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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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Oceania, island
group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the
way from Hawaii to Indonesia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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6 55 N, 158 15 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 702
sq km
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands,
Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
land: 702 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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four times the
size of Washington, DC (land area only) |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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6,112 km |
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Climate:
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tropical; heavy
year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands;
located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally
severe damage |
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Terrain:
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islands vary
geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral
atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m |
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Natural resources:
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forests, marine
products, deep-seabed minerals |
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Land use:
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arable land:
5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons (June to
December) |
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Environment - current issues:
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overfishing,
climate change, pollution |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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four major island
groups totaling 607 islands |
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Population:
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108,155 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
37.7% (male 20,830; female 19,993)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 32,055; female 31,927)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,505; female 1,845)
(2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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-0.02% (2004
est.) |
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Birth rate:
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25.8 births/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.97 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-20.99 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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1.05 male(s)/female
(2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
31.28 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 69.44 years
male: 67.68 years
female: 71.29 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s),
Pohnpeian(s), Yapese |
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Ethnic groups:
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nine ethnic
Micronesian and Polynesian groups |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic
50%, Protestant 47% |
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Languages:
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English (official
and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean,
Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: FSM
former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands) |
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Government type:
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constitutional
government in free association with the US; the Compact of
Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986; economic
provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated |
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Capital:
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Palikir |
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Administrative divisions:
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4
states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap |
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Independence:
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3
November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution
Day, 10 May (1979) |
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Constitution:
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10
May 1979 |
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Legal system:
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based
on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May
2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since
11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003);
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 11 May 2003 (next to be held NA May
2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish
popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president;
percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice
president; percent of Congress vote - NA% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral
Congress (14 seats; 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;
members elected by popular vote)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held
4 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007); elections for
two-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held NA
March 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 14 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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no
formal parties |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Larry M. 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 |
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Economy - overview:
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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, a lack of adequate
facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. In
November 2002, the country experienced a further reduction in
future 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. The country's medium-term economic outlook
appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance
but also to the slow growth of the private sector.
Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure
remain major impediments to long-term growth. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $277 million
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging
perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $2,000 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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26.7% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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NA (2000 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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two-thirds are
government employees |
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Unemployment rate:
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16% (1999 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$161 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $160 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) |
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Industries:
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tourism,
construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft
items from shell, wood, and pearls |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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NA kW |
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Electricity - production by source:
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NA |
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh |
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Agriculture - products:
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black pepper,
tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca),
betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens |
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Exports:
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$22 million
(f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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fish, garments,
bananas, black pepper |
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Exports - partners:
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Japan, US, Guam
(2000) |
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Imports:
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$149 million
f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food,
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages |
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Imports - partners:
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US, Australia,
Japan (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$53.1 million
(FY02/03 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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under terms of
the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3 billion
in grant aid during the period 1986-2001 |
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Currency:
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US dollar (USD) |
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Currency code:
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USD |
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Exchange rates:
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the US dollar is
used |
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Fiscal year:
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1 October - 30
September |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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10,100 (2001) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1,800 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: adequate system
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave
radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes),
satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and
fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae,
Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth
stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 5, FM 1,
shortwave 0 (2004) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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3; note - cable
TV also available (2004) |
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Internet country code:
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.fm |
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Internet users:
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6,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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0 km |
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Highways:
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total: 240
km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Colonia (Yap),
Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen |
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Merchant marine:
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none |
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Airports:
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6 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2003 est.) |
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Military - note:
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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 |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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