d president; percent of
Congress vote--NA; Leo A. FALCAM elected vice president; percent of
Congress vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress (14 seats; members
elected by popular vote; four--one elected from each of state--to
serve four-year terms and 10--elected from single-member districts
delineated by population--to serve two-year terms)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 7 March 1995
(next to be held 2 March 1999); elections for two-year term seats
last held 3 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 14

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: no formal parties

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ann WRIGHT
embassy: address NA, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of
Micronesia 96941

Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars
centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economy

Economy--overview: Economic activity consists primarily of
subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral
deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The
potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the
location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development.
Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue,
with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s.
Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are
major impediments to long-term growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$220 million (1996 est.)
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100
million annually

GDP--real growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,760 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: N