Yap State is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia, located in the westernmost part of the country and bordered by Palau, Guam, and Chuuk State. With a population of 11,577 in 2020, its capital and only town is Colonia. Historically, Yap and parts of Chuuk formed the Yapese Empire, which controlled islands between Yap and Chuuk. The empire’s chiefdom of Gagil maintained sovereignty before colonial periods under Spain, the German Empire, the Japanese Empire, and the United States. Today, Yap is recognized as a state within the FSM after the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
History
The islands are thought to have been populated from the Malay Archipelago. In approximately 950 AD, it was the seat of the Yapese Empire, contemporary to the Tu'i Tonga Empire. The outer islands, now part of the Yap state, were settled from Polynesia.
The island nation formerly used rai 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 from Palau.3
The Portuguese were the first Westerners to visit the island in 1525 when the navigator Diogo da Rocha arrived in Ulithi and stayed there for four months.4
The Caroline Islands were under Spanish rule from the 16th century under Johannes von Yaplett 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. In 1885, following a conflict between Spain and Germany, the arbitration of Pope Leo XIII confirmed possession to Spain against commercial advantages for Germany. On June 30, 1899, after the Spanish–American War, Spain sold the Carolines, the Palau Islands, and the majority of the Marianas to the German Empire.5 At the start of the First World War, in 1914, the Empire of Japan occupied the area. This occupation was formally recognized within the framework of the Mandate of the Pacific Islands created in 1919 by the League of Nations.6
The Caroline Islands came under the control of the United States in 1944, which administered them as a Trust 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 the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia and became an integral part of this new nation with official independence on November 3, 1986.910
Geography
Yap State is the westernmost state of the Micronesian Federation. Further eastwards in order are the states of Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. 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).11
The Yapanese Main Islands are located approximately 800 kilometers (500 mi; 430 nmi) southwest of Guam, 3,200 kilometers (2,000 mi; 1,700 nmi) from Tokyo, 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi; 1,100 nmi) from Manila, and 8,000 kilometers (5,000 mi; 4,300 nmi) from Honolulu.
Languages
Yap State has five official languages: English, Ulithian, Woleaian, Satawalese and Yapese.12
Demographics
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.13 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 the United States, Japan, Palau and the Philippines.
Religion
Main article: Religion in Yap
According to the 2018 International Religious Freedom Report compiled by the United States Department of State, an estimated 80% of the state population is Catholic, and the remainder is Protestant. Religious affiliation tends to follow clan lines. A majority of foreign citizens in the FSM and the state is made up of Filipino Catholics.14
Municipalities
Yap State is divided into 21 municipalities, with each municipality having several village units incorporated through customs and historically set boundary lines.15 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:16
Municipalities (Population, 2010 Census)| 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)17 | ||
| Dalipebinaw (397) | Fais (294) | |||
| Kanifay (314) | Faraulep (193)18 | |||
| Rull (2,095) | Ifalik (578) | |||
| Gilman (252) | Lamotrek (329) | |||
| Ngulu (6) | ||||
| Satawal (501)19 | ||||
| Sorol (0) | ||||
| Ulithi (847) | ||||
| Woleai (1,039) | ||||
Not included: Pikelot
Politics and government
Yap State is one of the four federal states of the Federated States of Micronesia. As a democratic federation, 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. The Executive Branch consists of the Governor 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 the Legislative Branch, responsible for creating, debating, and passing bills for the Executive Branch to approve into law and enforce. The Yap State Court makes up the Judicial 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.20
Information about some state government leaders and administrative staff is included below.
Legislative Branch: Legislature of Yap State| 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
| 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) |
| Average precipitation 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 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82 | 81 | 80 | 79 | 81 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 82 |
| Mean monthly sunshine 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: Weatherbase21 | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Hong Kong Observatory (sun, precipitation 1961–1990)22 | |||||||||||||
Economy
The GDP per capita in 2018 was US$4,510, while the total GDP in 2018 was US$52 million.23 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.24
Yap has a relatively small tourism industry, with the Yap Visitors Bureau reporting only 4,000 annual visitors from 2010 to 2017.25 China's Exhibition & Travel Group has announced plans to develop a 4,000-unit resort on the island.26 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),27 the Bank of the Federated States of Micronesia (BFSM), Community Ayuw Services Credit Union, Western Union, and the FSM Development Bank.28
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.29 iBoom is expected to challenge previous monopoly of the FSM Telecom Corporation through competitive pricing and services.
Transportation
Yap International Airport receives service from United Airlines as well as Pacific 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.
Education
Post-secondary institutions:
State secondary schools:30
- Yap High School in Colonia
- Woleai High School in Woleai
- Outer Islands High School in Ulithi
Private Secondary and Elementary Schools:
- Yap Catholic High School in Lamer village, Rull31
- Saint Mary's School in Colonia
- Yap Seventh Day Adventist School in Tamil
- Faith Christian Academy in Makiy, Gagil
- Yap International Christian School in Gaanelay, Rull
Notable people
- John Mangefel: FSM Founding Father; First State Governor
- Petrus Tun: FSM Founding Father; first FSM Vice President; Second State Governor
- Jennifer Chieng: Boxer and mixed martial artist (MMA)
- Manuel Minginfel: Yap State renowned Weightlifter and FSM Olympian
See also
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Habele, a South Carolina–based charitable organization providing private economic educational assistance in Yap
- History of the Federated States of Micronesia.
- Traditional Councils in the Yap State
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yap.- The Official Government Website for the Island of Yap Archived 2022-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
- Federated States of Micronesia – Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae
- BBC
- Statistics on buildings, population; Source: Statistics Section, Office of Planning and Budget, Yap State
- United States of America and Japan – Treaty concerning the Yap Island and the other islands under mandate, situated in the Pacific North of the Equator and exchange of Notes relating thereto. Washington, 11 February 1922
- NOAA's National Weather Service – Yap, FSM
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