The Federated States of Micronesia is made up of four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae.
These states stretch across the western Pacific portion of the Caroline Islands, arranged roughly from west to east in that order. Each state is centered on one or more main islands and, except for Kosrae, includes numerous smaller islands and atolls. Together, the federation contains about 607 islands but only around 702 square kilometers of land.
The four-state structure developed from districts of the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which the United States administered after World War II. Four districts ratified a constitution on May 10, 1979, creating the federation; the country entered into its Compact of Free Association with the United States when it became independent on November 3, 1986. Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands followed separate political paths.
A common mix-up is confusing the country with the broader geographic region called Micronesia. The region includes several countries and territories, while the Federated States of Micronesia specifically contains these four states. The four stars on its national flag represent them.