Palau

Republic of PalauBeluu er a Belau

constitutional government in free associationIndependence 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN

Palau as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalKoror

Position7 30 N, 134 30 E

Area458 sq km

LocationOceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

16,952 people July 1996 est. · 14,310 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.71% 1996 est. · 1.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 30.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.01 years 1996 est. · 71.01 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.79 children per woman 1996 est. · 3.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

25.07 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 26 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$5,000 1994 est. · $2,260 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 10% in 1998

Geography

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

15 fields

Area

458sq km

land area: 458 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

1,519km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 12 nmextended fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm

Location

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

Climate

wet season May to November; hot and humid

Terrain

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

lowest point:: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land:: NA%
permanent crops:: NA%
meadows and pastures:: NA%
forest and woodland:: NA%
other:: NA%

Environment

current issues:: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste;
threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging and illegal fishing practices that involve the use of dynamite
natural hazards:: typhoons (June to December)
international agreements:: NA

Geographic note

includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands;
archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

People

15 fields

Population

16,952

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 1.71% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

21.61Death

6.61Net migration

2.12

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years71.01

69.14 · 73.02

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy92%

93% · 90%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Sex ratio

at birth:: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years:: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years:: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over:: NA male(s)/female
all ages:: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate

25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Palauan(s)
adjective:: Palauan

Ethnic divisions

Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races

Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)

Languages

English (official in all of Palau's 16 states), Sonsorolese (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese (in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in the other 13 states)

Government

Constitutional government in free association

22 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.7%

Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3%

Name of country

conventional long form:: Republic of Palau
conventional short form:: Palau
local long form:: Beluu er a Belau
local short form:: Belau
former:: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

Data code

Type of government

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 in eastern Babelthuap

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

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 and head of government:: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993) were elected for four-year terms by popular vote;
election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996);
results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3%
cabinet:: Cabinet

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK)

Senate

elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (14 total) number of seats by party NA

House of Delegates

elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (16 total) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court;
National Court;
Court of Common Pleas

Political parties and leaders

Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp BASILIUS

International organization participation

ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF, UN, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Isaac Ngewakl SOALADAOB
chancery:: 2000 L Street NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 452-6814

FAX

[1] (202) 452-6281

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard G. WATKINS
embassy:: address NA, Koror
mailing address:: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone:: [680] 488-2920, 2990

FAX

[680] 488-2911

Flag

light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Economy

The economy consists primarily of subsistence | agriculture and fishing.

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$5,000

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

20%

(1986)

External debt

$100million

about · (1989)

Budget

Revenues

$17 millionExpenditures

$57 million (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 16,000 kW

Electricity production

22 millionElectricity consumption per capita

1,540 (1990)

Economic overview

The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The population, in effect, enjoys a per capita income of $5,000, twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia.

Long-run prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rapidly rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries. Reducing budgeted operating expenditures - which have increased 56% from 1989 to 1993 - will be the biggest challenge for the government over the next several years.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

GDP real growth rate

NA%

GDP composition by sector

agriculture:: NA%
industry:: NA%
services:: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA · by occupation: NA

Industries

tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some commercial fishing and agriculture

Agriculture

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Exports

$600,000 (f.o.b., 1989)

commodities:: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
partners:: US, Japan

Imports

$24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989)

commodities:: NA
partners:: US

Economic aid

recipient:: ODA, $NA

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 $500 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities