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.
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates
7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references
Oceania
Area
total
458 sq km
land
458 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
1,519 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
inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing
Environment - international agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
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
20,842 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
26% (male 2,796/female 2,633)
15-64 years
69.2% (male 7,767/female 6,665)
65 years and over
4.7% (male 465/female 516) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
32 years
male
33 years
female
31 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
1.233% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
17.7 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
6.77 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.062 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.165 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.901 male(s)/female
total population
1.124 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
14.07 deaths/1,000 live births
male
15.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female
12.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
70.71 years
male
67.54 years
female
74.06 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.46 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Palauan(s)
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)
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 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (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)
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)
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); 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); 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 in 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
bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008); House of Delegates - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 16
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006
telephone
[1] (202) 452-6814
FAX
[1] (202) 452-6281
consulate(s) general
Honolulu
consulate(s)
Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
US ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau
embassy
Koror (no street address)
mailing address
P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone
[680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX
[680] 488-2911
Flag description
light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side
Economy - overview
The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 63,000 in 2003. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly 50% higher than that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$124.5 million
NOTE: includes US subsidy (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$145 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$7,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
6.2%
industry
12%
services
81.8% (2003)
Labor force
9,777 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
20%
industry
NA%
services
NA% (1990)
Unemployment rate
4.2% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.7% (2005 est.)
Budget
revenues
$72.07 million
expenditures
$72.43 million; including capital expenditures of $12.98 million (FY04/05 est.)
Agriculture - products
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish
Industries
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Electricity - production by source
NA
Current account balance
$15.09 million (FY03/04)
Exports
$5.882 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments
Exports - partners
US, Japan, Singapore (2006)
Imports
$107.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners
US, Singapore, Japan, South Korea (2006)
Debt - external
$0 (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient
$19.6 million; note - the Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities (2004)
Currency (code)
US dollar (USD)
Currency code
USD
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year
1 October - 30 September
Telephones - main lines in use
6,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1,000 (2002)
Telephone system
general assessment
NA
domestic
NA
international
country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios
12,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (cable) (2005)
Televisions
11,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.pw
Internet hosts
3 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2002)
Airports
3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
1
1,524 to 2,437 m
1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
2
1,524 to 2,437 m
2 (2006)
Roadways
total
61 km
paved
36 km
unpaved
25 km
Ports and terminals
Koror
Military branches
no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2006)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49: 5,694 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49: 4,087 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49: 142 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
NA
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years, but no military forces are stationed there (2005)
Disputes - international
maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia
