Palau

Presidential Republic In Free Association With The USPop22KGDP (PPP)$280.0MCI80Beta CP0.0→Beta

Palau

⌘K

Overview

Background: Humans arrived in the Palauan archipelago from Southeast Asia around 1000 B.C. and developed a complex, highly organized matrilineal society where high-ranking women picked the chiefs. The islands were the westernmost part of the widely scattered Pacific islands north of New Guinea that Spanish explorers named the Caroline Islands in the 17th century. The 18th and 19th centuries saw occasional visits of whalers and traders as Spain gained some influence in the islands and administered it from the Philippines. Spain sold Palau to Germany in 1899 after losing the Philippines in the Spanish-American War.

Japan seized Palau in 1914, was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the islands in 1920, and made Koror the capital of its South Seas Mandate in 1922. By the outbreak of World War II, there were four times as many Japanese living in Koror as Palauans. In 1944, the US invasion of the island of Peleliu was one of the bloodiest island fights of the Pacific War. After the war, Palau became part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Palau voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978 and adopted its own constitution in 1981, which stated that Palau was a nuclear-free country. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted Palau financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities. However, many Palauans saw the COFA as incompatible with the Palauan Constitution because of the US military’s nuclear arsenal, and seven referenda failed to achieve ratification. Following a constitutional amendment and eighth referendum in 1993, the COFA was ratified and entered into force in 1994 when the islands gained their independence. Its funding was renewed in 2010.

Palau has been on the frontlines of combatting climate change and protecting marine resources. In 2011, Palau banned commercial shark fishing and created the world’s first shark sanctuary. In 2017, Palau began stamping the Palau Pledge into passports, reminding visitors to act in ecologically and culturally responsible ways. In 2020, Palau banned coral reef-toxic sunscreens and expanded its fishing prohibition to include 80% of its exclusive economic zone.

Geography

Area

Land: 459 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 459 sq km

Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
Terrain: varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Land Use

Other: 0% (2023 est.)
Forest: 90.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Coastline: 1,519 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Map references: Oceania

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Geography note: westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes world-famous Rock Islands
Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Area comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 100% (2020 est.)
Female: 100% (2020 est.)
Total population: 100% (2020 est.)

Languages: Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 46.9%, Protestant 30.9% (Evangelical 24.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, other Protestant 1.4%), Modekngei 5.1% (indigenous to Palau), Muslim 4.9%, other 12.3% (2020 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.25 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.33 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 11.53 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 34.1 years
Total: 35.5 years (2025 est.)
Female: 37.4 years

Population

Male: 11,257
Total: 21,947 (2025 est.)
Female: 10,690

Nationality

Noun: Palauan(s)
Adjective: Palauan

Tobacco Use

Male: 25.2% (2025 est.)
Total: 16.3% (2025 est.)
Female: 6.8% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 17.5% (male 1,976/female 1,849)
15 64 years: 71.3% (male 8,647/female 6,935)
65 years and over: 11.2% (2024 est.) (male 612/female 1,845)

Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70.6%, Carolinian 1.2%, Asian 26.5%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 41.6 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 24.9 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 6 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 16.7 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 1.81 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 16.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.8% national budget (2023 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.38% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.83 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 72 years
Female: 78.5 years
Total population: 75.2 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 89 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Major urban areas population: 277 NGERULMUD (capital) (2018)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 55.3% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 48.3% (2020 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 14 years (2023 est.)
Total: 15 years (2023 est.)
Female: 16 years (2023 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: description: light blue with a large yellow disk to the left side

meaning: blue stands for the ocean, and the disk for the moon, which is considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility

Capital

Name: Ngerulmud
Etymology: the name comes from a Palauan term meaning "place of fermented angelfish;" the site of the capital was the traditional location for women to gather and offer fermented angelfish to the gods
Time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 37 E

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: no
Citizenship BY descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: note - no procedure for naturalization

Constitution

History: ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981
Amendment process: proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25% of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election

Country Name

Former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District
Etymology: from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word beluu, meaning "village"
Local long form: Beluu er a Belau
Local short form: Belau
Conventional long form: Republic of Palau
Conventional short form: Palau

Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Legal system: mixed system of civil, common, and customary law
Government type: presidential republic in free association with the US

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; the Supreme Court organization also includes the Common Pleas and Land Courts)
Subordinate courts: National Court and other inferior courts
Judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by a 7-member independent body consisting of judges, presidential appointees, and lawyers and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65

Executive Branch

Note: note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate; also includes the vice president; the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws
Chief of state: President Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (since 21 January 2021)
Election results: 2024: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 57.7%, Tommy REMENGESAU (independent) 42.1%, other 0.2%

2020: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7%, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3%
Head of government: President Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (since 21 January 2021)
Most recent election date: 5 November 2024
Election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Expected date of next election: November 2028

National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1981); Independence Day, 1 October (1994)
National color(s): blue, yellow

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 1 (mixed)
Selected world heritage site locales: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon

Political parties: although not expressly forbidden by law, Palau does not have political parties or coalitions

Legislative Branch

Legislature name: National Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau)
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Belau rekid" (Our Palau)
History: adopted 1980
Lyrics/music: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL

National symbol(s): bai (native meeting house)
Administrative divisions: 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: House of Delegates
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 16 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 11/5/2024
Expected date of next election: November 2028
Percentage of women in chamber: 25%

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: Senate
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 15 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 11/5/2024
Expected date of next election: November 2028
Percentage of women in chamber: 13.3%

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 452-6281
Chancery: 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: [1] (202) 349-8598
Consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam)
Chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997)
Email address and website: info@palauembassy.org

https://www.palauembassy.org/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [680] 587-2911
Embassy: Omsangel/Beklelachieb, Airai 96940
Telephone: [680] 587-2920
Mailing address: 4260 Koror Place, Washington, DC  20521-4260
Chief of mission: Ambassador Joel EHRENDREICH (since 29 September 2023)
Email address and website: ConsularKoror@state.gov

https://pw.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: 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, WIPO
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Legislature

PALAU · LOWER HOUSE

House of Delegates

16 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

—

Parties

—

Upper house

PALAU · UPPER HOUSE

Senate

15 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

—

Parties

—

Leaders

Current

SJ
Surangel Whipps Jr.
- Head of StateSince 2021
- Head of GovernmentSince 2021

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $127.757 million (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $152.398 million (2020 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $72.7M

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2020: $52.897 million (2020 est.)
Exports 2021: $10.566 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $24.48 million (2022 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $222.5M

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2020: $207.224 million (2020 est.)
Imports 2021: $169.938 million (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $216.681 million (2022 est.)

Industries: tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 85.2%

Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2019: 85.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
Economic overview: high-income Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; subsistence agriculture and fishing industries; US aid reliance; rebounding post-pandemic tourism industry and services sector; very high living standard and low unemployment
Exports partners: India 41%, Turkey 26%, Taiwan 10%, USA 9%, Japan 5% (2023)
Imports partners: Italy 32%, China 25%, USA 11%, Turkey 10%, Japan 6% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $18,230

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2021: $15,700 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.2%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2021: -13.8% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.9% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products: coconuts, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish, pigs, chickens, eggs, bananas, papaya, breadfruit, calamansi, soursop, Polynesian chestnuts, Polynesian almonds, mangoes, taro, guava, beans, cucumbers, squash/pumpkins (various), eggplant, green onions, kangkong (watercress), cabbages (various), radishes, betel nuts, melons, peppers, noni, okra
Exports commodities: ships, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports commodities: ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, cars, plastic products (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$134.2M

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2020: -$115.61 million (2020 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$115.739 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$135.428 million (2022 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 18.1% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $281.849 million (2023 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 77.8% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 36.3% (2022 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.8% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 36.6% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 13.5% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -74.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.2%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 12.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: -19.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $280.025 million (2023 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $278.538 million (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $274.866 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $280.025 million (2023 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Services: 76.7% (2023 est.)
Agriculture: 3% (2023 est.)

Energy

Electricity Access

Electrification rural areas: 100%
Electrification urban areas: 99.9%
Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 27% (2004 est.)

Broadcast media: no broadcast TV stations; a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to 4 local cable stations, 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) (2019)
Internet country code: .pw

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 8,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 24,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2023 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 1,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 0
Medium: 0
Key ports: Malakal Harbor
Very small: 1
Total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 1

Airports: 3 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 427 (2023)
BY type: bulk carrier 49, container ship 8, general cargo 200, oil tanker 52, other 118

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T8

Environment

Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

Land Use

Other: 0% (2023 est.)
Forest: 90.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 9,400 tons (2024 est.)

Environmental issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing; rising sea level; coral bleaching; drought
Particulate matter emissions: 7.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Military & Security

Military note: under the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US is responsible for the defense of Palau, and the US military is granted access to the islands; the COFA also allows citizens of Palau to serve in the US armed forces

Palau has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Palau's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Bureau of Public Safety (Ministry of Justice) has divisions for police functions and maritime security (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index80.0 / 100as of 2024-Q423 / 1902024-Q4

Freedom House StatusFree (100/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Palau — vintage 2026-Q1: Palau factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/palau

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Palau

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Literacy

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

House of Delegates

Senate

Current

Surangel Whipps Jr.

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Electricity Access

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Waste and Recycling

International Environmental Agreements

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Cite this page