Map of Palau | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independent status in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained their independence.


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Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total area total: 458 km²
Land: 458 km²
Comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,519 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid

Terrain: about 200 islands varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Elevation

Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use
Arable land: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%
Meadows and pastures: NA%
Forest and woodland: NA%
Other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US pursuant to Compact of Free Association which entered into force 1 October 1994


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Population: 16,661 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 1.76% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Palauan(s)
Adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races

Languages: English (official in all of Palau's 16 states), Sonsorolese (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese (in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in the other 13 states)

Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.76% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 22.11 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 6.61 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.12 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging and illegal fishing practices that involve the use of dynamite
Current issues natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Current issues international agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 25.07 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71.01 years
Male: 69.14 years
Female: 73.02 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
Total population: 92%
Male: 93%
Female: 90%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Palau
Conventional short form: Palau
Former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

Government type: self-governing territory in free association with the US pursuant to Compact of Free Association which entered into force 1 October 1994; Palau is fully responsible for internal affairs; US retains responsibility for external affairs

Capital: Koror
Note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap

Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 16 states:Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi

Dependent areas

Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Constitution: 1 January 1981

Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993), Vice-President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993; election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996; results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK)
Senate: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14 total) number of seats by party NA
House of Delegates: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (16 total) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, National Court, Court of Common Pleas

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer), UN

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Liaison Officer NA
In the us liaison office: 444 North Capital Street NW, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: (202) 624-7,793
In the us FAX: NA
In the us note: relationship of free association with the US pursuant to compact of free association which entered into force 1 October 1994
From the us chief of mission: Liaison Officer Lloyd W. MOSS
From the us liaison office: Erenguul Street, Koror, Republic of Palau
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 6,028, Republic of Palau 96,940
From the us telephone: [680] 488-2,920
From the us FAX: [680] 488-2,911
From the us note: relationship of free association with the US pursuant to compact of free association which entered into force 1 October 1994

Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The compact of "free association" with the United States, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with $500 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing some military facilities. The population, in effect, enjoys a per capita income of $5,000, twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rapidly rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $5,000 (1994 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava, sweet potatoes

Industries: tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some commercial fishing and agriculture

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: NA
By occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 20% (1986)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $6 million
Expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $600,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
Commodoties: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
Partners: US, Japan

Imports: $24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Commodoties: NA
Partners: US

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: about $100 million (1989)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: US currency is used


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Electricity
Capacity: 16,000 kW
Production: 22 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 1,540 kWh (1990)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: NA telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 2

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs