e-agriculture 2.0

After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.

Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

7 30 N, 134 30 E

Oceania

slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

1,519 km

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

arable land 2.2%; permanent crops 4.3%; permanent pasture 4.3%

NA

typhoons (June to December)

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

westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 72.5%, Carolinian 1%, other Micronesian 2.4%, Filipino 16.3%, Chinese 1.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other Asian 3.4%, white 0.9%, other 0.3% (2005 est.)

Palauan (official on most islands) 66.6%, Carolinian 0.7%, other Micronesian 0.7%, English (official) 15.5%, Filipino 10.8%, Chinese 1.8%, other Asian 2.6%, other 1.3%

Roman Catholic 49.4%, Protestant 30.9% (includes Protestant (general) 23.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.3%, and other Protestant 2.5%), Modekngei 8.7% (indigenous to Palau), Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 8.8%, none or unspecified 1.1% (2005 est.)

21,265 (July 2015 est.)

0.38% (2015 est.)

11.05 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

7.99 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

MELEKEOK (capital) 299 (2012)

1.71 children born/woman (2015 est.)

9.9% of GDP (2013)

1.38 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

4.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

urban: 97% of population

rural: 86% of population

total: 95.3% of population

urban: 3% of population

rural: 14% of population

total: 4.7% of population (2011 est.)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

47.1% (2014)

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

16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

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

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution

ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981; amended 1992, 2004 (2011)

mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

none

NA

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility

bai (native meeting house); national colors: blue, yellow

The economy consists of tourism and other services such as trade, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. Government is a major employer of the work force relying on financial assistance from the US under the Compact of Free Association (Compact) with the US. The Compact took effect, after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994. The US provided Palau with roughly $700 million in aid for the first 15 years following commencement of the Compact in 1994 in return for unrestricted access to its land and waterways for strategic purposes. Business and leisure tourist arrivals numbered over 125,000 in fiscal year 2014, a 13.4% increase over the previous year. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly double that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for tourism have been bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of industrial East Asia, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development. Proximity to Guam, the region's major destination for tourists from East Asia, and a regionally competitive tourist infrastructure enhance Palau's advantage as a destination.

$288 million (2014 est.)

$266.8 million (2013 est.)

$267.4 million (2012 est.)

$269 million (2014 est.)

8% (2014 est.)

-2% (2013 est.)

4.6% (2012 est.)

$16,300 (2014 est.)

$15,100 (2013 est.)

$15,100 (2012 est.)

coconuts, copra, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish

tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making

NA%

10,470 (2014)

4.2% (2005 est.)

NA%

19% of GDP (2012 est.)

4% of GDP (2012 est.)

1 October - 30 September

4% (2014 est.)

2.8% (2013 est.)

$NA

-$28 million (2014 est.)

-$19.9 million (2013)

$19.1 million (2014 est.)

$14.4 million (2013 est.)

shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

$177.7 million (2014 est.)

$146.5 million (2013 est.)

machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

$67 million (2014)

$65 million (2013)

the US dollar is used

no TV stations; a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to rebroadcasts, on a delayed basis, of a number of US stations, as well as access to a number of real-time satellite TV channels; about a half dozen radio stations (1 government-owned) (2009)

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

1 (cable) (2005)

.pw

3 (2013)

no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2009)

defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2008)