Palau

Republic of PalauBeluu er a Belau

constitutional government in free association with the US

Palau as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 103 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalKoror

Position7 30 N, 134 30 E

Area458 sq km

LocationOceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Populationas each edition published it

18,766 people July 2000 est. · 14,310 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.75% 2000 est. · 1.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 30.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

68.59 years 2000 est. · 71.01 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.47 children per woman 2000 est. · 3.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

17.12 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 26 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$8,800 1997 est. · $2,260 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

10% 1997 est. · 10% in 1998

Introduction

1 field

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 independent status 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 their independence.

Geography

Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

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Area

458sq km

land: 458 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

1,519km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 12 nmextended fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm

Highest point

242m

Mount Ngerchelchauuslowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land:: NA%
permanent crops:: NA%
permanent pastures:: NA%
forests and woodland:: NA%
other:: NA%

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
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands;
archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

People

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Population

18,766

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 1.75% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

19.88Death

7.35Net migration

5.01

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)68.59

65.47 · 71.88

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1980 est.)92%

93% · 90%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 27% (male 2,605; female 2,458)
15-64 years:: 68% (male 7,006; female 5,814)
65 years and over:: 5% (male 416; female 467) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.21 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.15 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

17.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.47 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Palauan(s)
adjective:: Palauan

Ethnic groups

Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures

Religions

Christian (Catholics, 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)

Government

Constitutional government in free association with the US; President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993)

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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

Data code

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

18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island, Peleliu, Sonsoral, Tobi

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 Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
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 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results:: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president;
percent of vote - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%;
Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president;
percent of vote - Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats - one from each state; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: Senate - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); House of Delegates - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results:: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA;
House of Delegates - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court;
National Court;
Court of Common Pleas

Political parties and leaders

Palau Nationalist Party [Polycarp BASILIUS]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila); Charge d'Affaires Allen E. NUGENT
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

The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing.

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Real growth rate

10%

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Unemployment rate

Debt - external

$100million

about · (1989)

Budget

Revenues

$52.9 millionExpenditures

$59.9 million (1997 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 85%hydro 15%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

200 million (1996)Electricity consumption

200 million (1996)

Economy - overview

The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The population enjoys a per capita income of more than twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia.

Long-run prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $160 million (1997 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,800 (1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Exports

$14.3 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports - commodities

trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts

Exports - partners

US, Japan

Imports

$72.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

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, will provide Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities