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

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Background:


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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
Total: 459 km²
Land: 459 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Country comparison total: 0 km

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 1,519 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

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

Elevation
Highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 10.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 87.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 1.6% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 0 m³ (2017 est.)

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)

Geography
Note: westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes world-famous Rock Islands


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Population
Distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap
Total: 21,864
Male: 11,235
Female: 10,629 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.38% (2024 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Palauan(s)
Adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70.6%, Carolinian 1.2%, Asian 26.5%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)

Languages: Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.)
Note: Sonsoralese is official in Sonsoral; Tobian is official in Tobi; Angaur and Japanese are official in Angaur

Religions: Roman Catholic 46.9%, Protestant 30.9% (Evangelical 24.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, other Protestant 1.4%), Modekngei 5.1% (indigenous to Palau), Muslim 4.9%, other 12.3% (2020 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 1,976/female 1,849)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 8,647/female 6,935)
65 years and over: 11.2% (2024 est.) (male 612/female 1,845)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 43.8
Youth dependency ratio: 30.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 13.7
Potential support ratio: 7.3 (2021)

Median age
Total: 35.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 34.1 years
Female: 37.4 years

Population growth rate: 0.38% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 11.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap

Urbanization
Urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 277 NGERULMUD (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal and destructive fishing practices, and overfishing; climate change contributes to rising sea level and coral bleaching; drought
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 7.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.06 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.25 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.33 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72 years
Female: 78.5 years

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 99.6% of population
Unimproved rural: 0.2% of population
Unimproved total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 0.4% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 99.8% of population
Improved rural: 99% of population
Improved total: 99.6% of population
Unimproved urban: 0.2% of population
Unimproved rural: 1% of population
Unimproved total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 55.3% (2016)

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use
Total: 17.6% (2020 est.)
Male: 27.3% (2020 est.)
Female: 7.9% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 6.8% of GDP (2019)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96.6%
Male: 96.8%
Female: 96.3% (2015)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 17 years
Male: 16 years
Female: 17 years (2013)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.6% (2014)


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Country name
Conventional 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, Palau District
Etymology: from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word 'beluu' meaning 'village'

Government type: presidential republic in free association with the US

Capital
Name: Ngerulmud
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 37 E
Time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the Palauan meaning is 'place of fermented 'mud'' ('mud' being the native name for the keyhole angelfish); the site of the new capitol (established in 2006) had been a large hill overlooking the ocean, Ngerulmud, on which women would communally gather to offer fermented angelfish to the gods
Note: Ngerulmud, on Babeldaob Island, is the smallest national capital on earth by population, with only a few hundred people; the name is pronounced en-jer-al-mud; Koror, on Koror Island, with over 11,000 residents is by far the largest settlement in Palau; it served as the country's capital from independence in 1994 to 2006

Administrative divisions: 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Dependent areas

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

National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day, 1 October (1994)

Constitution
History: ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981
Amendments: proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25% of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election; amended several times, last in 2020

Legal system: mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Note: no procedure for naturalization

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021)
Head of government: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate; also includes the vice president; the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws of Palau
Elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5 November 2024 (next to be held November 2,028)
Election results: 2024: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 57.7%, Tommy REMENGESAU (independent) 42.1%, other 0.2% ; 2020: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7%, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3%
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau consists of: Senate (13 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority vote to serve 4-year terms), House of Delegates (16 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024), House of Delegates - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)
Elections results: Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 13; composition - men 12, women 1; percentage women 7.7%, House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 16; composition - men 15, women 1; percentage women 6.3%
Note: total National Congress percentage women 6.9%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; the Supreme Court organization also includes the Common Pleas and Land Courts)
Judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by a 7-member independent body consisting of judges, presidential appointees, and lawyers and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65
Subordinate courts: National Court and other 'inferior' courts

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997)
In the us chancery: 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20,006
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 349-8,598
In the us fax: [1] (202) 452-6,281
In the us email address and website: info@palauembassy.org; [link]
In the us consulates: Tamuning (Guam)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires James BOUGHNER (since 9 September 2022)
From the us embassy: Omsangel/Beklelachieb, Airai 96,940
From the us mailing address: 4,260 Koror Place, Washington, DC 20,521-4,260
From the us telephone: [680] 587-2,920
From the us fax: [680] 587-2,911
From the us email address and website: ConsularKoror@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility

National symbols: bai (native meeting house); national colors: blue, yellow

National anthem
Name: 'Belau rekid' (Our Palau)
Lyrics/music: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL
Note: adopted 1980

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 1 (mixed)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: high-income Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; subsistence agriculture and fishing industries; US aid reliance; rebounding post-pandemic tourism industry and services sector; very high living standard and low unemployment

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $284.695 million (2023 est.); $283.424 million (2022 est.); $284.454 million (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 0.45% (2023 est.); -0.36% (2022 est.); -14.16% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $15,800 (2023 est.); $15,700 (2022 est.); $15,800 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 82% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 38.3% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 38.7% (2022 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.2% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 14.2% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -78.3% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.4% (2022 est.)
Industry: 12.3% (2022 est.)
Services: 80.1% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: coconuts, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish, pigs, chickens, eggs, bananas, papaya, breadfruit, calamansi, soursop, Polynesian chestnuts, Polynesian almonds, mangoes, taro, guava, beans, cucumbers, squash/pumpkins (various), eggplant, green onions, kangkong (watercress), cabbages (various), radishes, betel nuts, melons, peppers, noni, okra

Industries: tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture

Industrial production growth rate: -19.56% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 11,610 (2016)

Unemployment rate: 1.7% (2015 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.6% (2014)

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $173.256 million (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $175.508 million (2019 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 17.93% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 85.24% of GDP (2019 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Revenue
From forest resources: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 12.8% (2023 est.); 12.35% (2022 est.); 2.61% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on 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: -$135.428 million (2022 est.); -$115.739 million (2021 est.); -$115.61 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $24.48 million (2022 est.); $10.566 million (2021 est.); $52.897 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Greece 27%, Japan 26%, France 18%, Taiwan 8%, US 7% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: ships, computers, machine parts, scrap iron, fish (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $216.681 million (2022 est.); $169.938 million (2021 est.); $207.224 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 35%, US 14%, South Korea 13%, Japan 8%, Italy 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, iron structures, plastic products, electric batteries (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $580.9 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 99.9%
Access electrification rural areas: 100%

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 8,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 24,000 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Ministry of Justice includes divisions/bureaus for public security, police functions, and maritime law enforcement (2024)

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T8

Airports: 3 (2024)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 121 km
Paved: 85 km
Unpaved: 36 km (2018)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs