Wayzata World Factbook 1996/The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso/pc/text/ciatxtpc/palau.cia

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                             THE WORLD FACTBOOK
                                      Palau
                                    Geography


Location:
    Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the
    Philippines
Map references:
    Oceania
Area:
  total area:
    458 sq km
  land area:
    458 sq km
  comparative area:
    slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
    0 km
Coastline:
    1,519 km
Maritime claims:
  continental shelf:
    200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
  exclusive fishing zone:
    200 nm
  territorial sea:
    3 nm
International disputes:
    none
Climate:
    wet season May to November; hot and humid
Terrain:
    about 200 islands varying geologically from the high, mountainous main
    island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier
    reefs
Natural resources:
    forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
  arable land:
    NA%
  permanent crops:
    NA%
  meadows and pastures:
    NA%
  forest and woodland:
    NA%
  other:
    NA%
Irrigated land:
    NA sq km
Environment:
  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
Note:
    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
                             THE WORLD FACTBOOK
                                      Palau
                                     People


Population:
    16,661 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
  0-14 years:
    NA
  15-64 years:
    NA
  65 years and over:
    NA
Population growth rate:
    1.76% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
    22.11 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
    6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
    2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
    25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
  total population:
    71.01 years
  male:
    69.14 years
  female:
    73.02 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
    2.85 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
  noun:
    Palauan(s)
  adjective:
    Palauan
Ethnic divisions:
    Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races
Religions:
    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)
Languages:
    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)
Literacy:
    age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
  total population:
    92%
  male:
    93%
  female:
    90%
Labor force:
    NA
  by occupation:
    NA
                             THE WORLD FACTBOOK
                                      Palau
                                   Government


Names:
  conventional long form:
    Republic of Palau
  conventional short form:
    Palau
  former:
    Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Digraph:
    PS
Type:
    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
Capital:
    Koror
  note:
    a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap
Administrative divisions:
    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
Independence:
    1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday:
    Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Constitution:
    1 January 1981
Legal system:
    based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common,
    and customary laws
Suffrage:
    18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
  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%
Legislative branch:
    bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK)
  Senate:
    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
  House of Delegates:
    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
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court, National Court, Court of Common Pleas
Member of:
    ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer), UN
Diplomatic representation in US:
  chief of mission:
    Liaison Officer NA
  liaison office:
    444 North Capital Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
                             THE WORLD FACTBOOK
                                      Palau
                                   Government
  telephone:
    [phone]
  FAX:
    NA
  note:
    relationship of free association with the US pursuant to compact of free
    association which entered into force 1 October 1994
US diplomatic representation:
  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
  FAX:
    [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:
    light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly
    to the hoist side
                             THE WORLD FACTBOOK
                                      Palau
                                     Economy


Overview:
    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.
National product:
    GDP - purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.)
  note:
    GDP numbers reflect US spending
National product real growth rate:
    NA%
National product per capita:
    $5,000 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    NA%
Unemployment rate:
    20% (1986)
Budget:
  revenues:
    $6 million
  expenditures:
    $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.)
Exports:
    $600,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
  commodities:
    trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
  partners:
    US, Japan
Imports:
    $24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989)
  commodities:
    NA
  partners:
    US
External debt:
    about $100 million (1989)
Industrial production:
    growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  capacity:
    16,000 kW
  production:
    22 million kWh
  consumption per capita:
    1,540 kWh (1990)
Industries:
    tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some commercial fishing and
    agriculture
Agriculture:
    subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava, sweet potatoes
                             THE WORLD FACTBOOK
                                      Palau
                                     Economy
Economic aid:
  recipient:
    US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.56 billion; Western (non-US)
    countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $92 million
Currency:
    1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
    US currency is used
Fiscal year:
    1 October - 30 September
                             THE WORLD FACTBOOK
                                      Palau
                                 Transportation


Railroads:
    0 km
Highways:
  total:
    61 km
  paved:
    36 km
  unpaved:
    gravel 25 km
Ports:
    Koror
Merchant marine:
    none
Airports:
  total:
    3
  with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:
    1
  with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m:
    2
                             THE WORLD FACTBOOK
                                      Palau
                                 Communications


Telephone system:
    NA telephones
  local:
    NA
  intercity:
    NA
  international:
    1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
Radio:
  broadcast stations:
    AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
  radios:
    NA
Television:
  broadcast stations:
    2
  televisions:
    NA
                             THE WORLD FACTBOOK
                                      Palau
                                 Defense Forces


Branches:
    NA
Defense expenditures:
    $NA, NA% of GDP
Note:
    defense is the responsibility of the US pursuant to Compact of Free
    Association which entered into force 1 October 1994