2024 Edition Primary

Background

Humans arrived in the Palauan archipelago from Southeast Asia around 1000 B.C. and developed a complex, highly organized matrilineal society where high-ranking women picked the chiefs. The islands were the westernmost part of the widely scattered Pacific islands north of New Guinea that Spanish explorers named the Caroline Islands in the 17th century. The 18th and 19th centuries saw occasional visits of whalers and traders as Spain gained some influence in the islands and administered it from the Philippines. Spain sold Palau to Germany in 1899 after losing the Philippines in the Spanish-American War.Japan seized Palau in 1914, was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the islands in 1920, and made Koror the capital of its South Seas Mandate in 1922. By the outbreak of World War II, there were four times as many Japanese living in Koror as Palauans. In 1944, the US invasion of the island of Peleliu was one of the bloodiest island fights of the Pacific War. After the war, Palau became part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.Palau voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978 and adopted its own constitution in 1981, which stated that Palau was a nuclear-free country. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted Palau financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities. However, many Palauans saw the COFA as incompatible with the Palauan Constitution because of the US military’s nuclear arsenal, and seven referenda failed to achieve ratification. Following a constitutional amendment and eighth referendum in 1993, the COFA was ratified and entered into force in 1994 when the islands gained their independence. Its funding was renewed in 2010.Palau has been on the frontlines of combatting climate change and protecting marine resources. In 2011, Palau banned commercial shark fishing and created the world’s first shark sanctuary. In 2017, Palau began stamping the Palau Pledge into passports, reminding visitors to act in ecologically and culturally responsible ways. In 2020, Palau banned coral reef-toxic sunscreens and expanded its fishing prohibition to include 80% of its exclusive economic zone.

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

highest point

Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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-famous Rock Islands

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

10.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.)

forest

87.6% (2018 est.)

other

1.6% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

17.5% (male 1,976/female 1,849)

15-64 years

71.3% (male 8,647/female 6,935)

65 years and over

11.2% (2024 est.) (male 612/female 1,845)

Birth rate

11.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

18.4% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

45.6% (2023 est.)

Death rate

8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.7

potential support ratio

7.3 (2021)

total dependency ratio

43.8

youth dependency ratio

30.2

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 99.8% of population

improved: total

total: 99.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.6% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.2% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population

Education expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70.6%, Carolinian 1.2%, Asian 26.5%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.83 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

male

12.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.)

note

note: Sonsoralese is official in Sonsoral; Tobian is official in Tobi; Angaur and Japanese are official in Angaur

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.5 years

male

72 years

total population

75.2 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.3% (2015)

male

96.8%

total population

96.6%

Major urban areas - population

277 NGERULMUD (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

37.4 years

male

34.1 years

total

35.3 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Palauan

noun

Palauan(s)

Net migration rate

0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

55.3% (2016)

Physician density

1.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

10,629 (2024 est.)

male

11,235

total

21,864

Population distribution

most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap

Population growth rate

0.38% (2024 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 46.9%, Protestant 30.9% (Evangelical 24.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, other Protestant 1.4%), Modekngei 5.1% (indigenous to Palau), Muslim 4.9%, other 12.3% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 99% of population

improved: total

total: 99.6% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2013)

male

16 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.25 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.33 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

7.9% (2020 est.)

male

27.3% (2020 est.)

total

17.6% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

82.4% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

the Palauan meaning is "place of fermented 'mud'" ('mud' being the native name for the keyhole angelfish); the site of the new capitol (established in 2006) had been a large hill overlooking the ocean, Ngerulmud, on which women would communally gather to offer fermented angelfish to the gods

geographic coordinates

7 30 N, 134 37 E

name

Ngerulmud

note

note: Ngerulmud, on Babeldaob Island, is the smallest national capital on earth by population, with only a few hundred people; the name is pronounced en-jer-al-mud; Koror, on Koror Island, with over 11,000 residents is by far the largest settlement in Palau; it served as the country's capital from independence in 1994 to 2006

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

note - no procedure for naturalization

Constitution

amendments

proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25% of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election; amended several times, last in 2020

history

ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Palau

conventional short form

Palau

etymology

from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word "beluu" meaning "village"

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

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires James BOUGHNER (since 9 September 2022)

email address and website

ConsularKoror@state.govhttps://pw.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Omsangel/Beklelachieb, Airai 96940

FAX

[680] 587-2911

mailing address

4260 Koror Place, Washington, DC  20521-4260

telephone

[680] 587-2920

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006

chief of mission

Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997)

consulate(s)

Tamuning (Guam)

email address and website

info@palauembassy.orghttps://www.palauembassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 452-6281

telephone

[1] (202) 349-8598

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate; also includes the vice president; the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws of Palau

chief of state

President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021)

election results

2024: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 57.7%, Tommy REMENGESAU (independent) 42.1%, other 0.2% 2020: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7%, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3%

elections/appointments

president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5 November 2024 (next to be held November 2028)

head of government

President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021)

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

presidential republic in free association with the US

Independence

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; the Supreme Court organization also includes the Common Pleas and Land Courts)

judge selection and term of office

justices nominated by a 7-member independent body consisting of judges, presidential appointees, and lawyers and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65

subordinate courts

National Court and other 'inferior' courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau consists of:Senate (13 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority vote to serve 4-year terms)House of Delegates (16 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 13; composition - men 12, women 1; percentage women 7.7%House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 16; composition - men 15, women 1; percentage women 6.3%; note - total National Congress percentage women 6.9%

elections

Senate - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)House of Delegates - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)

National anthem

lyrics/music

multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL

name

"Belau rekid" (Our Palau)

note

note: adopted 1980

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Rock Islands Southern Lagoon

total World Heritage Sites

1 (mixed)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 9 July (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day, 1 October (1994)

National symbol(s)

bai (native meeting house); national colors: blue, yellow

Political parties

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish, pigs, chickens, eggs, bananas, papaya, breadfruit, calamansi, soursop, Polynesian chestnuts, Polynesian almonds, mangoes, taro, guava, beans, cucumbers, squash/pumpkins (various), eggplant, green onions, kangkong (watercress), cabbages (various), radishes, betel nuts, melons, peppers, noni, okra

Budget

expenditures

$175.508 million (2019 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$173.256 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

-$115.61 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$115.739 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$135.428 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

high-income Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; subsistence agriculture and fishing industries; US aid reliance; rebounding post-pandemic tourism industry and services sector; very high living standard and low unemployment

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

Exports 2020

$52.897 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$10.566 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$24.48 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

ships, computers, machine parts, scrap iron, fish (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Greece 27%, Japan 26%, France 18%, Taiwan 8%, US 7% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

14.2% (2022 est.)

government consumption

38.3% (2022 est.)

household consumption

82% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

-78.3% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

38.7% (2022 est.)

investment in inventories

1.2% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.4% (2022 est.)

industry

12.3% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

80.1% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$263.021 million (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2020

$207.224 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$169.938 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$216.681 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, iron structures, plastic products, electric batteries (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 35%, US 14%, South Korea 13%, Japan 8%, Italy 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-19.56% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.61% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

12.35% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

12.8% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

11,610 (2016)

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2019

85.24% of GDP (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$284.454 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$283.424 million (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$284.695 million (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

-14.16% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-0.36% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.45% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$15,800 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$15,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$15,800 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.82% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.81% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.38% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2015

$580.9 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.93% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2015

1.7% (2015 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

5.6% (2014)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

100%

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

99.9%

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2015 est.)

total

1,224 (2015 est.)

Broadcast media

no broadcast TV stations; a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to 4 local cable stations, 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 (1 government-owned) (2019)

Internet country code

.pw

Internet users

percent of population

37.2% (2021 est.)

total

6,696 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line nearly 44 per 100 and mobile-cellular services roughly 130 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

Palau telecommunications is a small, formerly unregulated sector undertaking significant growth with the improvement and cost reduction in technology; mobile services have taken over the share of the market from landlines, with both 2-3G cell services throughout the islands; sim cards are easily available and offer 3G and data options; there are pre-paid and post-paid options for both voice and data; there are three data options for using a wireless hotspot network throughout Palau; connection from hotel and restaurant premises is available, enabling users to connect via WiFi throughout the main Islands of Palau (2022)

international

country code - 680; landing point for the SEA-US submarine cable linking Palau, Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, Hawaii (US), Guam (US) and California (US); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

44 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

8,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

133 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

24,000 (2022 est.)

Airports

3 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

T8

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 49, container ship 8, general cargo 200, oil tanker 52, other 118

total

427 (2023)

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

1

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Ports

key ports

Malakal Harbor

ports with oil terminals

1

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

Roadways

paved

85 km

total

121 km

unpaved

36 km (2018)

Military - note

under the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US is responsible for the defense of Palau and the US military is granted access to the islands; the COFA also allows citizens of Palau to serve in the US armed forcesPalau has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Palau's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2024)

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; the Ministry of Justice includes divisions/bureaus for public security, police functions, and maritime law enforcement (2024)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.22 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.06 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

7.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

Environment - current issues

inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal and destructive fishing practices, and overfishing; climate change contributes to rising sea level and coral bleaching; drought

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

10.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.)

forest

87.6% (2018 est.)

other

1.6% (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

82.4% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

9,427 tons (2016 est.)