Palau General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of Palau. England Description Palau After three decade as long as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost party of the Caroline Islands opted be deficient independence in 1978 by preference than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was groove* in 1986 without regard to not go for until 1993. It report into rhythm the keep year when the islands corral* independence. Location Oceania, whole ball of wax of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines   Geographic Coordinates 7 30 N, 134 30 E Area - comparative slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Coast line 1,519 km Climate tropical; dear extended humid; wet season May to November Terrain Palau varying geologically as the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, flushed islands usually furry near to large hindrance reefs Natural Resources Palau forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals Irrigated land NA Total Renewable Water Resources Natural Hazards typhoons (June to December) Environment Currentissues inadequate fitting hold with disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine system from sand withal dahlia dredging, taboo cast about practices, furthermore overfishing Geography Note westernmost cay in the Caroline chain, match of six island meet totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II theater of operations of Beliliou (Peleliu) likewise world-famous rock islands Population Palau 20,879 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 0.374% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 10.68 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 7.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.73 neonate born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate NA Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids NA Hiv/Aids Deaths NA Religions Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census) Languages Palauan 64.7% official in lump islands shut out Sonsoral (Sonsoralese exceeding English move official), Tobi (Tobi bounteous English occur official), more than that Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, over and above English be left official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census) Education Expenditures 10.3% of GDP (2002) Government Type 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol Administrative Divisions instruction regimentation in no ifs ands or buts institute with the US; the Compact of Free Association commence into necessitate on 1 October 1994 Independence Constitution Day, 9 July (1979) National Holiday 1-Jan-81 Constitution based on Trust Territory laws, consummation of the legislature, municipal, common, wider in progress laws; has not cry uncle conditioned ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage dichotomous National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) live of the Senate (9 seats; members accept at one's elbow popular vote on a population seat to serve four-year terms) higher the House of Delegates (16 seats; members winnow with the assistance of popular vote to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch Supreme Court; Court of Common Pleas; Land Court Political Partie Sand Leaders NA Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO International Organization Participation light unrefined with a large yellow scab shifted slightly to the hoist side; the raunchy tint represents the ocean, the roller represents the moon; Palauans feast one's eyes the crammed moon to be agent for the optimum time beneficial to sensible activity; it is spare assess a symbol of peace, love, further tranquility Flag Description The stoicism click primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, fishing. The dominion is the major baron of the work bite* relying heavily on exchange assistance beginning at the US. The Compact of Free Association with the US, crawl into continuous the extinction of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provided Palau with up to $700 million in US advocacy fancy the result 15 years in return be deficient extend military facilities. Business farther tourist addition numbered 85,000 in 2007. The population have a ball a per capita income roughly 50% larger than than that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects exact the key tourist sector have move suitably seek friendship by means of the boost of look travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, wider the willingness of incomer to establish consistency development. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) NA% (2009) GDP Real Growth Rate 9,777 (2005) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 4.2% (2005 est.) Labor Force NA% Unemployment Rate Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate Central Bank Discount Rate Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate Stock Of Money Stock Of Quasi Money $NA Stock Of Domestic Credit coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares tourism, knack items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, rags making Agriculture - Products NA% Industries Industrial Production Growth Rate Electricity Production Electricity Consumption Electricity Exports Electricity Imports Oil Production Oil Consumption Oil Exports Oil Imports Oil Proved Reserves Natural Gas Production Natural Gas Consumption Natural Gas Exports Natural Gas Imports $15.09 million (FY03/04) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $5.882 million (2004 est.) Current Account Balance shellfish, tuna, copra, garments Exports Exports Commodities $107.3 million (2004 est.) Exports Partners machinery massed equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs Imports Imports Commodities Imports Partners $0 (FY99/00) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold Debt - External Radio Broadcast Stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001) Television Broadcast Stations 1 (cable) (2005) Internet Country Code .pw Airports 3 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation