Palau

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet country code

.pw

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios

12,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

6,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

11,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Budget

revenues: $57.7 million expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital expenditures of $17.1 million

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

$0 (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient

$155.8 million (1995); 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 up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities

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. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in FY00/01. The population enjoys a per capita income twice 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.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$11 million f.o.b. (1999)

Exports - commodities

shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Exports - partners

US, Japan, Singapore

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP

purchasing power parity - $174 million note: GDP numbers reflect US spending (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$126 million f.o.b. (1999)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

US

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2000 est.)

Labor force

8,300 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 20%, industry NA%, services NA% (1990)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

2.3% (2000 est.)

Area

total: 458 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 458 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

wet season May to November; hot and humid

Coastline

1,519 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

7 30 N, 134 30 E

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 21.74% permanent crops: 0% other: 78.26% (1998 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM territorial sea: 3 NM extended fishing zone: 200 NM

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Koror; note - a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror

Constitution

1 January 1981

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Palau conventional short form: Palau local short form: Belau former: Palau District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) local long form: Beluu er a Belau

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: the Ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau; Charge d'Affaires Ronald A. HARMS embassy: address NA, Koror mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990 FAX: [680] 488-2911

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands) FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281 telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814 chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036

Executive branch

chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 53%, Peter SUGIYAMA 46%; Sandra PIERANTOZZI elected vice president; percent of vote - Sandra PIERANTOZZI 52%, Alan SEID 45%

Flag description

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

Government type

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

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACP, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, 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 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 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004); House of Delegates - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 16

National holiday

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Military - 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

Military branches

NA

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.8% (male 2,678; female 2,522) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 7,241; female 6,074) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 426; female 468) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

19.32 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70%, Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese) 28%, white 2% (2000 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

16.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral (Sonsorolese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.19 years female: 72.5 years (2002 est.) male: 66.07 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92% male: 93% female: 90% (1980 est.)

Nationality

noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan

Net migration rate

3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

19,409 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

1.61% (2002 est.)

Religions

Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, 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

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.47 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

3 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)

Highways

total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

Koror

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none