World Facts Index
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.
Geography of Palau
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Location:
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Oceania, group of islands
in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines |
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Coordinates:
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7 30 N, 134 30 E |
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Area:
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total: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 458 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly more than 2.5
times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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1,519 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone:
12 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
extended fishing zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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wet season May to November;
hot and humid |
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Terrain:
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varying geologically from
the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands
usually fringed by large barrier reefs |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m |
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Natural resources:
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forests, minerals
(especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons (June to December) |
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Environment current issues:
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inadequate facilities for
disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and
coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing |
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population of Palau
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Population:
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21,093 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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) |
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Median age:
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31.7 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.31% |
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Infant mortality:
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14.46 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 70.42 years
male: 67.26 years
female: 73.77 years |
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Fertility rate:
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2.46 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan |
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Ethnic groups:
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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% |
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Religions:
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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% |
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Languages:
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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% |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total : 92%
male: 93%
female: 90%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of
Palau
local short form: Belau
former: Palau District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
local long form: Beluu er a Belau |
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Government type:
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constitutional government in free
association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994 |
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Capital:
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Koror; note - a new capital is being built
about 20 km northeast of Koror |
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Administrative divisions:
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16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur,
Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar,
Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsoral |
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Independence:
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1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN
Trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, 9 July (1979) |
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Constitution:
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1 January 1981 |
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Legal system:
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based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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). |
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Legislative branch:
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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) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; National Court; Court of
Common Pleas |
Economy
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. The Compact of Free Association
with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October
1994, provided Palau with up to $700 million in US aid for the following 15
years in return for furnishing military facilities. 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.
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GDP:
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$124.5 million
note: GDP estimates includes US subsidy (2004 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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1% |
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GDP per capita:
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$5,800 (2005 est.) |
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Inflation rate:
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3.4% |
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Labor force:
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10,200 (2005) |
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Unemployment:
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4.2% (2005 est.) |
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Industries:
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tourism, craft items (from shell, wood,
pearls), construction, garment making |
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Agriculture:
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coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet
potatoes |
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Exports:
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shellfish, tuna, copra, garments |
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Export partners:
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US, Japan, Singapore |
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Imports:
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machinery and equipment, fuels, metals;
foodstuffs |
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Import partners:
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US, Guam, Japan, Singapore, South Korea |
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Currency:
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US dollar (USD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |