The Human Truth Foundation

Micronesia (Federated States of Micronesia)

http://www.humantruth.info/micronesia.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#micronesia

Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index161st best
CapitalPalikir
Land Area 3 170km21
LocationAustralasia, Micronesia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population0.1m2
Life Expectancy70.71yrs (2017)3
GNI$3 696 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesFM, FSM, 5835
Internet Domain.fm6
CurrencyDollar (USD)7
Telephone+6918

1. Overview

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.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverThe four unique states of Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap have distinct cultures, traditions and identities as colourful and diverse as the multitudes of coral formations that live in their fringing reefs. Known collectively as the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), these four states are otherwise unrelated, and travellers looking to experience a variety of lifestyles are in luck.

Kosrea is a Pacific paradise and arguably FSM´s most beautiful island. Its people are true believers, and here everything shuts down on Sunday and full focus is given to vibrant all-singing, all-dancing church ceremonies (with a relaxed island twist).

Pohnpei is home to mysterious ancient ruins and a plethora of lush landforms, and retains a system of chiefs and clan titles - a distinct style of governance that still exerts significant social and political influence.

Chuuk is renowned for its wreck diving, and while it is just coming to terms with international tourism, the uncompromising nature of the Chuukese holds firm.

Last, but not least, Yap is a fiercly traditional state retaining a true island spirit. Its people retain their architecture, customs, religions and gigantic stone money - it´s an eternally fascinating place.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Micronesia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
131Marshall Islands0.639
132India0.633
133Ghana0.632
134Micronesia0.628
135Guatemala0.627
136Kiribati0.624
137Honduras0.621
138Sao Tome & Principe0.618
Australasia Avg0.70
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
154Nepal$3 877
155Myanmar (Burma)$3 851
156Zimbabwe$3 810
157Micronesia$3 696
158Cameroon$3 621
159Sudan$3 575
160Benin$3 409
161Senegal$3 344
Australasia Avg$12 519
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway25.2
2Denmark26.1
3Taiwan26.6
...
158Ivory Coast90.8
159Libya90.8
160Mali91.0
161Micronesia91.4
162Laos91.7
163Myanmar (Burma)91.8
164Marshall Islands92.3
165Mozambique92.7
Australasia Avg79.7
World Avg70.6
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Micronesia's Demographics and Migration

#1990s #2000s #2010s #birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Micronesia's population is predicted to rise to 128 767 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.33. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
177Samoa0.2m
178St Lucia0.2m
179Kiribati0.1m
180Micronesia0.1m
181Grenada0.1m
182St Vincent & Grenadines0.1m
183Tonga0.1m
184Seychelles97 096
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
106Mongolia71.0
107Uzbekistan70.9
108El Salvador70.7
109Micronesia70.7
110Venezuela70.6
111Jamaica70.5
112Belize70.5
113Vanuatu70.4
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
129Swaziland3.21
130Bolivia3.25
131Pakistan3.25
132Micronesia3.33
133Sao Tome & Principe3.52
134Djibouti3.61
135Vanuatu3.77
136Samoa3.77
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
...
75Bangladesh10.6
76Nepal10.8
77Bhutan10.8
78Micronesia10.8
79Honduras11.0
80Turkmenistan11.0
81Maldives11.0
82Mongolia11.8
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
108Cape Verde2.8%
109Burundi2.8%
110Chile2.7%
111Micronesia2.6%
112Azerbaijan2.6%
113Kiribati2.6%
114Samoa2.5%
115Zimbabwe2.4%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
28Portugal20.8%
29Lesotho20.5%
30El Salvador20.5%
31Micronesia19.7%
32Belarus18.4%
33Eritrea18.0%
34Croatia17.1%
35Liechtenstein17.1%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Micronesia's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1New Zealand17.5
2Australia24.1
3Fiji102.4
4Papua New Guinea122.4
5Nauru123.4
6Micronesia128.8
7Palau131.0
8Tonga132.9
9Marshall Islands134.6
10Samoa136.1
11Vanuatu138.2
12Kiribati138.4
13Cook Islands144.5
Australasia Avg120.0
q=15.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
...
170Grenada128.6
171Equatorial Guinea128.6
172Myanmar (Burma)128.7
173Micronesia128.8
174Chad130.6
175Palau131.0
176Tonga132.9
177Syria133.1
World Avg87.7
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark18. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu18.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe18, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia18.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better19
Pos.2009
Treaties19
1Argentina24
2Chile23
3Costa Rica23
...
183Tonga6
184Pakistan6
185Tuvalu5
186Micronesia5
187Singapore5
188Nauru5
189Marshall Islands4
190Myanmar (Burma)4
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better20
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty20
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
183Papua New Guinea15.23
184Brunei15.29
185Tonga15.55
186Micronesia15.55
187Somalia15.71
188Kiribati15.80
189Solomon Islands15.81
190Nauru16.16
Australasia Avg14.35
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.0
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
172Zimbabwe1978
173Marshall Islands1979
174Palau1979
175Micronesia1979
176Iraq1980
177Vanuatu1980
178Liechtenstein1984
179Djibouti1986
Australasia Avg1962
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
21
Pos.2017
Score21
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
87Nauru20
88Marshall Islands20
89Guinea-Bissau20
90Micronesia20
91Armenia20
92Mozambique17
93Laos15
94Haiti15
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
22
Pos.202122
1Belgium1.0
2Netherlands1.0
3Taiwan1.0
...
19USA1.8
20Kosovo1.8
21St Kitts & Nevis1.8
22Micronesia1.8
23Mozambique1.8
24Burkina Faso1.8
25Namibia1.8
26Slovenia1.8
Australasia Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Micronesia's Health

#1990s #2000s #2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #Micronesia #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2020)23
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank23
1Solomon Islands82.0
2Australia84.6
3Kiribati87.0
...
8Tonga104.1
9Samoa107.8
10Tuvalu112.5
11Micronesia114.2
12Papua New Guinea120.8
13Cook Islands123.7
14Nauru134.8
15Palau146.0
16Marshall Islands158.3
Australasia Avg109.4
q=16.
Health (2020)23
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank23
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
168Togo113.6
169Liberia113.8
170Mozambique113.9
171Micronesia114.2
172Argentina114.9
173Central African Rep.115.5
174Laos115.9
175Guinea-Bissau116.4
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives24. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau24.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean24, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa24.

For more, see:

Health:

Micronesia has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Micronesia does better than average for its alcohol consumption rate25 and in its adolescent birth rate26 (one of the lowest in Australasia). And finally, it does worse than average when it comes to its average life expectancy11 (still high for Australasia), its fertility rate13 and in its immunizations take-up27 (amongst the worst in Australasia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Micronesia improved by +3.7yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
106Mongolia71.0
107Uzbekistan70.9
108El Salvador70.7
109Micronesia70.7
110Venezuela70.6
111Jamaica70.5
112Belize70.5
113Vanuatu70.4
Australasia Avg70.11
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
25
Pos.2016
Per Capita25
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
46Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2.1
47Mozambique2.4
48Samoa2.5
49Micronesia2.5
50Guatemala2.5
51Congo, DR2.6
52Uzbekistan2.7
53Ghana2.7
Australasia Avg4.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
129Swaziland3.21
130Bolivia3.25
131Pakistan3.25
132Micronesia3.33
133Sao Tome & Principe3.52
134Djibouti3.61
135Vanuatu3.77
136Samoa3.77
Australasia Avg3.26
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better28
Pos.2016
%28
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
179Saudi Arabia69.7
180Qatar71.7
181Kuwait73.4
182Micronesia75.9
183Samoa77.6
184Tonga78.5
185Kiribati78.7
186Niue80.0
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
26
Pos.2015
Per 100026
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
47Australia14.1
48UK14.6
49Sri Lanka14.8
50Micronesia15.0
51Tonga15.2
52Mongolia15.7
53Turkmenistan16.4
54Myanmar (Burma)16.5
Australasia Avg30.1
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
27
Pos.2015
Avg %27
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
160Lebanon79.4
161San Marino79.3
162Gabon78.7
163Micronesia78.2
164Philippines77.9
165Sweden77.8
166Ivory Coast76.9
167Congo, DR76.5
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Micronesia's Modernity and Learning

#1990s #2000s #2010s #education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)29
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29
1New Zealand17.6
2Australia19.2
3Palau59.3
...
8Nauru99.0
9Marshall Islands102.8
10Samoa103.4
11Vanuatu117.0
12Micronesia131.3
13Kiribati143.0
14Tuvalu148.0
15Papua New Guinea150.4
16Solomon Islands152.7
Australasia Avg98.1
q=16.
Modernity & Learning (2020)29
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
175Timor-Leste (E. Timor)129.0
176Honduras130.6
177Liberia130.8
178Micronesia131.3
179Tanzania132.0
180Mozambique133.8
181Yemen134.4
182Mauritania134.7
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling
Higher is better
30
Pos.2021
Years30
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
142Kiribati11.8
143Nauru11.7
144Tajikistan11.7
145Micronesia11.5
146Vanuatu11.5
147Cambodia11.5
148Lebanon11.3
149Rwanda11.2
Australasia Avg13.4
World Avg13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
31
Pos.201631
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
128Kyrgyzstan34%
129Egypt33%
130Cuba32%
131Micronesia31%
132Vanuatu31%
133Syria30%
134Sri Lanka29%
135Samoa29%
Australasia Avg44.3%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
32
Pos.2017
Ratio32
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
123Mongolia0.0
124Samoa0.0
125Albania0.0
126Micronesia0.0
127Algeria0.0
128Djibouti0.0
129Guyana0.0
130Namibia0.0
Australasia Avg1.55
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #the_environment

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
33
Pos.201833
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
119Tanzania50.8
120China50.7
121Thailand49.9
122Micronesia49.8
123Libya49.8
124Ghana49.7
125Timor-Leste (E. Timor)49.5
126Senegal49.5
Australasia Avg55.2
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
61UK1994 Sep 01
62Chad1994 Sep 05
63Gambia1994 Sep 08
64Micronesia1994 Sep 18
65Malaysia1994 Sep 22
66Benin1994 Sep 28
67France1994 Sep 29
68Netherlands1994 Oct 10
Australasia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

8. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better34
Pos.201934
1Iceland2.40
2Singapore2.50
3Hong Kong2.50
...
115Trinidad & Tobago14.90
116Philippines15.30
117Iraq15.90
118Micronesia16.10
119Tajikistan16.70
120Dominican Rep.17.00
121Sao Tome & Principe17.00
122Bhutan17.10
Australasia Avg13.47
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better35
Pos.2017
%35
1Ukraine25.0
2Belarus25.4
3Slovenia25.4
...
96Uruguay39.5
97Sri Lanka39.8
98Iran40.0
99Micronesia40.1
100Philippines40.1
101Senegal40.3
102Argentina40.6
103Kenya40.8
Australasia Avg38.3
World Avg38.1
q=152.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below36:

Christian95.3%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.4%
Folk Religion2.7%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.9%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: 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)37.

Links:

There isn't much information in the database for Micronesia, most likely because it is either a part of another country (i.e., a territory or possession) and therefore most international statistics are counted for the country as a whole, or, this is such an exotic place that little data exists about it.