Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Palau


Palau Population: 21,093
BackgroundAfter 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 yr, when the islands gained independence.Map data ©2009 Europa Technologies - Terms of Use
GeographyWesternmost 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.Loion:Ocnia, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocn, southst of the PhilippinesGeographic coordinates:7 30 N, 134 30 r:total: 458 sq km
land: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq kmSize comparison: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land Boundaries:0 kmCoastline:1,519 kmMaritime claims:territorial s: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nmClimate:tropical; hot and humid; wet sson May to NovemberTerrain:varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefsElevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocn 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 mNatural resources:forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-sbed mineralsLand use:arable land: 8.7%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 86.95% (2005)Irrigated land:NANatural hazards:typhoons (June to December)Current Environment Issues:inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; thrts to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishingInternational Environment Agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertifiion, Law of the S, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
PeoplePopulation:21,093 (July 2008 est.)Age structure:0-14 yrs: 25.8% (male 2,797/female 2,637)
15-64 yrs: 69.4% (male 7,864/female 6,779)
65 yrs and over: 4.8% (male 482/female 534) (2008 est.)Median age:total: 32.3 yrs
male: 33.3 yrs
female: 31.3 yrs (2008 est.)Population growth rate:1.157% (2008 est.)Birth rate:17.4 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)Dth rate:6.73 dths/1,000 population (2008 est.)Net migration rate:0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 yrs: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 yrs: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 yrs and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2008 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 13.69 dths/1,000 live births
male: 15.37 dths/1,000 live births
female: 11.9 dths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71 yrs
male: 67.82 yrs
female: 74.36 yrs (2008 est.)Total fertility rate:2.45 children born/woman (2008 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NAHIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NAHIV/AIDS - dths:NANationality:noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: PalauanEthnic groups:Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.2% (2000 census)Religions:Roman holic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indious to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)Languages:Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can rd and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)
GovernmentCountry 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 DistrictGovernment type:constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994Capital:name: Melekeok
geographic coordinates: 7 29 N, 134 38 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahd of Washington, DC during Standard Time)Administrative divisions:16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, SonsorolIndependence:1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)National holiday:Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)Constitution:1 January 1981Legal system:based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state: President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January 2009); Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and hd of government
hd of government: President Johnson TORIBIONG (since 15 January 2009); Vice President Kerai MARIUR (since 15 January 2009)
cabinet: NA
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-yr terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Johnson TORIBIONG (51%) defts Elias Camsek CHIN (49%) for president; Kerai MARIUR elected vice presidentLegislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (9 sts; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-yr terms) and the House of Delegates (16 sts; members elected by popular vote to serve four-yr terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008); House of Delegates - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA; sts - independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; sts - independents 16Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Common Pls; Land CourtPolitical parties and lders:nonePolitical pressure groups and lders:NAInternational organization participation:ACP, ADB, FAO, IA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHODiplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
consulate(s) eral: Honolulu
consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam)Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Mark BEZNER
embassy: Koror (no street address)
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911
EconomyThe economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force relying hvily on financial assistance from the US. The Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provided Palau with up to $700 million in US aid for the following 15 yrs in return for furnishing military facilities. Business and tourist arrivals ed 85,000 in 2007. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly 50% higher than that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the tourist sector have been grtly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of lding st Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.GDP (purchasing power parity):$164 million note: GDP estimates includes US subsidy (2007 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):$164 million (2007)GDP - rl growth rate:5.5% (2005 est.)GDP - per capita (PPP):$8,100 (2007 est.)GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 12%
services: 81.8% (2003)Labor force:9,777 (2005)Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 20%
industry: NA%
services: NA%Unemployment rate:4.2% (2005 est.)Population below poverty line:NA%Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.7% (2005 est.)Budget:revenues: $114.8 million
expenditures: $99.5 million (2007 est.)Agriculture - products:
Industries:tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, prls), construction, garment makingIndustrial production growth rate:
Current account balance:$15.09 million (FY03/04)Exports:$5.882 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)Exports - commodities:shellfish, tuna, copra, garmentsImports:$107.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffsDebt - external:$0 (FY99/00)Market value of publicly traded shares:$NACurrency ():US dollar (USD)Exchange rates:the US dollar is usedFiscal yr:1 October - 30 September
CommuniionsTele in use:6,700 (2002)Cellular in use:1,000 (2002)Telephone system:eral assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country - 680; satellite rth station - 1 sat (Pacific Ocn)Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)Television broadcast stations:1 (cable) (2005)Internet country :.pwInternet hosts:0 (2008)Internet users:

TransportationAirports:3 (2007)Airports (paved runways):total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)Airports (unpaved runways):total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)Roadways:note: estimated to have 60 km of roads as of 1996Ports and terminals:Koror
MilitaryDefense 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 yrs, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2008)Military branches:no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2009)Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 5,973 (2008 est.)Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 4,397 (2008 est.)

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