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.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Budget [time series]

revenues : $21 million expenditures: $57 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

about $100 million (1989)

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, will provide Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities

Economic overview (Economy - 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 - capacity [time series]

NA kW

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production [time series]

NA kWh

Exchange rates [time series]

US currency is used

Exports [time series]

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

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]

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Imports [time series]

total value : $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) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

NA%

Labor force [time series]

NA by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 458 sq km land : 458 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to : Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

7 30 N, 134 30 E

Geography - 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

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures : NA% forests 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 hazards [time series]

typhoons (June to December)

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 16 states named Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1981

Country name [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

Data code [time series]

PS

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission : Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila) embassy: address NA, Koror mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim David A. ORRUKEM chancery: 2000 L Street NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036 telephone : [1] (202) 452-6814

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results : Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of vote - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote - Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%

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

[1] (202) 452-6281

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

[680] 488-2911

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

ESCAP, 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 or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats - one from each state; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); House of Delegates - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Delegates - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Capital (National capital) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp BASILIUS

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

NA

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Age structure [time series]

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

Birth rate [time series]

21.04 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 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 (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan

Net migration rate [time series]

2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

17,240 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.66% (1997 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 total population: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.71 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none PALMYRA ATOLL (territory of the US)

Airports [time series]

3 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Koror

Railways [time series]

0 km