Palau

Land Characteristics

Name of Country: Republic of Palau

Form of Government: Presidential republic in free association with the U.S.

Capital: Melekeok

Area: 508 km²

Time Zone: GMT + 9 hours

Population: 20000

Population 2015: (estimated) 26 000

Population density: 39 per km²

Life expectancy: 69.2 years

Infant mortality (per 1000): 16.2

Languages: Palau table*, English*, Japanese, Angaur, Tobi, Sonsorolesisch

Literacy: 92%

Religions: Catholic 49%, Protestant 33%, Modekngei supporters 9%, Other 9%

Population: Palau (Micronesian, Polynesian, Melanesian, Malay) 87%, 8% of Filipinos, other Asians 5%

Currency: US-Dollar

Economy: Services 83%, Industry 15%, Agriculture 2%

GDP per capita: 6220 US-Dollars

Climate: Tropical, rainy season from May to November

Highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus (242m high)

The Republic of Palau is located 750km southeast of the Philippines and includes about 300 islands. The colonization of Palau began about 1000 BC by different people of Southeast Asia and was then occupied by Spain, Germany, Japan and the United States in the last hundred years. In 1978, the inclusion into the neighboring "Federated States of Micronesia" was rejected. At first the citizens of Palau voted against a "free association with the United States" because it was feared that it would lead to the stationing of nuclear-powered ships, but Palau ultimately agreed to the free association in 1994 because the USA offered support payments for the next 15 years adding up to 500 000 000 US-Dollars. Palau also became a United Nations member last year.