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: 459 km²
Land: 459 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 198
Comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1519 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 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: 0 m
Note: lowest point: Pacific Ocean

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 10.8% (2011 est.)
Forest: 87.6% (2011 est.)
Other: 1.6% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2012)

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
Distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap: 21,516 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 219
Growth rate: 0.4% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 162
Below poverty line: 24.9%
Below poverty line note: NA (2006)

Nationality
Noun: Palauan(s)
Adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 73%, Carolinian 2%, Asian 21.7%, caucasian 1.2%, other 2.1% (2015 est.)

Languages:

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: 19.37% (male 2,149 /female 2019)
15-24 years: 16.4% (male 1768 /female 1760)
25-54 years: 45.74% (male 6,016 /female 3,826)
55-64 years: 9.99% (male 765 /female 1384)
65 years and over: 8.5% (male 464 /female 1365) (2018 est.)

Median age
Total: 33.6 years
Male: 32.8 years
Female: 35.3 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 92

Population growth rate: 0.4% (2018 est.)
Rank: 162

Birth rate: 11.3 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 173

Death rate: 8.2 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 85

Net migration rate: 0.8 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 60

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 79.9% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 1.77% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 299 MELEKEOK (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, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years: 1.57 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years: 0.54 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over: 0.37 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 10.3 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 11.8 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Female: 8.8 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Rank: 133

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.6 years (2018 est.)
Male: 70.4 years (2018 est.)
Female: 77 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 136

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 171

Drinking water source
Urban: 3% of population
Rural: 14% of population
Total: 4.7% of population (2011 est.)

Physicians density: 1.19 physicians/1000 population (2014)

Hospital bed density: 4.8 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

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

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 55.3% (2016)
Rank: 3

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
Total population: 96.6% (2015 est.)
Male: 96.8% (2015 est.)
Female: 86% (2015 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 17 years (2013)
Male: 16 years (2013)
Female: 18 years (2013)

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)

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 (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitutionIndependence Day, 1 October (1994)

Constitution
History: ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981 (2017)
Amendments: proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25 percent 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 1992, 2004, 2008 (2017)

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
Residency requirement for naturalization: note - no procedure for naturalization

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Tommy REMENGESAU (since 17 January 2013); 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 (since 17 January 2013); 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 (eligible for a second 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 (independent) 51.3%, Surangel WHIPPS, Jr.(independent) 48.7%; Antonio BELLS elected vice president

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 300, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 452-6,814
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 452-6,281
In the us consulate: Tamuning (Guam)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Amy HYATT (since 9 March 2015)
From the us embassy: Koror (no street address)
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

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

National anthem
Name: Belau rekid (Our Palau)
Lyricsmusic: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL: note: adopted 1980

Economy 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 217

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 215

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 115

Gross national saving:
Rank: 2

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 60.5% (2016 est.)
Government consumption: 27.2% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22.7% (2016 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.9% (2016 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 55.2% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -67.6% (2016 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3% (2016 est.)
Industry: 19% (2016 est.)
Services: 78% (2016 est.)

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
Note: NA

Labor force: 11,610 (2016)
Rank: 216
By occupation agriculture: 1.2%
By occupation industry: 12.4%
By occupation services: 86.4% (2016)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 15

Population below poverty line: 24.9%
Note: NA (2006)

Budget
Revenues: 193 million (2012 est.)
Expenditures: 167.3 million (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 8.8% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 3

Taxes and other revenues: 66.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Rank: 6

Public debt:
Rank: 179

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 46

Market value of publicly traded shares: NA

Current account balance:
Rank: 79

Exports:
Rank: 70
Partners: Japan 51.3%, US 15.8%, India 13.8%, Guam 8% (2017)
Commodities: shellfish, tuna, other fish (many species)

Imports:
Rank: 134
Commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs
Partners: US 33.4%, Guam 15.8%, Japan 15.7%, China 13.5%, South Korea 5.3% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 193

Debt external:
Rank: 94 (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Access population without electricity: 8,752 (2012)
Access electrification total population: 59% (2012)
Access electrification urban areas: 62% (2012)
Access electrification rural areas: 45% (2012)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 7,204 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 201
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 24,000 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 208

Telephone system
General assessment: well-developed mobile sector recently boosted by satellite network capacity upgrades (2016)
Domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with a combined subscribership of over 140 per 100 persons (2016)
International: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (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)

Internet
Country code: .pw
Users total: 7,650 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 36% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 212

National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)

Airports: 3 (2013)
Rank: 196
With paved runways total: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2 (2013)

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Koror

Disputes international: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia