Palau
UN trusteeship administered by the US
Palau as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 61 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Corrected. Source files these entries under Paraguay (shared code pa). The entry became Palau: the 1993 edition calls it "Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau)". All corrections
Geography
10 fieldsCoastline
- 1,519 km Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
- Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);
- Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
- Territorial sea: 3 nm
Terrain
islands vary geologically from the high mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
Land use
- arable land NA%;
- permanent crops NA%;
- meadows and pastures NA%;
- forest and woodland NA%;
- other NA%
Environment
subject to typhoons from June to December; archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
Note
important location 850 km southeast of the Philippines; includes World War II battleground of Peleliu and world-famous rock islands
People
14 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1991)
Language
Palauan is the official language, though English is commonplace; inhabitants of the isolated southwestern islands speak a dialect of Trukese
Government
UN trusteeship administered by the US
16 fieldsLong-form name
- Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (no short-form name);
- may change to Republic of Palau after independence;
- note--Belau, the native form of Palau, is sometimes used
Type
- UN trusteeship administered by the US;
- constitutional government signed a Compact of Free Association with the US on 10 January 1986, after approval in a series of UN-observed plebiscites;
- until the UN trusteeship is terminated with entry into force of the Compact, Palau remains under US administration as the Palau District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Independence
- still part of the US-administered UN trusteeship (the last polity remaining under the trusteeship; the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas have left);
- administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of Interior
Legal system
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK) consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Delegates
Judicial branch
- Supreme Court Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
- represented by the Assistant Secretary for Territorial Affairs, US Department of the Interior, Stella GUERRA (since NA July 1989);
- Head of Government--President Ngiratkel ETPISON (since 2 November 1988)
Suffrage
- universal at age 18 President--last held on 2 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992);
- Ngiratkel ETPISON 26.3%, Roman TMETUCHL 25.9%, Thomas REMENGESAU 19.5%, other 28.3%;
- Senate--last held 2 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992);
- results--percent of vote NA;
- seats--(18 total);
- House of Delegates--last held 2 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992);
- results--percent of vote NA;
- seats--(16 total)
Diplomatic representation
- none;
- US--US Liaison Officer Lloyd MOSS;
- US Liaison Office at Top Side, Neeriyas, Koror (mailing address: ;
- telephone 160-680-920 or 990
Economy
The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing.
16 fieldsOverview
The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. Tourism provides some foreign exchange, although the remote location of Palau and a shortage of suitable facilities has hindered development. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US.
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $2 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $62.6 million
Communications
4 fieldsHighways
25.7 km paved macadam and concrete roads, otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads (1986)
Defense Forces
1 fieldNote
defense is the responsibility of the US and that will not change when the UN trusteeship terminates
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the.” The World Factbook 1991. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/palau/1991.