Form of Government: Republic
Area: 489 sq km
Population: 17 930 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 36.67 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 8° - 0° N; long. 131° - 135° E
Capital: Ngerulmud (capital) 401 inhab. (2019);
Currency: US dollar (100 cents)
Human development index: 0.826 (rank: 50)
President and head of government: Surangel Whipps Jr., elected 3 November 2020, in office since 21 January 2021
Internet: //palaugov.pw (Republic of Palau National Government)
Member of SPC, UN
Palau

International license plate code PAL
International dialling code 00680
Travel vaccinations requirement none
Electricity (Voltage) 115/230
Driving side rigth
Internet code .pw
GMT +9
DST not applied
Geography.
Palau is the westernmost archipelago of the island groups that make up the Caroline Islands within the Micronesia region in the Pacific Ocean. It comprises seven main islands, including Babeldaob and Koror, connected by a bridge, and around 300 islets. The climate is humid tropical.
Government
Placed under the trusteeship of the USA in 1947, Palau became independent on 1 October 1994. An agreement ratified on 9 November 1993 made the USA responsible for foreign relations and defence. The President of the Republic is elected with a four-year mandate, along with the 16 members of the Chamber of Deputies and the 13 members of the Senate. There are no political parties.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Homicides | 3.1 | per 100 000 pop. | 2012 |
Administrative division
State | AREA | INHABITANTS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Aimeliik | 52$ sq km | 334 inhab. | 2015 |
Airai | 44$ sq km | 2 455 inhab. | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Koror | 11 410 | inhab. | 2018 |
Meyuns | 1 153 | inhab. | 2005 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 11.2 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 10.8 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Palauan | 73$ | % | 2015 |
Asian | 21.7 | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 45.3 | % | 2015 |
Protestant | 34.9 | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
English (official) |
Palauan (official) |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 17.9 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 24.9 | % | 2020 |
Economy
The economy is based on tourism, agriculture and fishing. The main exports are molluscs, copra (extracted from the coconut palm) and tuna fish. Fishing licences for foreign fleets (especially Japanese) generate significant income.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Balance of trade | - 145.2 | M US$ | 2020 |
External debt | 137 | M US$ | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 10 693 | units | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 1.7 | % | 2015 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 40.7 | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 108.6 | M LCU | 2019 |
Revenues | 121.9 | M LCU | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 6.7 | t | 2018 |
marine fishes | 5 355.12 | t | 2019 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
renewable electricity generation | 100 | % | 1998 |
- hydro | 30$ | M kWh | 1998 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- hydro | 10$ | 1000 kW | 1998 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 208 | M kWh | 1998 |
total installed capacity | 62$ | 1000 kW | 1998 |
Trade
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
food products | 88.725 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
manufactures | 9.013 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 23.3 | M US$ | 2017 |
Number of arrivals | 94 000 | units | 2019 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 17.1 | years | 2013 |
Graduates | 94$ | units | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 1 391 | units | 2016 |
Students, secondary level | 1 351 | units | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 0.3 | % of total expenses | 2012 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 4.8 | per 1000 pop. | 2010 |
Physicians | 1.8 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Tuberculosis | 38$ | per 100 000 pop. | 2019 |
Tuberculosis (prevalence) | 45$ | per 100 000 pop. | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 100 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clothing, footwear | 4.7 | % | 2014 |
education | 2$ | % | 2014 |