Statistics Palau 
Palau in the World
Palau - Introduction 2017
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 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.
Area
Total: 459 km²
Land: 459 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 198
Comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington DC
Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Terrain: varying topography from the high mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
Elevation
Mean elevation: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m: highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m
Land use
Agricultural land: 10.8%
arable land: 2.2%
permanent crops: 4.3%
permanent pasture: 4.3%
permanent crops: 4.3%
permanent pasture: 4.3%
Forest: 87.6%
Other: 1.6%
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
Palau - People 2017
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap: 21,431 (July 2017 est.)
Rank: 219
Growth rate: 0.39% (2017 est.)
Growth rate rank: 166
Below poverty line: NA%
Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 73% Carolinian 2% Asian 21.7% caucasian 1.2% other 2.1% (2015 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%
Note: Sonsoralese is official in Sonsoral; Tobian is official in Tobi; Angaur and Japanese are official in Angaur
Religions: Roman Catholic 45.3% Protestant 34.9% (includes Evangelical 26.4% Seventh Day Adventist 6.9% Assembly of God .9% Baptist .7%) Modekngei 5.7% (indigenous to Palau) Muslim 3% Mormon 1.5% other 9.7% (2015 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 19.69%
15-24 years: 16.68%
25-54 years: 45.89%
55-64 years: 9.65%
65 years and over: 8.08% (2017 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap
Urbanization
Urban population: 88.2% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change
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 Wetlands Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male/female
15-24 years: 1 male/female
25-54 years: 1.57 male/female
55-64 years: 0.54 male/female
65 years and over: 0.37 male/female
Total population: 1.09 male/female
Infant mortality rate
Total: 10.6 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 12.1 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 9 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 133
Drinking water source:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 86% of population
total: 95.3% of population
urban: 3% of population
rural: 14% of population
total: 4.7% of population (2011 est.)
rural: 86% of population
total: 95.3% of population
urban: 3% of population
rural: 14% of population
total: 4.7% of population (2011 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Palau - Government 2017
top of pageCountry 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'
Administrative divisions: 16 states; Aimeliik Airai Angaur Hatohobei Kayangel Koror Melekeok Ngaraard Ngarchelong Ngardmau Ngatpang Ngchesar Ngeremlengui Ngiwal Peleliu Sonsorol
National holiday: Constitution Day 9 July (1981) day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day 1 October (1994)
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
Residency requirement for naturalization: note - no procedure for naturalization
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Tommy REMENGESAU ; Vice President Antonio BELLS (since 17 January 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Tommy REMENGESAU ; Vice President Antonio BELLS (since 17 January 2013)
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
Electionsappointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term ; election last held on 1 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)
Election results: Tommy REMENGESAU reelected president; percent of vote - Tommy REMENGESAU 51.3% Surangel WHIPPS Jr.(independent) 48.7%; Antonio BELLS elected vice president
Legislative branch
Description: bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau consists of the Senate and the 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 1 November 2016 ; House of Delegates - last held on 1 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 13; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 16
Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court
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 appointed until mandatory retirement at age 65
Subordinate courts: National Court and other 'inferior' courts
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
In the us chancery: 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 300 Washington DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] 452-6,814
In the us FAX: [1] 452-6,281
In the us consulate: Tamuning
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Amy HYATT
From the us embassy: Koror
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 6,028 Koror Republic of Palau 96,940
From the us telephone: [680] 587-2,920
From the us FAX: [680] 587-2,911
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
Palau - Economy 2017
top of pageEconomy overview:
The economy is dominated by tourism fishing and subsistence agriculture. Government is a major employer of the work force relying on financial assistance from the US under the Compact of Free Association (Compact) with the US that took effect after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994. The US provided Palau with roughly $700 million in aid for the first 15 years following commencement of the Compact in 1994 in return for unrestricted access to its land and waterways for strategic purposes. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly double that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia.
Business and leisure tourist arrivals reached a record 167,966 in 2015 a 14.4% increase over the previous year but fell to 138,408 in 2016. Long-run prospects for tourism have been bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific the rising prosperity of industrial East Asia and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development. Proximity to Guam the region's major destination for tourists from East Asia and a regionally competitive tourist infrastructure enhance Palau's advantage as a destination.
Business and leisure tourist arrivals reached a record 167,966 in 2015 a 14.4% increase over the previous year but fell to 138,408 in 2016. Long-run prospects for tourism have been bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific the rising prosperity of industrial East Asia and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development. Proximity to Guam the region's major destination for tourists from East Asia and a regionally competitive tourist infrastructure enhance Palau's advantage as a destination.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$292 million (2016 est.)
$283 million (2015 est.)
$252 million (2014 est.)
$283 million (2015 est.)
$252 million (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 217
Real gdp per capita:
$16,200 (2016 est.)
$15,900 (2015 est.)
$14,300 (2014 est.)
$15,900 (2015 est.)
$14,300 (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 105
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: NA% 60.6%
Government consumption: NA% 27.2%
Investment in fixed capital: NA% 22.6%
Investment in inventories: 2%
Exports of goods and services: 55.1%
Imports of goods and services: -67.5%
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
Labor force: 11,610 (2016)
Rank: 217
By occupation agriculture: 1.2%
By occupation industry: 12.4%
By occupation services: 86.4%
Budget
Revenues: $204.9 million
Expenditures: $177.6 million
Surplus or deficit: 8.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 4
Exports:
$117.5 million (2016 est.)
$14.8 million (2015 est.)
$14.8 million (2015 est.)
Rank: 193
Commodities: shellfish tuna other fish (many species)
Partners: Greece 82.4% US 6.9% (2016)
Imports:
$179.3 million (2016 est.)
$176.9 million (2015 est.)
$176.9 million (2015 est.)
Rank: 210
Commodities: machinery and equipment fuels metals; foodstuffs
Partners: US 24.6% Japan 19.8% China 14.3% Guam 14.2% Philippines 4.4% (2016)
Palau - Energy 2017
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 8,752
Access electrification total population: 59%
Access electrification urban areas: 62%
Access electrification rural areas: 45%
Palau - Communication 2017
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 7,204
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34
Fixed lines rank: 203
Mobile cellular total: 24,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112
Mobile cellular rank: 210
Telephone system
General assessment: well-developed mobile sector recently boosted by satellite network capacity upgrades
Domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with a combined subscribership of over 140 per 100 persons
International: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2016)
Broadcast media: no broadcast TV stations; a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to 4 local cable stations rebroadcasts (on a delayed basis) of a number of US stations as well as access to a number of real-time satellite TV channels; about a half dozen radio stations (1 government-owned) (2017)
Palau - Military 2017
top of pagePalau - Transportation 2017
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
Airports: 3 (2013)
Rank: 194
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
Palau - Transnational issues 2017
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