1998 Edition

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

Climate

wet season May to November; hot and humid

Coastline

1,519 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m

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

Geographic coordinates

7 30 N, 134 30 E

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm extended fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

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

Terrain

varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Age structure

0-14 years: 27% (male 2,555; female 2,405) 15-64 years: 68% (male 6,727; female 5,535) 65 years and over: 5% (male 416; female 472) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

21.26 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

7.9 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races

Infant mortality rate

18.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

English (official in all of Palau's 16 states), Sonsorolese (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese (in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in the other 13 states)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.54 years male: 64.49 years female: 70.78 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan

Net migration rate

6.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

18,110 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

1.96% (1998 est.)

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)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.22 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 16 states named Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi

Constitution

1 January 1981

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

PS

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%

FAX

[1] (202) 452-6281 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila); Charge d'Affaires Gerald PASCUA embassy: address NA, Koror mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990

[680] 488-2911

Flag description

light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Government type

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

Independence

1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

International organization participation

ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IMF, SPC, SPF, UN, 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp BASILIUS

Legal system

based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

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

National capital

Koror note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap

National holiday

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Budget

revenues: $52.9 million expenditures: $59.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Debt-external

about $100 million (1989)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA 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

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.

Electricity-capacity

62,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

11,704 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

195 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

total value: $14.3 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts partners: US, Japan

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September Communications

GDP

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

GDP-composition by sector

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

GDP-per capita

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

GDP-real growth rate

10% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $72.4 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: NA partners: US

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some commercial fishing and agriculture

Inflation rate-consumer price index

NA%

Labor force

NA by occupation: NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

9,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

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

Telephones

1,500 (1988 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2

Televisions

1,600 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

7%

Airports

3 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km Ports and harbors: Koror

Merchant marine

none

Railways

0 km

Military branches

NA

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

NA%

Military-note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes-international

none (territory of the US)