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 independence 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 independence.

Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N 134 30 E

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 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: 1519 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

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

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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

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

Land use
Arable land: 8.7%
Permanent crops: 4.35%
Other: 86.95% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

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 War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

Population: 20,579 (July 2006 est.)
Growth rate: 1.31% (2006 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Palauan
Adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9% Filipino 15.3% Chinese 4.9% other Asian 2.4% white 1.9% Carolinian 1.4% other Micronesian 1.1% other or unspecified 3.2% (2000 census)

Languages: Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official) Tobi (Tobi and English are official) and Angaur (Angaur Japanese and English are official) Filipino 13.5% English 9.4% Chinese 5.7% Carolinian 1.5% Japanese 1.5% other Asian 2.3% other languages 1.5% (2000 census)

Religions: Roman Catholic 41.6% Protestant 23.3% Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau) Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3% Jehovah's Witness 0.9% Latter-Day Saints 0.6% other religion 3.1% unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)

Age structure
0-14 years: 26.3% (male 2,789/female 2,622)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 7,664/female 6,549)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 453/female 502) (2006 est.)

Median age
Total: 31.7 years
Male: 32.7 years
Female: 30.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.31% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 18.03 births/1000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 6.8 deaths/1000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.85 migrant(s)/1000 population (2006 est.)

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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male/female
15-64 years: 1.17 male/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male/female
Total population: 1.13 male/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 14.46 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 16.19 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 12.63 deaths/1000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.42 years
Male: 67.26 years
Female: 73.77 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.46 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

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

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

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

Capital
Name: Melekeok
Geographic coordinates: 7 29 N, 134 38 E
Time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005)
Cabinet: NA
Elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
Election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. reelected president; percent of vote - Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 64%, Polycarp BASILIUS 33%; Elias Camsek CHIN elected vice president; percent of vote - Elias Camsek CHIN 70%, Sandra PIERANTOZZI 29%

Legislative branch
Elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); House of Delegates - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 (four new members elected); House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 16 (one new member elected)

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

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: ACP AsDB FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IFC IFRCS IMF IOC IPU MIGA OPCW PIF Sparteca SPC UN UNCTAD UNESCO WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
In the us chancery: 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20,006
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 452-6,814
In the us fax: [1] (202) 452-6,281
In the us consulates general: Honolulu
In the us consulates: Tamuning (Guam)
From the us chief of mission: US ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau
From the us embassy: Koror (no street address)