2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

458 sq km

total

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

highest point

Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 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, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, 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%

forests and woodland

NA%

other

NA%

permanent crops

NA%

permanent pastures

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

Birth rate

19.88 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures

Infant mortality rate

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

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.88 years (2000 est.)

male

65.47 years

total population

68.59 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

90% (1980 est.)

male

93%

total population

92%

Nationality

adjective

Palauan

noun

Palauan(s)

Net migration rate

5.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

18,766 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.75% (2000 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 (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.47 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

former

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

local long form

Beluu er a Belau

local short form

Belau

Data code

PS

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

488-2920, 2990

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Hersey KYOTA

telephone

(202) 452-6814

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet

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

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%

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)

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

FAX

(202) 452-6281

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas

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)

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

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)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Political parties and leaders

Palau Nationalist Party [Polycarp BASILIUS]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$52.9 million

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

machinery and equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

US

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

7%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

12,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,500 (1988)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1988)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

11,000 (1997)

Airports

3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

36 km

total

61 km

unpaved

25 km

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Koror

Railways

0 km

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

Military branches

NA

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Disputes - international

none

PALMYRA ATOLL