What are the Key Facts of the Federated States of Micronesia?

Where is the Federated States of Micronesia?

The Federated States of Micronesia is a group of islands located in Oceania. This group of thousands of islands is situated around 3/4th of the distance from Hawaii to Indonesia in the North Pacific Ocean.

What is the Geography of the Federated States of Micronesia?

The total area of this country is 702 sq. km (271 sq. mi), out of which the 702 sq. km (271 sq. mi) is land area and 0 sq. km (0 sq. mi) is the freshwater area. There is no land boundary but a coastline that is 6,112 km (3,798 mi) long.

The group of islands in the Federated States of Micronesia includes Pohnpei, Yap, Chuuk, and Kosrae islands. All the Western and Eastern Caroline Islands come within the Federated States of Micronesia. The islands are spread over one million sq mi of the Pacific Ocean, ranging from 1,700 mi (2,736 km) from West (Yap) to East (Kosrae). Each of these islands has many islands and atolls.

The Yap state consists of seven small islands along with 134 atolls, making the total land area to be 45.6 sq mi (118.1 sq km). The total area of the Chuuk State is 49.2 sq mi (127.4 sq km), which includes 7 main groups of islands. The third state is Pohnpei, whose land area is spread across 133.4 sq mi (345.5 sq km). Out of its total land area, the Pohnpei Island itself accounts for 130 sq mi (336.7 sq km) of land area, making it the largest island in the Federated States of Micronesia. Kosrae is a high island, which is spread across 42.3 sq mi (109.6 sq km).

The Federated States of Micronesia island group has a volcanic origin. There is a huge variety in the islands and atolls. Some of the islands have mountain peaks above the surface, surrounded by the fringing reefs. There are also islands/atolls that are actually beneath the surface and only a coral barrier reef or tiny island islets remain above the surface. These landforms encircle a coral/sand lagoon. There are still other landforms that include high rigged islands as well as atolls that are located within a lagoon.

The geographical landforms include very high peaks, rolling hills, river valleys (deeply gorged), lush mangrove forests, open grassland, and sandy beaches (secluded and pristine). The highest elevation point of the country is Nanlaud on Pohnpei at 782 m (2,566 ft) and the lowest elevation point is the Pacific Ocean at 0 m (0 ft).

Major mountains in the Federated States of Micronesia are Mount Dolohmwar, Mount Nanlaud, Pohnpei, Dolmweir Peaks, etc. There are over 40 rivers including Winchon River, Nanpil River, Menke River, Infal Finkol, etc.

The climate of the Federated States of Micronesia is characterized as a warm, tropical climate having two different seasons: dry and rainy. While the dry season starts in December and lasts till April, the rainy season continues from April to December. July-October is the time of the greatest fall. The annual average temperature ranges from 26 °C (78.8 °F) to 32 °C (89.6 °F). The water temperature remains within a comfortable 28-29 °C (82.4-84.2 °F) round the year.

Some of the times typhoons hit the Federated States of Micronesia, especially during July to mid-November.

What is the Economy of the Federated States of Micronesia?

The economy of the Federated States of Micronesia is mainly dependent upon subsistence agriculture as well as fishing. Except for high-grade phosphate, there are very few mineral deposits. The picturesque views and landforms give this group of islands a great potential to develop tourism and earn hard currency.

However, remoteness of these islands, adequate infrastructural development, and connectivity problems are hindering adequate growth. The government sector employs around 2/3rd of the adult population of the country.

Most of the funds received by the government are from the US-provided Compact of Free Association assistance. During 1986-2001, US$1.3 billion has been provided by the US. According to an amended Compact agreement of 2002-03, the US pledged to donate US$2.1 billion to the Federated States of Micronesia during the 20-year period till 2023. The agreement also agreed upon to develop a trust fund, which will provide the Federated States of Micronesia a comparable, steady income stream after 2024, when the donation agreement comes to an end.

The medium-term economic outlook is fragile because of its dependence on grants from the US. In 2017, the nominal GDP increased by 1.98% to US$ 336,427,532. Over 16.2% of the population is unemployed and the rate of poverty is 41.2%.

What is the Transportation System of the Federated States of Micronesia?

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) doesn’t have a widely available public transport facility. Taxis are available in large quantities. The most reliable transport system to travel within these islands is the rental taxis. Public bus service is almost non-existent. However, the hotels have private charter buses.

No railway network is available in any of the islands in FSM. Both paved and unpaved circumferential roads are available. The most interior roads are unpaved ones. The major seaports of  the Federated States of Micronesia are Pohnepi Harbor, Molsron Lele Harbor, and Colonia (Tamil Harbor). There are 63 merchant marine vessels in the country.

The most reliable mode of transport to reach these islands in the Pacific Ocean is the airway. There are 6 airports available in the Federated States of Micronesia and all of them have paved runways. The most important airports are Chuuk International Airport, Yap International Airport, Pohnpei International Airport, and Kosrae International Airport.

What International Organizations is the Federated States of Micronesia part of?

UN, WHO, IMF, UNESCO, ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNCTAD, WMO

Related Links:

• What Countries Comprise Oceania?

• What is Micronesia?