourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood)

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (2023 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 5.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 5.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues: $137.795 million (2020 est.)
expenditures: $111.963 million (2020 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2020: 27.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

7% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2017: $12 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance 2016: $11 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance 2014: $22.408 million (2014 est.)

Exports

Exports 2024: $129.5 million (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $125.789 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $90.466 million (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

Thailand 64%, China 16%, Philippines 11%, Japan 5%, Ecuador 1% (2023)

Exports - commodities

fish, diamonds, garments (2023)

Imports

Imports 2024: $325.9 million (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $310.669 million (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $274.334 million (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

USA 35%, China 20%, Japan 13%, Taiwan 6%, Philippines 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

poultry, fish, plastic products, cars, prepared meat (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $497.434 million (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $451.913 million (2020 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019: $397.158 million (2019 est.)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Energy2

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 85.3% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 98.6%
electrification - rural areas: 79.4%

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 800 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 7,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 22,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2021 est.)

Broadcast media

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

.fm

Internet users

percent of population: 41% (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 7,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2022 est.)

Transportation4

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

7 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 38 (2023)
by type: general cargo 17, oil tanker 4, other 17

Ports

total ports

4 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Colonia, Lele Harbor, Moen, Pohnpei Harbor

Military & Security2

Military and security forces

no military forces; Federated States of Micronesia National Police (includes a maritime wing)

Military - note

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

the FSM has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within the FSM's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

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