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Australia-Oceania :: Micronesia, Federated States of
page last updated on November 14, 2011
Flag of Micronesia, Federated States of
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Micronesia, Federated States of
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Map of Micronesia, Federated States of
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Introduction ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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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, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
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Geography ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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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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6 55 N, 158 15 E
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total: 702 sq km
country comparison to the world: 191
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)
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four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
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0 km
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6,112 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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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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islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m
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timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
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arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2005)
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NA
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typhoons (June to December)
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overfishing, climate change, pollution
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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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four major island groups totaling 607 islands
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People and Society ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
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Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)
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English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
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Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 41.7% (Congregational 40.1%, Baptist 0.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 0.7%), other 3.8%, none or unspecified 0.8% (2000 Census)
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106,836 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
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0-14 years: 33.6% (male 18,223/female 17,639)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 33,566/female 34,215)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,375/female 1,818) (2011 est.)
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total: 22.7 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 23.3 years (2011 est.)
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-0.313% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
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22.22 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
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4.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
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-20.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
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urban population: 23% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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PALIKIR (capital) 7,000 (2009)
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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total: 24.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 82
male: 26.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
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total population: 71.52 years
country comparison to the world: 134
male: 69.58 years
female: 73.55 years (2011 est.)
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2.74 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
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3.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 163
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0.564 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 121
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3.22 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
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improved:
urban: 94% of population
rural: 92% of population
total: 92% of population
unimproved:
urban: 6% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 8% of population (2000)
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improved:
urban: 59% of population
rural: 16% of population
total: 26% of population
unimproved:
urban: 41% of population
rural: 84% of population
total: 74% of population (2000)
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NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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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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NA
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Government ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Federated States of Micronesia
local short form: none
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts
abbreviation: FSM
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constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
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name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
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3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
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Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
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10 May 1979
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mixed legal system of common and customary law
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments
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elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Emanuel MORI reelected president by Congress unopposed; Alik L. ALIK reelected vice president
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unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - 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: last held on 8 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14
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Supreme Court
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no formal parties
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NA
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ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
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chief of mission: Ambassador Yosiwo GEORGE
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)
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chief of mission: Ambassador Peter A. PRAHAR
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186
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light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
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name: "Patriots of Micronesia"
lyrics/music: unknown
note: adopted 1991; the anthem is also known as "Across All Micronesia;" the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben," which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes Brahms' "Festival Overture" and Gustav Mahler's "Third Symphony"
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Economy ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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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. Under the original terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provided $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the current slow growth of the private sector.
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$238.1 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
$277 million (2002 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
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$238.1 million (2008)
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NA%
0.3% (2005 est.)
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$2,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
$2,300 (2005 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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agriculture: 28.9%
industry: 15.2%
services: 55.9% (2004 est.)
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16,360 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 210
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agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 34.4%
services: 64.7%
note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees (FY05 est.)
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22% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
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26.7% (2000)
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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revenues: $166 million (FY07 est.)
expenditures: $152.7 million (FY07 est.)
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69.7% of GDP (FY07 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
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5.6% of GDP (FY07 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
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2.2% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 70
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15.13% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
15.38% (31 December 2009 est.)
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$29.02 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
$21.21 million (31 December 2008)
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$114 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$98 million (31 December 2008 est.)
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$65.68 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 185
$43.75 million (31 December 2008)
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black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca), sakau (kava), Kosraen citrus, betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish
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tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)
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NA%
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192 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 181
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178.6 million kWh (2002)
country comparison to the world: 184
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0 kWh (2002)
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0 kWh (2002)
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-$34.3 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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$14 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
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fish, garments, bananas, black pepper, sakau (kava), betel nut
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$132.7 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 208
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food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages
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$60.8 million (FY05 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
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the US dollar is used
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Communications ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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8,500 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 203
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27,500 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 203
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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; mobile-cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)
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no television broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with television transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half dozen radio stations in operation (2009)
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.fm
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3,097 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 144
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17,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 194
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Transportation ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 171
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total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
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total: 240 km
country comparison to the world: 206
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (2000)
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total: 3
country comparison to the world: 137
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2 (2010)
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Colonia (Tomil Harbor), Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor
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Military ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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no regular military forces
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males age 16-49: 26,712 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 22,008
females age 16-49: 23,501 (2010 est.)
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male: 1,276
female: 1,253 (2010 est.)
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defense is the responsibility of the US
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Transnational Issues ::Micronesia, Federated States of
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none
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current situation: the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a source country for women subjected to sex trafficking; FSM women have been recruited to the United States and its territories with promises of well-paying jobs, and forced into prostitution upon arrival; little data on the scope of human trafficking in FSM is available, as the government has not conducted any inquiries, investigations, studies, or surveys on human trafficking
tier rating: Tier 3 - the FSM Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not investigate or prosecute any trafficking cases, made no efforts to identify or assist victims of trafficking, and failed to make efforts to prevent trafficking or increase the general public's awareness of trafficking (2011)
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major consumer of cannabis
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