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: 7 30 N 134 30 E

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1519 km

Maritime claims

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

Elevation

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

Land use

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)

Geography
Note: 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


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Population: 18,766 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 1.75% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

Ethnic groups: Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures

Languages: English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral (Sonsorolese and English are official) Tobi (Tobi and English are official) and Angaur (Angaur Japanese and English are official)

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

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.75% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 19.88 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 7.35 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.01 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 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 illegal fishing practices and overfishing

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 17.12 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born/woman (2000 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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Capital: Koror

Administrative divisions: 18 states; Aimeliik Airai Angaur Hatobohei Kayangel Koror Melekeok Ngaraard Ngarchelong Ngardmau Ngatpang Ngchesar Ngeremlengui Ngiwal Palau Island Peleliu Sonsoral 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

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)

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

Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party [Polycarp BASILIUS]

International organization participation: ESCAP IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IFC IFRCS IMF IOC Sparteca SPC SPF UN UNCTAD WHO

Diplomatic representation

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 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 parity

Real gdp growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,800 (1997 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: coconuts copra cassava (tapioca) sweet potatoes

Industries: tourism craft items (from shell wood pearls) construction garment making

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: NA
By occupation agriculture: NA%
By occupation industry: NA%
By occupation services: NA%

Unemployment rate: 7%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: NA%

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: $14.3 million (f.o.b. 1996)
Commodities: trochus (type of shellfish) tuna copra handicrafts
Partners: US Japan

Imports: $72.4 million (f.o.b. 1996)
Commodities: machinery and equipment fuels
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
Production: 200 million kWh (1996)
Consumption: 200 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 1500 (1988)
Mobile cellular: 0 (1988)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Service providers isps: NA

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $N/A
Percent of gdp: NA%

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 (1999 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs