Palau
UN trusteeship administered by the US
Palau as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 65 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
13 fieldsTerrain
about 200 islands varying 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(1992)
Religions
- predominantly Christian, including Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints;
- a third of the population observes the Modekngei religion, indigenous to Palau
Languages
English is an official language, though Palauan is also official in 13 of Palau's 16 states, and Tobi and Sonsorolese are official in the 3 other states
Government
UN trusteeship administered by the US
17 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Long-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, which was never approved 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
Administrative divisions
- there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 16 states;
- Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi
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
Leaders
- 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 21 July 1989) and J. Victor HOBSON Jr., Director (since 16 December 1990)
- Head of Government:
- President Ngiratkel ETPISON (since 2 November 1988), Vice-President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 2 November 1988)
Elections
- House of Delegates:
- last held 2 November 1988 (next to be held NA November 1992);
- results - percent of vote NA;
- seats - (16 total);
- number of seats by party NA
- President:
- last held on 2 November 1988 (next to be held NA November 1992); results - 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 NA November 1992);
- results - percent of vote NA;
- seats - (14 total);
- number of seats by party NA
Diplomatic representation
none
- US:
- US Liaison Officer Lloyed W. MOSS; US Liaison Office at Top Side, Neeriyas,
- Koror (mailing address:
- P. O. Box 6028, Koror, PW 96940);
- telephone (680) 488-2920;
- (680) 488-2911
Economy
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.
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.
GDP
- purchasing power equivalent - $31.6 million, per capita $2,260;
- real growth rate NA% (1986);
- note - GDP numbers reflect US spending
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2,560 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $92 million
Communications
4 fieldsDefense Forces
1 fieldNote
defense is the responsibility of the US and that will not change when the UN trusteeship terminates if the Compact of Free Association with the US goes into effect
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the.” The World Factbook 1992. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/palau/1992.