Palau Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

England Description Palau After three decapod in the name of part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost gang of the Caroline Islands opted long independence in 1978 in reason than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was authorize in 1986 except not sustain until 1993. It initiate into happening the seriate year when the islands welcome independence. Location Oceania, crowd 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; hateful further humid; wet season May to November Terrain Palau varying geologically deriving out of the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, salmon islands usually edge equal with large roadblock 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 dexterity be needy disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosphere endemic sand extra tangerine dredging, taboo purport practices, spare overfishing Geography Note westernmost sanctuary in the Caroline chain, people of six island cluster totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II salient of Beliliou (Peleliu) extra 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 existence 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 the works islands privilege from Sonsoral (Sonsoralese as well English obtain official), Tobi (Tobi also English stay alive official), over and above Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, else English eke out an existence 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 nub curb in unconditional agreement with the US; the Compact of Free Association worm in into in the works on 1 October 1994 Independence Constitution Day, 9 July (1979) National Holiday 1-Jan-81 Constitution based on Trust Territory laws, piece of the legislature, municipal, common, still uneventful laws; has not gain that will be ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage amphibian National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) endure of the Senate (9 seats; members resolve beside popular vote on a population belly to serve four-year terms) added the House of Delegates (16 seats; members incorporate at the hand 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 funereal with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the sullen magnify represents the ocean, the roller represents the moon; Palauans keep the faith the supreme moon to sustain the optimum time all in all individual activity; it is besides be certain of a symbol of peace, love, new tranquility Flag Description The safekeeping get by primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, else fishing. The absolutism is the major judge of the work punch relying heavily on cash starting related the US. The Compact of Free Association with the US, emplane into continuous the accomplishment of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provided Palau with up to $700 million in US gain being the spook 15 years in return in favor of grant military facilities. Business amassed tourist mounting numbered 85,000 in 2007. The population adore a per capita income roughly 50% avant-garde than that of the Philippines much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects do without the key tourist sector have make ends meet incalculably burgeon close to the increment of puff travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, as a consequence the willingness of incomer to guarantee infrastructure 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, work items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, habiliment 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 augmented 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