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Micronesia
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| Micronesia | |
 | |
| This page is part of the Small Island Developing States Project | |
| Capital | Palikir |
| Population | 107,400 |
| Land Area | 702 sq km |
| GDP (US$) | $0.24 B |
| GDP Per Capita | $2,200 |
| CO2 Emissions | not reported |
| CO2 Per Capita | not reported |
| NAPA† | none |
| Natl. Comm. to the UNFCCC | December 2007 |
| † = National Adaptation Program of Action Megaton = 1 million tons (1 billion kg / 2.205 billion lb) | |
The Federated States of Micronesia are a small island developing state (SIDS) consisting of four major island groups totaling 607 islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia. Like any other SIDS, Micronesia is affected by climate change, primarily through sea level rise and coral reef decay.1
Background
The Federated States of Micronesia consist of 607 islands with four major island groups (Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap and Kosrae). Islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls andvolcanoes on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk. The coastline amounts to 6,112 km (3,798 miles) with a total land area of 702 sq km (271 sq miles). The highest point is Dolohmwar (Totolom) with 791 m (0.49 miles). The climate is tropical with heavy year-round rainfall. Occasional typhoons can cause severe damage.2 3
The population as of July 2009 is 107,434 with a population growth rate of -0.238 %. 22% of the population live in urban areas. The population is composed of nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups. The official language is English but native languages such as Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi are spoken too. 50 % of the inhabitants are Roman Catholics, 47 % Protestants.4 5
The government is a constitutional confederation in free association with the United States since 3 November 1986 when the country became independent from the US-administered UN trusteeship.6
65 % of the population works in the service industry (tourism, crafts), 35 % in industry and about 1 % in agriculture. Agricultural products include black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, pigs, chickens and fish, some of these are exported. Imported goods are food, beverages, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment. The gross domestic product (GDP) for Micronesia is US$238.1 million, with a per capita GDP of US$2,200.7
Apart from climate change, environmental issues for Micronesia include overfishing and pollution.8
View Federated States of Micronesia in a larger map
Impacts and threats
Like any other SIDS, sea-level rise is a serious threat for Micronesia.
An increase of typhoons is expected for the near future due to climate change. Repercussions for Micronesia can include storm surges and major floods.9
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Wiki Project | |
| Small Island Developing States | |
| Click here for the template to begin a new country page | |
| Atlantic and Caribbean | Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; the Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; British Virgin Islands; Cape Verde; Cuba; Dominica; the Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; Montserrat; Netherlands Antilles; Puerto Rico; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; São Tomé and Principe; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; and the U.S. Virgin Islands. |
| Pacific Ocean | American Somoa; Commonwealth of Northern Marianas; Cook Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; French Polynesia; Guam; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Nauru; New Caledonia; Niue; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Timor-Lesté; Tonga; Tuvalu; and Vanuatu. |
| Indian Ocean | Bahrain; Comoros; the Maldives; Mauritius; the Seychelles; and Singapore. |
| Initiatives and Sponsors | |
| Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); Asian Development Bank (ADB); Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA); Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC); Global Environment Facility (GEF); Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative (GSEII); Inter-American Development Bank (IADB); Organization of American States (OAS); Pacific Islands Forum (PIF); Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre (RC/RCCC); Small Island Developing States Network (SIDSNet); South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP); United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); United States Agency for International Development (USAID); World Bank (WB) | |
| Related Topics | |
Footnotes
1. CIA. The World Factbook. Federated States of Micronesia. Accessed July 28, 2009.
2. CIA. The World Factbook. Federated States of Micronesia. Accessed July 28, 2009.
3. The State Department. Federated States of Micronesia. Accessed July 28, 2009.
4. CIA. The World Factbook. Federated States of Micronesia. Accessed July 28, 2009.
5. The State Department. Federated States of Micronesia. Accessed July 28, 2009.
6. CIA. The World Factbook. Federated States of Micronesia. Accessed July 28, 2009.
7. CIA. The World Factbook. Federated States of Micronesia. Accessed July 28, 2009.
8. CIA. The World Factbook. Federated States of Micronesia. Accessed July 28, 2009.
9. CIA. The World Factbook. Federated States of Micronesia. Accessed July 28, 2009.
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