Micronesia, Federated States of

This republic in the Pacific, officially known as the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), is a former United Nations Trust Territory under U.S. administration, and consists of over 600 small islands (702 square kilometer total land area) in the Pacific Ocean northeast of Papua New Guinea. It gained independence in 1986. The 2009 population was estimated to be 107,400.

The female life expectancy is 72. FSM has a birth rate of 24.7 per 1,000, and an infant mortality rate of 29.2 per 1,000 live births. Abortion is available only to save the mother's life. The total fertility rate is 3.8 children per woman, but the annual growth rate only 0.5 percent due to substantial out-migration. The culture is male dominated, and women suffer significant social and ...