Micronesia, in the western Pacific, consists of some 600 islands grouped into four states: Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk) and Yap.
Population
2,646,314
106,487
Life Expectancy
77.280 years
71.800 years
Capital City
Kuwait
Largest city
As Salimiyah (population: 147,649)
Weno (population: 17,624)
Human Development Index
0.912
NA
GDP per capita
$42,200 US
Literacy Rate
93.3%
89%
Corruption Perception Index
4.3
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
3.1%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Nasser Al-Kharafi & family ($8.1bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
2.200%
Death Penalty
Legal
NA
Political System
constitutional emirate
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Independence date
19 June 1961 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%
Languages
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Exports
oil and refined products, fertilizers
External Debt
$41,730,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2679 (2008 est.), 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
5.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Area
17,818 km sq
702 km sq
Coastline
499 km
6,112 km
Climate
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
