Federated States of Micronesia Country Report

The political situation in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is generally stable. There is no serious threat of civil unrest or political violence and any protest activity that does occur is low-level and typically peaceful. The primary crime threat for foreign travelers and expatriates in Micronesia comes from petty theft, with crime rates being significantly higher in Chuuk State due to high unemployment. However, violent crime is rare. Corruption is pervasive and the judiciary suffers from political interference. Road conditions are of varying quality and self-driving can be hazardous, in part due to reckless driving by some local road users. Typhoons and powerful storm surges can occur between November and April, although most are too far northwest to reach the islands. Heavy rainfall is common during the rainy season and can cause landslides and flooding.

There is no serious threat of civil unrest or political violence in Micronesia and any protest activity that does occur tends to be low-level and typically peaceful. The primary crime threat for foreign travelers and expatriates comes from petty theft, with crime rates being significantly higher in the state of Chuuk due to high unemployment. However, violent crime is rare.

There are no major concerns over air travel in Micronesia.

Roads are of varying quality, and self-driving can be hazardous due to several factors.

The Port of Pohnpei is considered relatively inefficient.

Utility provision is generally poor, especially in rural areas. However, access to the internet is slowly increasing.

As access to the internet is slowly increasing, so is the threat of cybercrime.

Micronesia faces a credible risk of powerful storm systems between November and April. Heavy rainfall is also common during the rainy season and can cause landslides and flooding leading to localized disruption. Earthquakes occur occasionally but are typically low-intensity.

Travelers' diarrhea is the most common ailment affecting travelers to the FSM. There have been minor outbreaks of the Zika virus in some areas. Medical care in Micronesia is limited and facilities may only offer basic services. Pharmacies can be found in major urban centers, but are less common in more rural areas and on small islands. Tap water is not considered safe for consumption.

The political situation is stable. Corruption in Micronesia is fairly pervasive, as political and economic interests are often intertwined. The police force is poorly trained and generally lacks equipment, incentives and proper transportation to respond to incidents of crime outside of urban centers.