Palikir was declared the capital of Micronesia in 1989. It is the federal capital of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), a country in the western Pacific made up of four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae.
Palikir is on the island of Pohnpei, within Sokehs municipality. Before the capital was established there, nearby Kolonia served as Pohnpei's principal administrative center. The FSM government developed Palikir as a purpose-built location for national government offices after the country became self-governing.
The date can be confusing because the FSM became independent in 1979 and entered into free association with the United States. However, 1979 marks the FSM's political formation, while 1989 marks Palikir's declaration as the federal capital. The capital remains relatively small and green, reflecting Pohnpei's tropical, mountainous landscape rather than a dense urban environment.