1996 Edition

Description

light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Location

7 30 N, 134 30 E -- Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

land area

458 sq km

total area

458 sq km

Climate

wet season May to November; hot and humid

Coastline

1,519 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

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Geographic coordinates

7 30 N, 134 30 E

Geographic 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

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

NA%

forest and woodland

NA%

meadows and pastures

NA%

other

NA%

permanent crops

NA%

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone

12 nm

extended fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

3 nm

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

highest point

Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

21.61 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races

Infant mortality rate

25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.02 years (1996 est.)

male

69.14 years

total population

71.01 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

female

90%

male

93%

total population

92%

Nationality

adjective

Palauan

noun

Palauan(s)

Net migration rate

2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

16,952 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.71% (1996 est.)

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)

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.79 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Capital

Koror

note

a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap

Constitution

1 January 1981

Data code

PS

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2000 L Street NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Isaac Ngewakl SOALADAOB

telephone

[1] (202) 452-6814

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet

chief of state and head of government

President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993) were elected for four-year terms by popular vote; election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3%

FAX

[1] (202) 452-6281

[680] 488-2911

Flag

light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

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

Independence

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

International organization participation

ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF, UN, WHO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas

Legal system

based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK)

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Palau

conventional short form

Palau

former

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

local long form

Beluu er a Belau

local short form

Belau

National holiday

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Political parties and leaders

Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp BASILIUS

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard G. WATKINS

embassy

address NA, Koror

mailing address

P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940

telephone

[680] 488-2920, 2990

Agriculture

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Budget

expenditures

$57 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

revenues

$17 million

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

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 $500 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic 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 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. Reducing budgeted operating expenditures - which have increased 56% from 1989 to 1993 - will be the biggest challenge for the government over the next several years.

Electricity

capacity

16,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,540 kWh (1990)

production

22 million kWh

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

$600,000 (f.o.b., 1989)

commodities

trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts

partners

US, Japan

External debt

about $100 million (1989)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.)

note

GDP numbers reflect US spending

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$5,000 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989)

commodities

NA

partners

US

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some commercial fishing and agriculture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA

by occupation

NA

Unemployment rate

20% (1986)

Branches

NA

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

9,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

1,500 (1988 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2

Televisions

1,600 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

3

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

36 km

total

61 km

unpaved

25 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Koror

Railways

0 km