Palau

Humans arrived in the Palauan archipelago from Southeast Asia around 1000 B.C. and developed a complex, highly organized matrilineal society where high-ranking women picked the chiefs. The islands were the westernmost part of the widely scattered Pacific islands north of New Guinea that Spanish explorers named the Caroline Islands in the 17th century. The 18th and 19th centuries saw occasional visits of whalers and traders as Spain gained some influence in the islands and administered it from the Philippines. Spain sold Palau to Germany in 1899 after losing the Philippines in the Spanish-American War.<br><br>Japan seized Palau in 1914, was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the islands in 1920, and made Koror the capital of its South Seas Mandate in 1922. By the outbreak of World War II, there were four times as many Japanese living in Koror as Palauans. In 1944, the US invasion of the island of Peleliu was one of the bloodiest island fights of the Pacific War. After the war, Palau became part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.<br><br>Palau voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978 and adopted its own constitution in 1981, which stated that Palau was a nuclear-free country. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted Palau financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities. However, many Palauans saw the COFA as incompatible with the Palauan Constitution because of the US military’s nuclear arsenal, and seven referenda failed to achieve ratification. Following a constitutional amendment and eighth referendum in 1993, the COFA was ratified and entered into force in 1994 when the islands gained their independence. Its funding was renewed in 2010.<br><br>Palau has been on the frontlines of combatting climate change and protecting marine resources. In 2011, Palau banned commercial shark fishing and created the world’s first shark sanctuary. In 2017, Palau began stamping the Palau Pledge into passports, reminding visitors to act in ecologically and culturally responsible ways. In 2020, Palau banned coral reef-toxic sunscreens and expanded its fishing prohibition to include 80% of its exclusive economic zone.

Land

459 sq km

Total

459 sq km

Water

0 sq km

slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

1,519 km

Oceania

Highest point

Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

7 30 N, 134 30 E

westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes world-famous Rock Islands

0 sq km (2022)

border countries

ISR, EGY, JOR

number of neighbors

3

Total

0 km

Agricultural land

9.3% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)

arable land

6.95%

Forest

90.6% (2023 est.)

Other

0% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

11.83%

No

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

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/MVasQBbUkQP7qQDR9

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/571805

Oceania

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

typhoons (June to December)

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

most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap

Micronesia

varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

UTC+09:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

17.5% (male 1,976/female 1,849)

15-64 years

71.3% (male 8,647/female 6,935)

65 years and over

11.2% (2024 est.) (male 612/female 1,845)

11.53 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

48.3% (2020 est.)

8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

171 per 1,000

adult male

365 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

16.7 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

6 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

41.6 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

24.9 (2025 est.)

improved total

80.64%

Improved: rural

rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

9.8% national budget (2023 est.)

5 % of GDP

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70.6%, Carolinian 1.2%, Asian 26.5%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)

0.83 (2025 est.)

11 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

16.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Female

8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

12.7 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.)

languages

English, Palauan

note

<strong>note:</strong> Sonsoralese is official in Sonsoral; Tobian is official in Tobi; Angaur and Japanese are official in Angaur

number of languages

2

Female

78.5 years

Male

72 years

Total population

75.2 years (2024 est.)

Female

100% (2020 est.)

Male

100% (2020 est.)

Total population

100% (2020 est.)

277 NGERULMUD (capital) (2018)

89 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

37.4 years

Male

34.1 years

Total

35.5 years (2025 est.)

36 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Palauan

Noun

Palauan(s)

0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

55.3% (2016)

1.81 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

10,690

Male

11,257

Total

21,947 (2025 est.)

0.38% (2025 est.)

Roman Catholic 46.9%, Protestant 30.9% (Evangelical 24.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, other Protestant 1.4%), Modekngei 5.1% (indigenous to Palau), Muslim 4.9%, other 12.3% (2020 est.)

improved total

73.51%

Improved: rural

rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Female

16 years (2023 est.)

Male

14 years (2023 est.)

Total

15 years (2023 est.)

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.25 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.33 male(s)/female

At birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

6.8% (2025 est.)

Male

25.2% (2025 est.)

Total

16.3% (2025 est.)

1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

82.4% of total population (2023)

measles

89%

16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Etymology

the name comes from a Palauan term meaning "place of fermented angelfish;" the site of the capital was the traditional location for women to gather and offer fermented angelfish to the gods

Geographic coordinates

7 30 N, 134 37 E

Name

Ngerulmud

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/pw.svg

Amendment process

proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25% of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election

History

ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981

alternative spellings

PW, Republic of Palau, Beluu er a Belau

Conventional long form

Republic of Palau

Conventional short form

Palau

Etymology

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

FIFA code

PLE

Former

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District

Local long form

Beluu er a Belau

local long form (ara)

دولة فلسطين

local long form (eng)

Republic of Palau

Local short form

Belau

Chief of mission

Ambassador Joel EHRENDREICH (since 29 September 2023)

Email address and website

<br>ConsularKoror@state.gov<br><br>https://pw.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Omsangel/Beklelachieb, Airai 96940

FAX

[680] 587-2911

Mailing address

4260 Koror Place, Washington, DC&nbsp; 20521-4260

Telephone

[680] 587-2920

Chancery

1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006

Chief of mission

Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997)

Consulate(s)

Tamuning (Guam)

Email address and website

<br>info@palauembassy.org<br><br>https://www.palauembassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 452-6281

Telephone

[1] (202) 349-8598

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

Chief of state

President Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (since 21 January 2021)

Election results

<em><br>2024: </em>Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 57.7%, Tommy REMENGESAU (independent) 42.1%, other 0.2% <br><br><em>2020: </em>Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7%, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3%

Election/appointment process

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)

Expected date of next election

November 2028

Head of government

President Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (since 21 January 2021)

Most recent election date

5 November 2024

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government

<strong>description:</strong> light blue with a large yellow disk to the left side<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> blue stands for the ocean, and the disk for the moon, which is considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility

The flag of Palau has a light blue field with a large golden-yellow circle that is offset slightly towards the hoist side of center.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/pw.svg

presidential republic in free association with the US

1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; the Supreme Court organization also includes 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 can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65

Subordinate courts

National Court and other inferior courts

mixed system of civil, common, and customary law

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislature name

National Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau)

Chamber name

House of Delegates

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

November 2028

Most recent election date

11/5/2024

Number of seats

16 (all directly elected)

Percentage of women in chamber

25%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

Chamber name

Senate

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

November 2028

Most recent election date

11/5/2024

Number of seats

15 (all directly elected)

Percentage of women in chamber

13.3%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

blue, yellow

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Rock Islands Southern Lagoon

Total World Heritage Sites

1 (mixed)

Constitution Day, 9 July (1981); Independence Day, 1 October (1994)

bai (native meeting house)

although not expressly forbidden by law, Palau does not have political parties or coalitions

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

coconuts, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish, pigs, chickens, eggs, bananas, papaya, breadfruit, calamansi, soursop, Polynesian chestnuts, Polynesian almonds, mangoes, taro, guava, beans, cucumbers, squash/pumpkins (various), eggplant, green onions, kangkong (watercress), cabbages (various), radishes, betel nuts, melons, peppers, noni, okra

Expenditures

$152.398 million (2020 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$127.757 million (2020 est.)

code

USD

name

United States dollar (USD) [$]

$-2,899,047,119

Current account balance 2020

-$115.61 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$115.739 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$135.428 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; subsistence agriculture and fishing industries; US aid reliance; rebounding post-pandemic tourism industry and services sector; very high living standard and low unemployment

<p>the US dollar is used</p>

$2.88 billion

Exports 2020

$52.897 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$10.566 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$24.48 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

ships, refined petroleum (2023)

note

<strong>note:</strong> top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

India 41%, Turkey 26%, Taiwan 10%, USA 9%, Japan 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$162.18 million

Exports of goods and services

13.5% (2022 est.)

Government consumption

36.3% (2022 est.)

Household consumption

77.8% (2022 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-74.3% (2022 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

36.6% (2022 est.)

Investment in inventories

1.8% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

3% (2023 est.)

Industry

9.9% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

76.7% (2023 est.)

$281.849 million (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$2,592

33.7 (2016)

$14.62 billion

$2,710

23 % of GDP

$8.26 billion

Imports 2020

$207.224 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$169.938 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$216.681 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, cars, plastic products (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Italy 32%, China 25%, USA 11%, Turkey 10%, Japan 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-19.5% (2023 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture

53.67%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

12.4% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

12.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

total

1.39 million persons

agriculture

6.34%

industry

29.88%

services

63.78%

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2019

85.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

$23.12 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$278.538 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$274.866 million (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$280.025 million (2023 est.)

-26.56%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

-13.8% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-1.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.9% (2023 est.)

$4,371

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$15,700 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$15,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$15,800 (2023 est.)

$735.61 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

$1.33 billion

18.1% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

24.42%

female

56.62%

male

31.64%

total

36.09%

Electrification - rural areas

100%

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

99.9%

fossil fuels

75.54%

hydroelectric

0%

nuclear

0%

renewable

24.46%

15.4%

per 100 inhabitants

8 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2023 est.)

Total

1,000 (2023 est.)

no broadcast TV stations; a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to 4 local cable stations, 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) (2019)

.pw

Percent of population

27% (2004 est.)

96940

+680

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

45 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

8,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

77 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

135 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

24,000 (2023 est.)

3 (2025)

T8

Right

By type

bulk carrier 49, container ship 8, general cargo 200, oil tanker 52, other 118

Total

427 (2023)

Key ports

Malakal Harbor

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

1

Small

0

Total ports

1 (2024)

Very small

1

PAL

under the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US is responsible for the defense of Palau, and the US military is granted access to the islands; the COFA also allows citizens of Palau to serve in the US armed forces<br><br>Palau has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Palau's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

no regular military forces; the Bureau of Public Safety (Ministry of Justice) has divisions for police functions and maritime security (2025)

Refugees

5 (2024 est.)

inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing; rising sea level; coral bleaching; drought

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

7.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

10 % of total land area

24 % of total

41 % of internal resources

Municipal solid waste generated annually

9,400 tons (2024 est.)