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Palau
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.
Location :
Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Geographic Coordinates Center :
7 30 N, 134 30 E (Latitude, Longtitude)
Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :
| West | 134.12 |
| North | 7.73 |
| East | 134.65 |
| South | 6.89 |
Map references :
Oceania
Area :
| total | 459 | square km |
| land | 459 | square km |
| water | 0 | square km |
Coastline :
1519.00 km
Climate :
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
Terrain :
varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
Elevation extremes :
| lowest point | 0 | metres |
| highest point | 242 | metres |
Natural resources :
| deep-seabed minerals | forests |
| marine products | minerals |
Land use :
| arable land | 8.70 | % |
| permanent crops | 4.35 | % |
| other | 86.95 | % |
Natural hazards :
| typhoons |
current issues :
inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing
international agreements :
| Biodiversity | Climate Change |
| Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol | Desertification |
| Law of the Sea | Ozone Layer Protection |
| Wetlands | Whaling |
Population :
20 796
Indicators :
| Growth rate | 0.43 | % |
| Birth rate | 11.20 | births/1,000 population |
| Total fertility rate | 1.82 | children born/woman |
| Death rate | 7.89 | deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate | 0.96 | migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Age structure :
| 0-14 years | 22.90 | % |
| 15-64 years | 70.80 | % |
| 65 years and over | 6.20 | % |
Median age :
| total | 32.20 | years |
| male | 32.00 | years |
| female | 32.70 | years |
Sex ratio :
| at birth | 1.06 | male(s)/female |
| under 15 years | 1.06 | male(s)/female |
| 15-64 years | 1.26 | male(s)/female |
| 65 years and over | 0.45 | male(s)/female |
| total population | 1.14 | male(s)/female |
Health :
| Infant mortality rate | 13.14 | deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth - total population | 71.22 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - male | 68.08 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - female | 74.54 | years |
Religions :
| Roman Catholic | 41.60 | % |
| Protestant | 23.30 | % |
| Modekngei | 8.80 | % |
| Seventh-Day Adventist | 5.30 | % |
| Jehovah's Witness | 0.90 | % |
| Latter-Day Saints | 0.60 | % |
| other | 3.10 | % |
| unspecified | 16.40 | % |
Languages :
| Palauan | 64.70 | % |
| Sonsoral | ||
| Tobi | ||
| Angaur | ||
| Filipino | 13.50 | % |
| English | 9.40 | % |
| Chinese | 5.70 | % |
| Carolinian | 1.50 | % |
| Japanese | 1.50 | % |
| Asian | 2.30 | % |
Literacy :
| total population | 92.00 | % |
| male | 93.00 | % |
| female | 90.00 | % |
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 |
Country Codes :
| ISO 3166 | PW |
| ISO Numeric | 585 |
| ISO3 | PLW |
| FIPS | PS |
| ccTLD | pw |
| English | Palau |
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 | 9.00 |
International organization participation :
| ACP | ADB |
| AOSIS | FAO |
| IAEA | IBRD |
| ICAO | ICRM |
| IDA | IFC |
| IFRCS | IMF |
| IOC | IPU |
| MIGA | OPCW |
| PIF | SPC |
| Sparteca | UN |
| UNCTAD | UNESCO |
| WHO |
Independence :
1994-10-01
National holiday :
Constitution Day
1979-07-09
Executive branch :
| President Johnson TORIBIONG |
GDP - Gross Domestic product :
| PPP - Purchasing Power Parity | 164 000 000 | $ |
| Official Exchange Rate | 164 000 000 | |
| RGR - Real Growth rate | 5.50 | % |
| PPP - per capita | 8 100 | $ |
GDP Composition by sector :
| agriculture | 6.20 | % |
| industry | 12.00 | % |
| services | 81.80 | % |
Labor force - by occupation :
| agriculture | 20.00 | % |
Other Indicators :
| Unemployment rate | 4.20 | % |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.70 | % |
| Current account balance | 15 090 000 | $ |
Budget :
| revenues | 114 800 000 | $ |
| expenditures | 99 500 000 | $ |
Agriculture - products :
| cassava | coconuts |
| copra | fish |
| sweet potatoes |
Industries :
| construction | craft items |
| garment making | pearls |
| shell | tourism |
| wood |
Value :
107 300 000 $
Commodities :
| foodstuffs | fuels |
| machinery and equipment | metals |
Currency-code :
USD
Currency-name :
US dollar
Communications :
| Telephons Main lines in use | 7 500 | |
| Telephons Mobile, Cellular | 12 000 | |
| FM Radio broadcast stations | 4 | |
| Television broadcast stations | 1 | |
| Internet Country code (ccTLD) | pw | |
| Internet Hosts | 2 |
Transportation :
| Airports with paved runways | 1 |
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