Palau

Republic of PalauBeluu er a Belau

constitutional government in free association with the US

Palau as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 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, southeast of the Philippines

Populationas each edition published it

20,016 people July 2004 est. · 14,310 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.46% 2004 est. · 1.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

31.1 years 2004 est. · 30.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

69.82 years 2004 est. · 71.01 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.46 children per woman 2004 est. · 3.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

15.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 2004 est. · 26 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$9,000 2001 est. · $2,260 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1% 2001 est. · 10% in 1998

Introduction

1 field

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.

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 458 sq km

arable land 8.7%permanent crops 4.35%other 86.95% (2001)

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 kmterritorial sea: 3 nmexclusive fishing zone: 12 nmextended fishing zone: 200 nm

Highest point

242m

Mount Ngerchelchuuslowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

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

Natural resources

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

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

People

19 fields

Population

20,016

(July 2004 est.)growth rate: 1.46% (2004 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2004 est.)

Birth

18.69Death

6.89Net migration

2.85

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2004 est.)69.82

66.67 · 73.15Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)15.3

17.07 · 13.42

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1980 est.)92%

93% · 90%Median age years (2004 est.)31.1

32.1 · 30

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(2000 est.)

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70%Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese) 28%white 2% (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 26.6% (male 2,746; female 2,578)
15-64 years:: 68.8% (male 7,456; female 6,319)
65 years and over:: 4.6% (male 437; female 480) (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.14 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.46 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun:: Palauan(s)
adjective:: Palauan

Religions

Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, 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 and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)

Government

Constitutional government in free association with the US; President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005); President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005)

18 fields

Senate, 16 seats, elected 2 November 2004one dot, one seat

independents (one new member elected) 16

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

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):: Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE, 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

The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture and fishing.

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Real growth rate

(2001 est.)industrial production growth: NA

Inflation, consumer prices

3.4%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.3%

(2000 est.)

Labor force

9,845

(2000)

Budget

Revenues

$57.7 millionExpenditures

$80.8 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $17.1 million (FY98/99 est.)

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 50,000 in FY00/01. 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 - per capita

purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

Population below poverty line

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 20%, industry NA, services NA (1990)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Industries

tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making

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, 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