Yap State Nam nu Wa'ab | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname: The Island of Stone Money | |
 Map of Yap State | |
 Yap in theFederated States of Micronesia | |
| Coordinates:9°31′N138°07′E / 9.52°N 138.12°E /9.52; 138.12 | |
| Country | Federated States of Micronesia |
| Capital | Colonia |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Thomas G. Tun (acting)[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 119.54 km2 (46.15 sq mi) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,577 |
| • Density | 96.846/km2 (250.83/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Yapese |
| Time zone | UTC+10 |
| Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) | 96943 |
| ISO 3166 code | FM-YAP |
| Website | www |
Yap State is one of the four states of theFederated States of Micronesia, located in the westernmost portion of the country. The state bordersPalau to the southwest,Guam to the north, andChuuk State to the east. According to the state's population census carried out in 2020, the total population is 11,577 residing across a total area of 119.54 sq km (46.15 sq mi), though a large majority of the area is water. The only town area in the state, Colonia, serves as the state capital.
What is now current-day Yap State and some parts of Chuuk State were the historicalYapese Empire, which at its peak, controlled 1,300 km of the western Pacific comprising all the inhabited islands and atolls betweenYap andChuuk. The rulers of the chiefdom ofGagil in Yap maintained sovereignty of these islands to the east and extracted resources and tribute, maintaining close economic and political relationships with the different island groups.[2] After losing its influence and becoming incorporated territories ofSpain, theGerman Empire, theJapanese Empire, and theUnited States through theUN-mandatedTrust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), Yap and the islands and atolls between Yap and Chuuk formed Yap State upon the founding of the FSM.
According to the FSM Statistics Office, the population of Colonia and themunicipalities of Yap State was 11,577 in 2020.[3] The state has a total land area of 102 km2 (39 sq mi).
The islands are thought to have been populated from theMalay Archipelago. In approximately 950 AD, it was the seat of theYapese Empire, contemporary to theTu'i Tonga Empire. The outer islands, now part of the Yap state, were settled fromPolynesia.
The island nation formerly usedrai stones as currency. Since this stone money had to be made from a rock that could not be extracted on the island, its value derived from the dangers taken on expeditions to obtain it, mainly fromPalau.[4]
The Portuguese were the first Westerners to visit the island in 1525 when the navigatorDiogo da Rocha arrived in Ulithi and stayed there for four months.[5]
TheYap Island was underSpanish rule from the 16th century until the end of the 19th century. Still, most of the communities on the islands of the present state of Yap had little contact with Europeans and lived in complete independence. In1885, following a conflict between Spain and Germany known as theCarolines Question, the arbitration ofPopeLeo XIII confirmed possession to Spain against commercial advantages forGermany. On June 30, 1899, after theSpanish–American War, Spain sold the Carolines, the Palau Islands, and the majority of theMarianas to the German Empire.[4] At the start of theFirst World War, in 1914, theEmpire of Japan occupied the area. This occupation was formally recognized within the framework of theMandate of the Pacific Islands created in 1919 by theLeague of Nations.[6]
The Caroline Islands came under the control of theUnited States in 1944, which administered them as aTrust Territory of the Pacific Islands under a UN mandate received in 1947.[7] The state was once the Yap District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.[8] On May 10, 1979, Yap ratified theConstitution of the Federated States of Micronesia and became an integral part of this new nation with official independence on November 3, 1986.[9][4]
Yap State is the westernmost state of the Micronesian Federation. Further eastwards in order are the states ofChuuk,Pohnpei, andKosrae. It consists of the four main islands of Rumung, Maap, Gagil-Tamil, and Yap Proper (Marbaa') and 134 smaller islands southwest and east of Yap. The state stretches from the Yap main islands towards the east to Chuuk for 1,200 to 1,500 kilometers (750 to 930 mi; 650 to 810 nmi).[10]
The Yapanese Main Islands are located approximately 800 kilometers (500 mi; 430 nmi) southwest ofGuam, 3,200 kilometers (2,000 mi; 1,700 nmi) fromTokyo, 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi; 1,100 nmi) fromManila, and 8,000 kilometers (5,000 mi; 4,300 nmi) fromHonolulu.
Yap State has five official languages:English,Ulithian,Woleaian,Satawalese andYapese.[11]
According to the FSM Statistics Division, the 2020 population of Yap State is 11,577. The state has the third-largest population among the states in the FSM, with Chuuk and Pohnpei leading in this order.[12] The population of the state consists mainly of the local Yapanese, Ulithians, Woleaians and Satawalese people; however, the state has been seeing a rise in the number of foreign citizens from countries such as theUnited States,Japan,Palau and thePhilippines.
According to the 2018 International Religious Freedom Report compiled by theUnited States Department of State, an estimated 80% of the state population isCatholic, and the remainder isProtestant. Religious affiliation tends to follow clan lines. A majority of foreign citizens in the FSM and the state is made up of Filipino Catholics.[13]
Yap State is divided into 21municipalities, with each municipality having severalvillage units incorporated through customs and historically set boundary lines.[14] Each municipality can be placed in one of five main island groupings: Rumung, Maap, Gagil-Tamil, Marbaa' and the Neighboring Islands. The first four groupings are part of Yap Proper.
These municipalities are listed with their populations at the 2010 Census:[15]
| Yap Main Islands (7,371) | Neighboring Islands (4,006) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rumung | Maap | Gagil-Tamil | Marbaa' | |
| Rumung (58) | Maap (621) | Gagil (863) | Fanif (509) | Eauripik (114) |
| Tamil (1,231) | Weloy (1,031) | Elato (105)[16] | ||
| Dalipebinaw (397) | Fais (294) | |||
| Kanifay (314) | Faraulep (193)[17] | |||
| Rull (2,095) | Ifalik (578) | |||
| Gilman (252) | Lamotrek (329) | |||
| Ngulu (6) | ||||
| Satawal (501)[18] | ||||
| Sorol (0) | ||||
| Ulithi (847) | ||||
| Woleai (1,039) | ||||
Not included:Pikelot
Yap State is one of the four federal states of the Federated States of Micronesia. As ademocraticfederation, each state can retain a large amount of power within the state as well as a certain level of sovereignty typical of federal states. As such, the State adheres to the FSM National and Yap State constitutions to develop policies and regulations.
The State Government is unique because it consists of four government branches, each serving a specific function for policymaking. TheExecutive Branch consists of theGovernor as well as the Lieutenant Governor, along with the members of the government departments affiliated with the branch. The Executive Branch is responsible for executing laws and administering government services. The Yap State Legislature makes up theLegislative Branch, responsible for creating, debating, and passing bills for the Executive Branch to approve into law and enforce. The Yap State Court makes up theJudicial Branch, responsible for ensuring laws passed do not violate the state and national constitutions. The unique traditional branch vests its power into two groups of Yapanese chiefs. The group of Yap Main Island chiefs is known as the Council of Pilung, and the group of Yapanese outer island chiefs is known as the Council of Tamol.The two councils make sure whether proposed bills do not violate local traditional customs and regulate cultural issues.[10]
Information about some state government leaders and administrative staff is included below.
| Roles/Responsibilities | Individual |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Legislature | Hon. Nicholas Figirlaarwon |
| Vice Speaker | Hon. Theodore "Ted" Rutun |
| Floor Leader | Hon. Terrence Fong |
| Chairman, Committee on Finance | Hon. Pius Telimesei |
| Vice Chairman, Committee on Finance | Hon. Anne Marie Laamar |
| Chairman, Committee on Health and Welfare | Hon. Victor Bamog |
| Vice Chairman, Committee on Health and Welfare | Hon. Gabriel Ramoloilug |
| Chairman, Committee on Resources, Education and Development | Hon. John A. Mafel |
| Vice Chairman, Committee on Resources, Education and Development | Hon. Liyon Sulog |
| Other Members | Hon. John Masiwemai |
| Chief Clerk | Dee N. Libian |
| Assistant Chief Clerk | Ben Chosmal |
| Budget Officer | Noimilynn N.F. Pigao |
| Administrative Secretary | Theresa Kitin |
| Legislative Counsel | Genevieve M. Mangefel |
| Assistant Legislative Counsel | Vacant |
| Roles/Responsibilities | Individual | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Hon. Charles S. Chieng | ||
| Lieutenant Governor | Hon. Francis Itimai | ||
| Acting Attorney General | Quintina Letawerpiy | ||
| Acting Chief, Division of Public Safety | Zachary Gamow | ||
| Director, Administrative Services | Thomas Gilwuyoch Tun | ||
| Director, Planning and Budget | Julius Liyon Tun | ||
| Director, Youth and Civic Affairs | Alex Gilfiley | ||
| Director, Department of Resources & Development | Bernard Gorong | ||
| Director, Department of Public Works & Transportation | Joe Giltug | ||
| Director, Department of Health Services | Theo Thinnifel | ||
| Director, Department of Education | Dominic Fanasog | Commissioner, Yap State Election Office | VACANT |
| Roles/Responsibilities | Individual |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice | Hon. Cyprian Manmaw |
| Associate Justice | Hon. Jesse Torwan |
| Hon. Jonathan M. Tun | |
| Yap State Court Counsel | Seema Shaw, Esq. |
| Clerk of Court | Julianne Giley |
| Court Administrator | Achilles Defngin |
| Roles/Responsibilities | Individual |
|---|---|
| Chairman, Council of Pilung | Hon. Thomas Falngin |
| Chairman, Council of Tamol | Hon. Paul Marlul |
| Roles/Responsibilities | Individual |
|---|---|
| Public Defender | [VACANT] |
| MLSC, Dir. Attorney | John T. Mootmag, Esq. |
| Acting Director, Yap Environmental Protection Agency | Jordan Mautaman |
| Director, Yap Community Action Program | Sabino Sauchomal |
| Director, Yap Investment Trust | Patricia D. Moonfel |
| Director, Yap Fishing Authority | Timothy Igemai |
| Director, Yap State Public Service Corporation | Victor Nabeyan |
| Director, Yap State Public Library | Erica Ruepin |
| Director, Yap Visitors Authority | Susan Gooliyan |
| Director, Yap Sports Council Office | Lawrence Uwelur |
| Climate data for Yap | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 33 (91) | 34 (93) | 34 (93) | 35 (95) | 35 (95) | 34 (94) | 34 (93) | 36 (96) | 34 (94) | 34 (94) | 34 (94) | 36 (96) | 36 (96) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.1 (86.2) | 30.2 (86.4) | 31.1 (88.0) | 31.2 (88.2) | 30.9 (87.6) | 30.7 (87.3) | 30.6 (87.1) | 30.8 (87.4) | 30.9 (87.6) | 30.9 (87.6) | 30.4 (86.7) | 30.7 (87.3) | 30.7 (87.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.8 (80.2) | 26.9 (80.4) | 27.5 (81.5) | 27.6 (81.7) | 27.3 (81.1) | 27.1 (80.8) | 27.1 (80.8) | 27.1 (80.8) | 27.2 (81.0) | 27.3 (81.1) | 27.1 (80.8) | 27.2 (81.0) | 27.2 (81.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) | 23.5 (74.3) | 24.0 (75.2) | 24.1 (75.4) | 23.8 (74.8) | 23.6 (74.5) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.5 (74.3) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.8 (74.8) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.7 (74.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 19 (67) | 19 (66) | 19 (66) | 19 (67) | 18 (65) | 19 (66) | 18 (65) | 19 (66) | 19 (66) | 17 (63) | 18 (65) | 17 (63) | 17 (63) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 186 (7.33) | 152 (5.98) | 151 (5.96) | 146 (5.76) | 230 (9.06) | 322 (12.69) | 369 (14.54) | 386 (15.20) | 343 (13.51) | 304 (11.97) | 230 (9.07) | 228 (8.99) | 3,050 (120.06) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 16.8 | 13.4 | 13.7 | 12.6 | 17.1 | 20.2 | 21.2 | 20.9 | 19.3 | 20.1 | 18.7 | 17.6 | 211.6 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 82 | 81 | 80 | 79 | 81 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 82 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 210.8 | 211.9 | 251.1 | 255.0 | 244.9 | 201.0 | 189.1 | 176.7 | 180.0 | 170.5 | 192.0 | 198.4 | 2,481.4 |
| Source 1: Weatherbase[19] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:Hong Kong Observatory (sun, precipitation 1961–1990)[20] | |||||||||||||
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The GDP per capita in 2018 was US$4,510, while the total GDP in 2018 was US$52 million.[21] According to the 2010 Labor Market Statistics data compiled by the FSM Statistics Office, 67% of the total state population is in the labor force, the highest percentage of people in the labor force in the entire nation. Most of those in the labor force are in formal work, while the rest are in home production, including subsistence.[22]
Yap has a relatively smalltourism industry, with the Yap Visitors Bureau reporting only 4,000 annual visitors from 2010 to 2017.[23] China's Exhibition & Travel Group has announced plans to develop a 4,000-unit resort on the island.[23] Businesses that contribute to the state's tourism share of state GDP are Manta Ray Resort and Spa, ESA, and Yap Pacific Dive Resort.
The largest retail businesses in the State are Yap Cooperative Association (YCA) General Store, Guang Mao Enterprises, Yap Savemore Enterprises and EMI Enterprises. These businesses contribute primarily to the State's retail and wholesale sectors.
The State also has a small but essential financial sector that supports the population's investment and capital needs, local small- and medium-enterprises (SMEs), the government and state institutions, and the academic sector. It has five financial services institutions: the Bank of Guam (BOG),[24] the Bank of the Federated States of Micronesia (BFSM), Community Ayuw Services Credit Union, Western Union, and the FSM Development Bank.[25]
The State is now expected to be one of the fastest-growing economies in the country as technological innovation is highly encouraged. Although the FSM communications industry is largely monopolized by the state-operated FSM Telecommunications Corporation based in Pohnpei, Yap saw the rise of the tech startup company iBoom when the company is expected to utilise the National Government's Digital FSM Project 2017 grant funding from the World Bank to connect each home, work office, etc.[26] iBoom is expected to challenge previous monopoly of the FSM Telecom Corporation through competitive pricing and services.
Yap International Airport receives service fromUnited Airlines as well asPacific Mission Aviation. The state also has a small dockyard, colloquially known as Gampek, in Colonia just south of Tamil Harbor that services maritime vessels for inter-state and cross-border transport and freight.
Post-secondary institutions:
State secondary schools:[27]
Private Secondary and Elementary Schools:
| National | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
