Map of Palau | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Humans arrived in the Palauan archipelago from Southeast Asia around 1000 B.C. and developed a complex, highly organized matrilineal society where high-ranking women picked the chiefs. The islands were the westernmost part of the widely scattered Pacific islands north of New Guinea that Spanish explorers named the Caroline Islands in the 17th century. The 18th and 19th centuries saw occasional visits of whalers and traders as Spain gained some influence in the islands and administered it from the Philippines. Spain sold Palau to Germany in 1899 after losing the Philippines in the Spanish-American War. Japan seized Palau in 1914, was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the islands in 1920, and made Koror the capital of its South Seas Mandate in 1922. By the outbreak of World War II, there were four times as many Japanese living in Koror as Palauans. In 1944, the US invasion of the island of Peleliu was one of the bloodiest island fights of the Pacific War. After the war, Palau became part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Palau voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978 and adopted its own constitution in 1981, which stated that Palau was a nuclear-free country. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted Palau financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities. However, many Palauans saw the COFA as incompatible with the Palauan Constitution because of the US military’s nuclear arsenal, and seven referenda failed to achieve ratification. Following a constitutional amendment and eighth referendum in 1993, the COFA was ratified and entered into force in 1994 when the islands gained their independence. Its funding was renewed in 2010. Palau has been on the frontlines of combatting climate change and protecting marine resources. In 2011, Palau banned commercial shark fishing and created the world’s first shark sanctuary. In 2017, Palau began stamping the Palau Pledge into passports, reminding visitors to act in ecologically and culturally responsible ways. In 2020, Palau banned coral reef-toxic sunscreens and expanded its fishing prohibition to include 80% of its exclusive economic zone.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 459 km²
Land: 459 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Forest: 90.6% (2023 est.)
Other: 0% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

Nationality

Ethnic groups

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: 40.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 24.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 15.8 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 6.3 (2024 est.)

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

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

Air pollutants

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: 89 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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

Drinking water source
Urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

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

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 name comes from a Palauan term meaning 'place of fermented angelfish;' the site of the capital was the traditional location for women to gather and offer fermented angelfish to the gods

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

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: mixed 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

Suffrage

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
Election/appointment process: 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)
Most recent election date: 5 November 2024
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%
Expected date of next election: November 2,028
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk to the left side

National symbols

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

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 1.9% (2023 est.); -1.3% (2022 est.); -13.8% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 1.9% (2023 est.); -1.3% (2022 est.); -13.8% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 77.8% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 36.3% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 36.6% (2022 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.8% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 13.5% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -74.3% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3% (2023 est.)
Industry: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Services: 76.7% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

Industries: tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture

Industrial production growth rate: -19.5% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

Unemployment rate

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $127.757 million (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $152.398 million (2020 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 18.1% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

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: $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
Commodities: ships, refined petroleum (2023)
Commodities note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

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
Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, cars, plastic products (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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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 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 24,000 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 27% (2004 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)


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Military expenditures

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 (2025)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 427 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 49, container ship 8, general cargo 200, oil tanker 52, other 118

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs