under a UN mandate received in 1947. 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. The state was once the Yap District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Geography The State of Yap 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') in addition to 134 smaller islands southwest and east of Yap. The state stretches from the Yap main islands towards the east to Chuuk for . The Yapese Main Islands are located approximately southwest of Guam, from Tokyo, from Manila, and from Honolulu. Languages The State of Yap has five official languages: English, Ulithian, Woleaian, Satawalese and Yapese. 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. The population of the state consists mainly of the local Yapese, 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 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 tend to follow clan lines. A majority of foreign citizens in the FSM and the state is made up of Filipino Catholics. Municipalities The State of Yap is divided into 21 municipalities with each municipality having a number of village units incorporated through customs and historically set boundary lines. 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: Not included: Pikelot. Politics and government The State of Yap is one of the four federal states of the Federated States of Micronesia. As a democratic federation, each state has the ability to retain large number of power within the state as well as a certain level of sovereignty typical of