ARCHIVE // PW // 1996

Palau

1996 Edition — freely_associated

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
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Communications
Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]
NA
Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]
$NA, NA% of GDP
Military - note (Defense note) [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios [time series]
9,000 (1993 est.)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
1,500 (1988 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
2
Televisions [time series]
1,600 (1993 est.) Defense
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes
Budget [time series]
revenues: $17 million expenditures: $57 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Economic aid [time series]
recipient: ODA, $NA 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 $500 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities
Economic 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 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. Reducing budgeted operating expenditures - which have increased 56% from 1989 to 1993 - will be the biggest challenge for the government over the next several years.
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]
$5,000 (1994 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]
NA%
Imports [time series]
$24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: NA partners: US
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some commercial fishing and agriculture
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
NA%
Labor force [time series]
NA by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate [time series]
20% (1986)
Geography
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
Geographic coordinates [time series]
7 30 N, 134 30 E
Geography - note (Geographic 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
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 the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm extended fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources [time series]
forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Terrain [time series]
varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m
Government
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
Data code [time series]
PS
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Isaac Ngewakl SOALADAOB chancery: 2000 L Street NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state and head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993) were elected for four-year terms by popular vote; election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3% cabinet: Cabinet
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[1] (202) 452-6281
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[680] 488-2911
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)
International organization participation [time series]
ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF, UN, WHO
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)
Country name (Name of country) [time series]
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
National holiday [time series]
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp BASILIUS
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 of government) [time series]
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard G. WATKINS embassy: address NA, Koror mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate [time series]
21.61 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 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 (1996 est.)
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 (1996 est.)
Literacy [time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) 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 (1996 est.)
Population [time series]
16,952 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
1.71% (1996 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)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.79 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 3 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 (1995 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km
Merchant marine [time series]
none
Ports [time series]
Koror
Railways [time series]
0 km