Palau

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.

• tropical;
• hot and humid;
• wet season May to November

agricultural land:

10.8%;

• arable land 2.2%;
• permanent crops 4.3%;
• permanent pasture 4.3%

forest:

87.6%

other:

1.6% (2011 est.)

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

• 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

noun:

Palauan(s)

adjective:

Palauan

at birth:

1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1.57 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.54 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.37 male(s)/female

total population:

1.09 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

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

etymology:

from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word "beluu" meaning "village"

name:

Ngerulmud

geographic coordinates:

7 31 N, 134 37 E

time difference:

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau

dual citizenship recognized:

no

residency requirement for naturalization:

note - no procedure for naturalization

chief of state:

• President Tommy REMENGESAU (since 17 January 2013);
• Vice President Antonio BELLS (since 17 January 2013);
• note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government:

President Tommy REMENGESAU (since 17 January 2013); Vice President Antonio BELLS (since 17 January 2013)

cabinet:

• Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate;
• also includes the vice president;
• the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws of Palau

elections/appointments:

• president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 1 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)

election results:

• Tommy REMENGESAU elected president;
• percent of vote - Tommy REMENGESAU 51.3%, Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. 48.7%;
• Antonio BELLS elected vice president

description:

bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau consists of the Senate (9 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

elections:

Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016); House of Delegates - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)

election results:

• Senate - percent of vote - NA;
• seats - independent 9;
• House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA;
• seats - independent 16

highest court(s):

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; also within the Supreme Court organization are the Common Pleas and Land Courts)

judge selection and term of office:

• justices nominated by a 7-member independent body consisting of judges, presidential appointees, and lawyers, and appointed by the president;
• judges appointed until mandatory retirement at age 65

subordinate courts:

National Court and other 'inferior' courts

chief of mission:

Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997)

chancery:

1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:

[1] (202) 452-6814

FAX:

[1] (202) 452-6281

consulate(s):

Tamuning (Guam)

chief of mission:

Ambassador Helen P. REED-ROWE (since 27 September 2013)

embassy:

Koror (no street address)

mailing address:

P. O. Box 6028, Koror, Republic of Palau 96940

telephone:

[680] 587-2920

FAX:

[680] 587-2911

• light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side;
• the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon;
• Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity;
• it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility

name:

"Belau rekid" (Our Palau)

lyrics/music:

multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL

note: adopted 1980

agriculture:

20%

industry:

NA%

services:

NA% (1990)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

domestic:

fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with a combined subscribership of over 140 per 100 persons

international:

country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2015)

• no TV stations;
• a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to rebroadcasts, on a delayed basis, of a number of US stations, as well as access to a number of real-time satellite TV channels;
• about a half dozen radio stations (1 government-owned) (2009)