Palau

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.pw

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with a combined subscribership of roughly 100 per 100 persons | international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 7,100 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 19,100 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210

Television broadcast stations

1 (cable) (2005)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, copra, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish

Budget

revenues: $123.6 million | expenditures: $97.53 million (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

10.5% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5

Current account balance

-$32 million (2014 est.) | -$24 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Debt - external

$18.38 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $16.47 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Economy - overview

The economy consists of tourism and other services such as trade, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. Government is a major employer of the work force relying on financial assistance from the US under the Compact of Free Association (Compact) with the US. The Compact took effect, after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994. The US provided Palau with roughly $700 million in aid for the first 15 years following commencement of the Compact in 1994 in return for unrestricted access to its land and waterways for strategic purposes. Business and leisure tourist arrivals numbered over 125,000 in fiscal year 2014, a 13.4% increase over the previous year. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly double that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for tourism have been bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of industrial East Asia, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development. Proximity to Guam, the region's major destination for tourists from East Asia, and a regionally competitive tourist infrastructure enhance Palau's advantage as a destination.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$19.1 million (2014 est.) | $14.4 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209

Exports - commodities

shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP (official exchange rate)

$249 million (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$250 million (2014 est.) | $238.3 million (2013 est.) | $242.6 million (2012 est.) | note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy | country comparison to the world: 217

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.2% | industry: 20% | services: 76.8% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,100 (2014 est.) | $13,500 (2013 est.) | $13,700 (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2014 est.) | -1.8% (2013 est.) | 3.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$177.7 million (2014 est.) | $146.5 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2014 est.) | 2.8% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Labor force

10,470 (2014) | country comparison to the world: 218

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 20% | industry: NA% | services: NA% (1990)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

49.6% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Unemployment rate

4.2% (2005 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Area

total: 459 sq km | land: 459 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 198

Area - comparative

slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

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, Wetlands, Whaling | 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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 10.8% | arable land 2.2%; permanent crops 4.3%; permanent pasture 4.3% | forest: 87.6% | other: 1.6% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

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

Terrain

varying topography 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, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Capital

name: Melekeok | geographic coordinates: 7 29 N, 134 38 E | time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

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

Constitution

ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981; amended 1992, 2004, last in 2008 (2015)

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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)

Executive branch

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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016) | election results: Tommy REMENGESAU elected president; percent of vote - Tommy REMENGESAU 58%, Johnson TORIBIONG 42%; Antonio BELLS elected vice president

Flag description

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

Government type

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

Independence

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

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law

Legislative branch

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

National anthem

name: "Belau rekid" (Our Palau) | lyrics/music: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL | note: adopted 1980

National holiday

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution

National symbol(s)

bai (native meeting house); national colors: blue, yellow

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 6,987 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 5,272 | females age 16-49: 3,969 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 216 | female: 222 (2010 est.)

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, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2008)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2009)

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.26% (male 2,225/female 2,084) | 15-24 years: 17.18% (male 1,819/female 1,834) | 25-54 years: 46.21% (male 5,992/female 3,834) | 55-64 years: 9.03% (male 667/female 1,253) | 65 years and over: 7.32% (male 418/female 1,139) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

11.05 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Death rate

7.99 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Drinking water source

urban: 97% of population | rural: 86% of population | total: 95.3% of population | urban: 3% of population | rural: 14% of population | total: 4.7% of population (2011 est.)

Ethnic groups

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 72.5%, Carolinian 1%, other Micronesian 2.4%, Filipino 16.3%, Chinese 1.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other Asian 3.4%, white 0.9%, other 0.3% (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

9.9% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 28

Hospital bed density

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.15 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 12.67 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 9.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Languages

Palauan (official on most islands) 66.6%, Carolinian 0.7%, other Micronesian 0.7%, English (official) 15.5%, Filipino 10.8%, Chinese 1.8%, other Asian 2.6%, other 1.3% | note: Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official) (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.87 years | male: 69.69 years | female: 76.23 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.5% | male: 99.5% | female: 99.6% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

MELEKEOK (capital) 299 (2012)

Median age

total: 33.2 years | male: 32.6 years | female: 34.4 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Palauan(s) | adjective: Palauan

Net migration rate

0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

47.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 7

Physicians density

1.38 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

21,265 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 220

Population growth rate

0.38% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Religions

Roman Catholic 49.4%, Protestant 30.9% (includes Protestant (general) 23.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.3%, and other Protestant 2.5%), Modekngei 8.7% (indigenous to Palau), Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 8.8%, none or unspecified 1.1% (2005 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years | male: 14 years | female: 14 years (2013)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.56 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.53 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.37 male(s)/female | total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.71 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Urbanization

urban population: 87.1% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia

Airports

3 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 194

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Koror