01
Physical geography
Islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk.
Local timePalikir ·
Oceania / Micronesia · Card 012
Micronesia
Micronesia is a country in Micronesia. Its capital is Palikir.
Find Micronesia
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Palikir
- Languages
- English & local languages
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Population
- 113,6832025 · World Bank
- Area
- 702 km²271.04 square miles
- Free association
- 1986Compact with the United States; UN trusteeship ended in 1990.
Micronesia in context
Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Palikir; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
English is used by the national government. Chuukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosraean and other languages are spoken across the islands.
03
Location
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia.
Flag
Light blue with four five-pointed white stars centered and arranged in a diamond pattern
History & status
The islands were governed by Spain, Germany and Japan before becoming part of the US-administered UN trust territory after the Second World War. In 1979, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae formed the Federated States of Micronesia under a federal constitution. The Compact of Free Association with the United States entered into force in 1986; the UN trusteeship formally ended in 1990.
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The federal constitution takes effect
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The Compact of Free Association enters into force
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The UN trusteeship formally ends
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The federation joins the United Nations
Economy
Main activities
Fishing access fees, public services and Compact assistance from the United States support the economy. Subsistence agriculture and coastal fishing remain important, especially outside the main towns. Tourism and small businesses face the challenges of widely scattered islands, limited transport links and high imported energy costs.
Industry and production
Fishing, copra and agricultural production, small-scale tourism and public services.
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Thousands of people113.72025 · thousands of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Thousands of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 58,922 | 58.922 |
| 1980 | 77,407 | 77.407 |
| 1990 | 100,888 | 100.888 |
| 2000 | 112,044 | 112.044 |
| 2010 | 107,540 | 107.540 |
| 2020 | 110,916 | 110.916 |
| 2025 | 113,683 | 113.683 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars0.342025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 241,563,764 | 0.242 |
| 1991 | 259,505,476 | 0.260 |
| 1992 | 269,906,612 | 0.270 |
| 1993 | 291,878,753 | 0.292 |
| 1994 | 290,318,622 | 0.290 |
| 1995 | 310,682,914 | 0.311 |
| 1996 | 300,309,045 | 0.300 |
| 1997 | 281,656,558 | 0.282 |
| 1998 | 289,646,642 | 0.290 |
| 1999 | 292,916,218 | 0.293 |
| 2000 | 306,462,262 | 0.306 |
| 2001 | 312,040,376 | 0.312 |
| 2002 | 313,423,402 | 0.313 |
| 2003 | 318,948,292 | 0.319 |
| 2004 | 308,772,635 | 0.309 |
| 2005 | 317,243,697 | 0.317 |
| 2006 | 315,932,773 | 0.316 |
| 2007 | 310,689,076 | 0.311 |
| 2008 | 302,823,529 | 0.303 |
| 2009 | 306,756,303 | 0.307 |
| 2010 | 312,000,000 | 0.312 |
| 2011 | 323,798,319 | 0.324 |
| 2012 | 318,554,622 | 0.319 |
| 2013 | 306,756,303 | 0.307 |
| 2014 | 298,890,756 | 0.299 |
| 2015 | 312,000,000 | 0.312 |
| 2016 | 315,932,773 | 0.316 |
| 2017 | 322,487,395 | 0.322 |
| 2018 | 323,798,319 | 0.324 |
| 2019 | 335,596,639 | 0.336 |
| 2020 | 328,693,311 | 0.329 |
| 2021 | 338,881,815 | 0.339 |
| 2022 | 328,328,612 | 0.328 |
| 2023 | 332,041,936 | 0.332 |
| 2024 | 339,683,314 | 0.340 |
| 2025 | 343,292,813 | 0.343 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.615Medium human developmentRank 149 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20000.596
20100.603
20200.609
20230.615
67.2 yearsLife expectancy at birth
7.3 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
A federal republic of four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. Congress elects a President from among its members. Each state has its own constitution and government. The federation is sovereign and in free association with the United States under a compact.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Micronesia.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which four states form the Federated States of Micronesia?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.