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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.

[edit] Geography

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
water: 0 sq km
land: 458 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 

exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
extended fishing zone: 200 NM

Climate 

wet season May to November; hot and humid

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
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Natural resources 

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

Land use 

arable land: 21.74%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 78.26% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

NA sq km

Natural hazards 

typhoons (June to December)

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

Environment - international agreements 

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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

[edit] People

Population 

19,409 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 26.8% (male 2,678; female 2,522)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 7,241; female 6,074)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 426; female 468) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

1.61% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

19.32 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio 

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

16.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 69.19 years
female: 72.5 years (2002 est.)
male: 66.07 years

Total fertility rate 

2.47 children born/woman (2002 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) 70%, Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese) 28%, white 2% (2000 est.)

Religions 

Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)

Languages 

English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral (Sonsorolese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)

Literacy 

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)

[edit] Government

Country name 

conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local short form: Belau
former: Palau District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
local long form: Beluu er a Belau

Government type 

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

Capital 

Koror; note - a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror

Administrative divisions 

16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsoral

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 Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19 January 2001); 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 Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 53%, Peter SUGIYAMA 46%; Sandra PIERANTOZZI elected vice president; percent of vote - Sandra PIERANTOZZI 52%, Alan SEID 45%

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 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004); House of Delegates - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
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

Political parties and leaders 

none

Political pressure groups and leaders 

NA

International organization participation 

ACP, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: the Ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau; Charge d'Affaires Ronald A. HARMS
embassy: address NA, Koror
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

[edit] Economy

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 50,000 in FY00/01. The population enjoys a per capita income twice 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 - $174 million
note: GDP numbers reflect US spending (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line 

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

3.4% (2000 est.)

Labor force 

8,300 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation 

agriculture 20%, industry NA%, services NA% (1990)

Unemployment rate 

2.3% (2000 est.)

Budget 

revenues: $57.7 million
expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital expenditures of $17.1 million

Industries 

tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making

Industrial production growth rate 

NA%

Agriculture - products 

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Exports 

$11 million f.o.b. (1999)

Exports - commodities 

shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Exports - partners 

US, Japan, Singapore

Imports 

$126 million f.o.b. (1999)

Imports - commodities 

machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners 

US

Debt - external 

$0 (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient 

$155.8 million (1995); 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

Currency 

US dollar (USD)

Currency code 

USD

Exchange rates 

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year 

1 October - 30 September

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

6,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

1,000 (2002)

Telephone system 

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios 

12,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

1 (1997)

Televisions 

11,000 (1997)

Internet country code 

.pw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

1 (2002)

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

0 km

Highways 

total: 61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km

Waterways 

none

Ports and harbors 

Koror

Merchant marine 

none (2002 est.)

Airports 

3 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)

[edit] Military

Military branches 

NA

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$NA

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

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

none