Palau

Facts & Figures

• Republic of Palau

  President: Tommy Remengesau (2013)

  Total area: 177 sq mi (458 sq km)

  Population (2014 est.): 21,186 (growth rate: 0.36%); birth rate: 10.95/1000; infant mortality rate: 1.46/1000; life expectancy: 72.6; density per sq mi: 45.5

  Capital: Melekeok, 1,000 (2011)
  Largest City: Koror, 19,000 (2014)

  Monetary unit: U.S. dollar used

  National name: Beluu er a Belau

  Current government officials

  Languages: Palauan 66.6%, English 15.5%, Sonsoralese, Tobi, Angaur (each official on some islands), Filipino 10.8%, Chinese 1.8%, Carolinian 0.7%, other Micronesian 0.7%, other Asian 2.6%, other languages 1.3% (2005)

  Ethnicity/race: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 72.5%, Filipino 16.3%, Chinese 1.6%, other Asian 3.4%, white 0.9%, Carolinian 1%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other Micronesian 2.4%, other or unspecified 0.3% (2005 census)

  Religions: Roman Catholic 49.4%, Protestant 30.9%, Modekngei 8.7% (indigenous), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other religion 8.8%, unspecified or none 1.1% (2005 census)

  National Holiday: Constitution Day, July 9

  Literacy rate: 92% (2012 est.)

  Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $245.5 million; per capita $10,500 (2008 est.). Real growth rate: na% (2005 est.). Inflation: 2.7% (2011 est.). Unemployment: 4.2% (2005 est.). Arable land: 9%. Agriculture: coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish. Labor force: 9,777 (2005); agriculture 20%, industry n.a., services n.a. (2004). Industries: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making. Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals. Exports: $12.3 million f.o.b. (2010 est.): shellfish, tuna, copra, garments. Imports: $113.4 million f.o.b. (2010 est.): machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs. Major trading partners: U.S., Japan, Singapore, Guam, South Korea (2004).

  Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 7,300 (2012); mobile cellular: 17,150 (2012). Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002). Radio Stations: 6 (2009). Television broadcast stations: 1 (cable) (2009). Televisions: 11,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (2012). Internet users: N/A (2012).

  Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 61 km; paved: 36 km; unpaved: 25 km. Ports and harbors: Koror. Airports: 3 (2013).

  International disputes: Maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia.

  Major sources and definitions