Palau
Republic of PalauBeluu er a Belau
constitutional government in free association with the US
Palau as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 102 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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
18 fieldsLand useshare of 459 sq km
Terrain
varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
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, Wetlands, Whaling
- 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
22 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2000 census)
Religions(2000 census)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.26 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.45 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.14 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Languages
Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)
Government
Constitutional government in free association with the US; President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January 2009); President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January 2009)
18 fieldsSenate, 16 seats, elected 4 November 2008one dot, one seat
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, Palau District
Government type
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Capital
- name:
- Melekeok
- geographic coordinates:
- 7 29 N, 134 38 E
- time difference:
- UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol
Legal system
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January 2009);
- Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009);
- note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January 2009); Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009)
- cabinet:
- NA
- elections:
- president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
- election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
- election results:
- Johnson TORIBIONG (51%) defeats Elias Camsek CHIN (49%) for president; Kerai MARIUR elected vice president
Legislative branch
bicameral National Congress 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 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); House of Delegates - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
- election results:
- Senate - percent of vote - NA;
- seats - independents 9;
- House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA;
- seats - independents 16
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
- chancery:
- 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 452-6814
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 452-6281
- consulate(s):
- Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Charge d'Affaires Mark BEZNER
- 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.
24 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2003)
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. The Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provided Palau with up to $700 million in US aid for the following 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities.
Business and tourist arrivals numbered 85,000 in 2007. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly 50% higher than 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.
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- NA
- domestic:
- fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with a combined subscribership of more than 90 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Transportation
5 fieldsMilitary
No regular military forces; Palau National Police (2009)
6 fieldsMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2008)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Palau.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/palau/2009.