2010 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 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.

Area

land

459 sq km

total

459 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

Coastline

1,519 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Ngerchelchuus 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

7 30 N, 134 30 E

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

8.7%

other

86.95% (2005)

permanent crops

4.35%

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive 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: 22.9% (male 2,458/female 2,314) 15-64 years: 70.8% (male 8,207/female 6,521) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 401/female 895) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.68 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

7.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

10.3% of GDP (2002)

Ethnic groups

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.2% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

11.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

14.43 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.78 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.84 years (2010 est.)

male

68.36 years

total population

71.51 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

90% (1980 est.)

male

93%

total population

92%

Median age

female

33 years (2010 est.)

male

32.2 years

total

32.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Palauan

noun

Palauan(s)

Net migration rate

0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

20,879 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.374% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2001)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.065 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.25 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.43 male(s)/female

total population

1.13 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

81% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Capital

geographic coordinates

7 29 N, 134 38 E

name

Melekeok

time difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

1 January 1981

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Palau

conventional short form

Palau

former

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District

local long form

Beluu er a Belau

local short form

Belau

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Charge d'Affaires James PANOS

embassy

Koror (no street address)

FAX

[680] 488-2911

mailing address

P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940

telephone

[680] 488-2920, 2990

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006

chief of mission

Ambassador Hersey KYOTA

consulate(s)

Tamuning (Guam)

FAX

[1] (202) 452-6281

telephone

[1] (202) 452-6814

Executive branch

cabinet

NA (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January 2009); Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Johnson TORIBIONG (51%) defeats Elias Camsek CHIN (49%) for president; Kerai MARIUR elected vice president

elections

president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)

head of government

President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January 2009); Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009)

Flag description

light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility

Government type

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

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Common Pleas; Land Court

Legal system

based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress 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)

election results

Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 16

elections

Senate - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); House of Delegates - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL note: adopted 1980

name

"Belau rekid" (Our Palau)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish

Current account balance

$15.09 million (FY03/04)

Debt - external

$0 (FY99/00)

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. The Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provided Palau with up to $700 million in US aid for the following 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 85,000 in 2007. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly 50% higher than 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.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$5.882 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6.2%

industry

12%

services

81.8% (2003)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,100 (2008 est.) $7,600 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA% (2009) 5.5% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$164 million (2008)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$164 million (2008 est.) $124.5 million (2004 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP estimate includes US subsidy

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$107.3 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2005 est.)

Labor force

9,777 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

20%

industry

NA%

services

NA% (1990)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

4.2% (2005 est.)

Broadcast media

no television broadcast stations; a cable television network covers the major islands and provides access to rebroadcasts, on a delayed basis, of a number of US stations as well as access to a number of real-time satellite TV channels; about a half dozen radio stations with 1 government-owned (2009)

Internet country code

.pw

Internet hosts

3 (2010)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with a combined subscribership of roughly 100 per 100 persons

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

7,100 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

13,200 (2009)

Airports

3 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Koror

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 6,955 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 5,223 females age 16-49: 3,949 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

218 (2010 est.)

male

212

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, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2008)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2009)

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia page last updated on December 15, 2010 ======================================================================