Statistical information Palau 1998

Palau in the World
Palau - Introduction 1998
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map reference:
OceaniaAreaTotal: 458 km²
Land: 458 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,519 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Extended fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid
Terrain: varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m
Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land useArable land: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
GeographyNote: includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
top of pagePopulation: 18,110 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 1.96% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: 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 profileAge structure0-14 years: 27% (male 2,555; female 2,405)
15-64 years: 68% (male 6,727; female 5,535)
65 years and over: 5% (male 416; female 472) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.96% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 21.26 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.9 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.24 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing
International agreements party to: Law of the Sea
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.22 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 18.82 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 67.54 years
Male: 64.49 years
Female: 70.78 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 92%
Male: 93%
Female: 90% (1980 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Palau
Conventional short form: Palau
Local long form: Beluu er a Belau
Local short form: Belau
Former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
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 named Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi
Dependent areasIndependence: 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note_the president is both the chief of state and head of government: ead of
Government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note_the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet
Elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
Election results: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of vote_Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote_Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats_one from each state; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: Senate_last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); House of Delegates_last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
Election results: Senate_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_NA; House of Delegates_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IMF, SPC, SPF, UN, WHO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
In the us chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 452-6,814
In the us fax: [1] (202) 452-6,281
From the us chief of mission: Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila); Charge d'Affaires Gerald PASCUA
From the us embassy: address NA, Koror
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 6,028, Republic of Palau 96,940
From the us telephone: [680] 488-2,920, 2,990
From the us fax: [680] 488-2,911
Flag description
: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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 population enjoys a per capita income of more than 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 rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $8,800 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%
Agriculture products: coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes
Industries: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some commercial fishing and agriculture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: NA
By occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 7%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $52.9 million
Expenditures: $59.9 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 October_30 September
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$14.3 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
Partners: US, Japan
Imports: total value:$72.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: NA
Partners: US
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: about $100 million (1989)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: US currency is used
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 62,000 kW (1995)
Production: 195 million kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 11,704 kWh (1995)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaPalau - Communication 1998
top of pageTelephones: 1,500 (1988 est.)
Telephone systemDomestic: NA
International: satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $NA
Percent of gdp: NA%
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsPalau - Transportation 1998
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 3 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalsPalau - Transnational issues 1998
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs