Micronesia, in the western Pacific, consists of some 600 islands grouped into four states: Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk) and Yap.
Prime minister: John Key
Population
106,487
4,327,944
Life Expectancy
71.800 years
80.710 years
Capital City
Wellington
Largest city
Weno (population: 17,624)
Auckland (population: 417,910)
Human Development Index
NA
0.944
GDP per capita
$28,000 US
Literacy Rate
89%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
NA
9.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
NA
33.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Graeme Hart ($4.5bn US)
Unemployment Rate
6.500%
Death Penalty
NA
Abolished
Political System
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
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
26 September 1907 (from UK)
Religions
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Languages
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Exports
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
External Debt
$85,650,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
9
Location
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Area
702 km sq
267,710 km sq
Coastline
6,112 km
15,134 km
Climate
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
