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In general, information available as of 1 January 2003 was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003. This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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| Introduction | Palau | Top of Page
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.
| Geography | Palau | Top of Page
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
| People | Palau | Top of Page
Population: | 19,717 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 26.7% (male 2,714; female 2,552) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 7,352; female 6,197) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 429; female 473) (2003 est.)
Median age: | total: 30.8 years male: 31.8 years female: 29.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate: | 1.54% (2003 est.)
Birth rate: | 19.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate: | 7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate: | 3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 15.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 17.55 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 69.5 years male: 66.37 years female: 72.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 2.47 children born/woman (2003 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 (Sonsoralese 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.)
| Government | Palau | Top of Page
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, G-77, 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: 1800 K Street NW, Suite 714, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: the Ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau 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
| Economy | Palau | Top of Page
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: $174 million $174 million GDP estimate includes US subsidy (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: | 9,845 (2000)
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 (FY 98/99 est.)
Industries: | tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making
Industrial production growth rate: | NA%
Electricity - production by source: | 0%
Agriculture - products: | coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes
Exports: | $18 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: | shellfish, tuna, copra, garments
Exports - partners: | US, Japan, Singapore (2000)
Imports: | $99 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners: | US, Guam, Japan, Singapore, Korea (2000)
Debt - external: | $0 (FY 99/00)
Economic aid - recipient: | $155.8 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
Currency: | US dollar (USD)
Currency code: | USD
Exchange rates: | the US dollar is used
Fiscal year: | 1 October - 30 September
| Communications | Palau | Top of Page
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)
Television broadcast stations: | 1 (1997)
Internet country code: | .pw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2002)
| Transportation | Palau | Top of Page
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 (2002)
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)
| Military | Palau | Top of Page
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
| Transnational Issues | Palau | Top of Page
Disputes - international: | none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003