Factbook
History of FM — Timeline
Key dates in the history of FM, from the Magna Factbook and the Universal Encyclopedia.
1899In 1899, Spain sold all of the FSM to Germany.
1914Japan seized the islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer them in 1920.
1944The US bombed Chuuk in 1944 but largely bypassed the other islands in its leapfrog campaign across the Pacific.
1947In 1947, the FSM came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which comprised six districts: Chuuk, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, and Yap; Kosrae was separated from Pohnpei into a separate district in 1977.
1979In 1979, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap ratified the FSM Constitution and declared independence while the other three districts opted to pursue separate political status.
1986Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship).
2010Languages: English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi Religions: Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 41.1% (includes Congregational 38.5%, Baptist 1.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.8%, Assembly of God 0.7%), Church of Jesus Christ 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.) Urban population: 23.4% of total population (2023).
2018Major urban areas: 7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018) lower middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance, sunsetting in 2024; low entrepreneurship; mostly fishing and farming; US dollar user; no patent laws; tourism remains underdeveloped; significant corruption Inflation: 5.4% (2022 est.).
2023Industries: tourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood) Agriculture: coconuts, cassava, vegetables, sweet potatoes, bananas, pork, plantains, fruits, beef, eggs (2023) Electricity access: 85.3% (2022 est.).
