PALAU
Geography People Government Economy Transportation Communications Defense Forces
PALAU @Palau:Geography Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 458 sq km land area: 458 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,519 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid Terrain: about 200 islands 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% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA sq km 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 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 @Palau:People Population: 16,661 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: 1.76% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 22.11 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.01 years male: 69.14 years female: 73.02 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan Ethnic divisions: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races Religions: 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) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 92% male: 93% female: 90% Labor force: NA by occupation: NA @Palau:Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Palau conventional short form: Palau former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Digraph: PS Type: self-governing territory in free association with the US pursuant to Compact of Free Association which entered into force 1 October 1994; Palau is fully responsible for internal affairs; US retains responsibility for external affairs 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), Vice-President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3% 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 Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer), UN Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Liaison Officer NA liaison office: 444 North Capital Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 624-7793 FAX: NA note: relationship of free association with the US pursuant to compact of free association which entered into force 1 October 1994 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Liaison Officer Lloyd W. MOSS liaison office: Erenguul Street, Koror, Republic of Palau mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: [680] 488-2920 FAX: [680] 488-2911 note: relationship of free association with the US pursuant to compact of free association which entered into force 1 October 1994 Flag: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side 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 compact of "free association" with the United States, 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 some military facilities. 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. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $5,000 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: 20% (1986) Budget: revenues: $6 million expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.) 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 External debt: about $100 million (1989) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 16,000 kW production: 22 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,540 kWh (1990) Industries: tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some commercial fishing and agriculture Agriculture: subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava, sweet potatoes Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.56 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $92 million Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September @Palau:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: gravel 25 km Ports: Koror Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2 @Palau:Communications Telephone system: NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 2 televisions: NA @Palau:Defense Forces Branches: NA Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP Note: defense is the responsibility of the US pursuant to Compact of Free Association which entered into force 1 October 1994 ________________________________________________________________________