Country explorer: Micronesia
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
Loading...
Overview
Micronesia is a lower-middle-income country in the Pacific with a very small population. Its economy has been volatile in recent decades, and is based on agriculture, fisheries and tourism.
The Federated States of Micronesia consists of 607 islands spread across more than a million square miles of the western Pacific Ocean.
Economy
Micronesia has experienced modest but fluctuating economic growth, characterized by changes in GDP per capita that reflect broader socio-economic transformations, similar to its Pacific counterparts, and unlike lower-middle-income countries, it faces challenges in significantly reducing poverty rates across various thresholds, amidst varying inflation rates that indicate unstable consumer price movements.
Demographics
Micronesia has experienced a gradual decrease in fertility rates and a minimal fluctuation in net migration, alongside slow population growth and a consistent increase in life expectancy, mirroring trends in lower-middle-income countries and reflecting subtle demographic shifts in a broadly stable societal context.
Basic needs
Micronesia has shown modest improvements in access to clean cooking fuels and significant strides in electricity accessibility, mirroring broader trends in island nations and lower-middle-income countries, though its progress in clean fuel usage remains relatively stagnant compared to peers like Tonga and Palau.
Human development
Micronesia has seen gradual improvements in human development indicators such as a rising Human Development Index and reductions in child mortality rates, reflecting broader societal advancements and aligning with trends observed in lower-middle-income countries.
Environment & energy
Micronesia has experienced a fluctuating yet generally decreasing trend in per capita CO₂ emissions, suggesting subtle shifts towards less carbon-intensive practices, distinguishing it from higher-emitting nations and showcasing a shared challenge with peers in managing environmental impacts.
Technology & innovation
Micronesia has experienced gradual technological advancement and digital engagement, marked by increasing internet usage and mobile subscriptions, mirroring broader trends in Pacific Island nations, albeit with unique spikes in scientific publications per capita indicative of isolated bursts of research activity.
Culture & society
Micronesia has experienced a relatively stable influx of foreign-born residents and a gradual decrease in its age dependency ratio, indicating a subtle shift towards a demographically balanced and culturally diverse society.
Governance
In the past two decades, Micronesia's governance landscape remains challenging to evaluate due to a lack of comprehensive data across key indicators, reflecting a common issue among smaller or less scrutinized nations in collecting or reporting governance metrics.