1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
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: Biodiversity, 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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 27% (male 2,595; female 2,446) 15-64 years: 68% (male 6,867; female 5,675) 65 years and over: 5% (male 416; female 468) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
21.55 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
7.74 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races
Infant mortality rate
18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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: 67.75 years male: 64.69 years female: 70.98 years (1999 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
5.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
18,467 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.94% (1999 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: 1.21 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.15 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.66 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island, Peleliu, Sonsoral, Tobi
Capital
Koror note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror
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%
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, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, 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 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
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 holiday
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
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
$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
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--consumption
200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 85% hydro: 15% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
$14.3 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities
trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
Exports--partners
US, Japan
Fiscal year
1 October--30 September
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.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$72.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities
NA
Imports--partners
US
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some commercial fishing and agriculture
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Labor force
NA
Labor force--by occupation
NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
7%
Communications
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
1 (1997)
Televisions
1,600 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
3 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km Ports and harbors: Koror
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
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
Disputes--international
none