Palau

Republic of PalauBeluu er a Belau

constitutional government in free association with

Palau as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 93 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

17,240 people July 1997 est. · 14,310 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.66% 1997 est. · 1.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 30.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.01 years 1997 est. · 71.01 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.71 children per woman 1997 est. · 3.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

25.07 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 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

18 fields

Area

458sq km

land : 458 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly 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

Highest point

242m

Mount Ngerchelchauuslowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land:: NA%
permanent crops:: NA%
permanent pastures :: NA%
forests 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, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to :: Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - 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

17,240

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 1.66% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

21.04Death

6.61Net migration

2.12

Literacy

92%

definition : age 15 and over can read and writemale: 93%female: 90% (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
total population:: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate

25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 71.01 years
male :: 69.14 years
female:: 73.02 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Palauan(s)
adjective:: Palauan

Ethnic groups

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 with; President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993)

20 fields

Country name

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

Government type

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

National 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 named 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:: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
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 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results :: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president;
percent of vote - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%;
Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president;
percent of vote - Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats - one from each state; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: Senate - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); House of Delegates - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results:: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA;
House of Delegates - percent of vote by party - NA;
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, SPC, SPF, UN, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

FAX

[1] (202) 452-6281

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission :: Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila)
embassy:: address NA, Koror
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

The economy consists primarily of subsistence | agriculture and fishing.

22 fields

Debt - external

$100million

about · (1989)

Budget

Revenues

$21 millionExpenditures

$57 million (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Economy - 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 - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1994 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

Inflation rate - consumer price index

NA%

Labor force

NA · by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

NA kW

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption per capita

NA kWh

Agriculture - products

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Exports

total value:: $600,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
partners:: US, Japan

Imports

total value :: $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, will provide Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

1,500

(1988 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:: NA
international:: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Transportation

7 fields

Networkskm

Highways

61Railways

Highways: paved: 36 km · unpaved: 25 km

Highways

total:: 61 km
paved:: 36 km
unpaved:: 25 km

Military

4 fields

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

none PALMYRA ATOLL (territory of the US)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Palau.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/palau/1997.

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