Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 2 televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

NA

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US pursuant to Compact of Free Association which entered into force 1 October 1994 PALMYRA ATOLL (territory of the US)

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava, sweet potatoes

Budget [time series]

revenues: $6 million expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.56 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $92 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 16,000 kW production: 22 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,540 kWh (1990)

Exchange rates [time series]

US currency is used

Exports [time series]

$600,000 (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts partners: US, Japan

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

about $100 million (1989)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

Imports [time series]

$24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: NA partners: US

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

NA%

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$5,000 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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 compact of "free association" with the United States, 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 some military facilities. 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.

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (1986)

Area [time series]

total area: 458 sq km land area: 458 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

wet season May to November; hot and humid

Coastline [time series]

1,519 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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 natural hazards: typhoons (June to December) international agreements: NA

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

about 200 islands varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1981

Digraph [time series]

PS

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Liaison Officer NA liaison office: 444 North Capital Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 624-7793

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993), Vice-President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

NA note: relationship of free association with the US pursuant to compact of free association which entered into force 1 October 1994

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[680] 488-2911 note: relationship of free association with the US pursuant to compact of free association which entered into force 1 October 1994

Flag [time series]

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

Legislative branch (House of Delegates) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, National Court, Court of Common Pleas

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Palau conventional short form: Palau former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

self-governing territory in free association with the US pursuant to Compact of Free Association which entered into force 1 October 1994; Palau is fully responsible for internal affairs; US retains responsibility for external affairs

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Liaison Officer Lloyd W. MOSS liaison office: Erenguul Street, Koror, Republic of Palau mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: [680] 488-2920

Age structure [time series]

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

Birth rate [time series]

22.11 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA by occupation: NA

Languages [time series]

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 [time series]

total population: 71.01 years male: 69.14 years female: 73.02 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan

Net migration rate [time series]

2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

16,661 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.76% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

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)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.85 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Koror

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km