|
|
|
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. |
|
Location:
|
Oceania,
group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast
of the Philippines |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
7 30 N,
134 30 E |
|
Map references:
|
Oceania
|
|
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 |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
1,519 km
|
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
|
Climate:
|
tropical;
hot and humid; wet season May to November |
|
Terrain:
|
varying
geologically from the high, mountainous main island of
Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by
large barrier reefs |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest
point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
forests,
minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed
minerals |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 8.7%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 86.95% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
NA |
|
Natural hazards:
|
typhoons
(June to December) |
|
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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
|
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 |
|
Population:
|
20,303
(July 2005 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 26.4% (male 2,768/female 2,601)
15-64 years: 69% (male 7,565/female 6,436)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 443/female 490)
(2005 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
31.43 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 30.36 years (2005 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
1.39%
(2005 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
18.37
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
6.85
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
2.36
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at
birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
14.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 70.14 years
male: 66.98 years
female: 73.48 years (2005 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
2.46
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
NA |
|
Nationality:
|
noun:
Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Palauan
(Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures)
69.9%, Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, Filipino
15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, other
or unspecified 3.2% (2000 census) |
|
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
religion 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)
|
|
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) |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.) |
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Palau District (Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands) |
|
Government type:
|
constitutional government in free association with the
US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1
October 1994 |
|
Capital:
|
Koror;
note - a new capital is being built about 20 km
northeast of Koror |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
16
states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel,
Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau,
Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu,
Sonsorol |
|
Independence:
|
1 October
1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) |
|
National holiday:
|
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979) |
|
Constitution:
|
1 January
1981 |
|
Legal system:
|
based on
Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years
of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief
of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr.
(since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN
(since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Tommy Esang
REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice
President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005); 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 2 November 2004 (next to be held
November 2008)
election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr.
reelected president; percent of vote - Tommy Esang
REMENGESAU, Jr. 64%, Polycarp BASILIUS 33%; Elias Camsek
CHIN elected vice president; percent of vote - Elias
Camsek CHIN 70%, Sandra PIERANTOZZI 29% |
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral
Parliament 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)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004
(next to be held November 2008); House of Delegates -
last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November
2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%;
seats - independents 9 (four new members elected); House
of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 16 (one new member elected) |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme
Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
none |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
NA |
|
International organization participation:
|
ACP,
AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,
IOC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief
of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1800 K Street NW, Suite 714,
Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam) |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
chief
of mission: US ambassador to the Philippines is
accredited to Palau
embassy: Koror (no street address)
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of
Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911 |
|
Flag description:
|
light
blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon)
shifted slightly to the hoist side |
|
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. Business and tourist arrivals
numbered 63,000 in 2003. The population enjoys a per
capita income twice 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. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
$174
million
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2001
est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
1% (2001
est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA |
|
Labor force:
|
9,845
(2000) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 20%, industry NA, services NA (1990) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
2.3%
(2000 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
NA |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
3.4%
(2000 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $57.7 million
expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital
expenditures of $17.1 million (FY98/99 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
coconuts,
copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes |
|
Industries:
|
tourism,
craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction,
garment making |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
NA |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
NA |
|
Exports:
|
$18
million f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments |
|
Exports - partners:
|
US,
Japan, Singapore (2000) |
|
Imports:
|
$99
million f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery
and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs |
|
Imports - partners:
|
US, Guam,
Japan, Singapore, South Korea (2000) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$0
(FY99/00) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
$155.8
million ; note - the Compact of Free Association with
the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship
on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with up to $700
million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing
military facilities |
|
Currency (code):
|
US dollar
(USD) |
|
Currency code:
|
USD |
|
Exchange rates:
|
the US
dollar is used |
|
Fiscal year:
|
1 October
- 30 September |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
6,700
(2002) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
1,000
(2002) |
|
Telephone system:
|
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 680; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 1, FM
4, shortwave 1 (2002) |
|
Radios:
|
12,000
(1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
1 (cable)
(2005) |
|
Televisions:
|
11,000
(1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.pw |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
1 (2002)
|
|
Highways:
|
total:
61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Koror
|
|
Airports:
|
3 (2004
est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
no
regular military forces; Police Force |
|
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 |
|
Disputes - international:
|
border
delineation disputes being negotiated with Philippines,
Indonesia |
|
This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
|
|
| |
|
|
