Coordinates: 7°30′N 134°30′E

Palau
Palau,[a] officially the Republic of Palau[b][7] and historically Belau, Palaos
or Pelew, is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation Republic of Palau
has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caroline Beluu er a Palau (Palauan)
Islands with parts of the Federated States of Micronesia. It has a total area of
466 square kilometers (180 sq mi).[8] The most populous island is Koror, home
to the country's most populous city of the same name. The capital Ngerulmud is
located on the nearby island of Babeldaob, in Melekeok State. Palau shares
maritime boundaries with international waters to the north, the Federated States
of Micronesia to the east, Indonesia to the south, and the Philippines to the Flag Seal
northwest.
Anthem: Belau rekid
The country was originally settled approximately 3,000 years ago by migrants "Our Palau"
from Maritime Southeast Asia.[9][10] Palau was first drawn on a European map
0:00 / 0:00
by the German missionary Paul Klein[11] based on a description given by a
group of Palauans shipwrecked on the Philippine coast on Samar. Palau islands
were made part of the Spanish East Indies in 1885. Following Spain's defeat in
the Spanish–American War in 1898, the islands were sold to Germany in 1899
under the terms of the German–Spanish Treaty, where they were administered
as part of German New Guinea. After World War I, the islands were made a
part of the Japanese-ruled South Seas Mandate by the League of Nations.
During World War II, skirmishes, including the major Battle of Peleliu, were
fought between American and Japanese troops as part of the Mariana and Palau
Islands campaign. Along with other Pacific Islands, Palau was made a part of
the United States-governed Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947.
Having voted in a referendum against joining the Federated States of
Micronesia in 1978,[12][13] the islands gained full sovereignty in 1994 under a
Compact of Free Association with the United States.

Politically, Palau is a presidential republic in free association with the United

States, which provides defense, funding, and access to social services.
Legislative power is concentrated in the bicameral Palau National Congress.
Palau's economy is based mainly on tourism, subsistence agriculture and
fishing, with a significant portion of gross national product (GNP) derived from
foreign aid. The country uses the United States dollar as its official currency.
The islands' culture mixes Micronesian, Melanesian, Asian, and Western
elements. Ethnic Palauans, the majority of the population, are of mixed
Micronesian, Melanesian, and Austronesian descent. A smaller proportion of
the population is of Japanese descent. The country's two official languages are
Palauan (a member of the Austronesian language family) and English, with
Japanese, Sonsorolese, and Tobian recognized as regional languages.

Etymology Capital Ngerulmud

7°30′N 134°37′E
The name for the islands in the Palauan language, Belau, derives from the Largest city Koror
Palauan word for "village", beluu (thus ultimately from Proto-Austronesian 7°20′N 134°29′E
*banua),[14] or from aibebelau ("indirect replies"), relating to a creation
myth.[15] The name "Palau" originated in the Spanish Los Palaos, eventually Official languages Palauan
English
Recognized Japanese
regional languages Sonsorolese
Tobian
entering English via the German Palau. An archaic name for the islands in Ethnic groups 73.0% Palauan
English was the "Pelew Islands".[16] Palau is unrelated to Pulau, which is a (2015[1]) 21.7% Asian
Malay word meaning "island" found in a number of place names in the region. 2.0% Carolinian
1.2% European
History 2.1% Other

Religion (2015)[2] 89.7% Christianity

Early history 5.7% Modekngei
3.0% Islam
Palau was originally settled 1.6% Other / None
between the 3rd and 2nd
millennia BCE, most likely Demonym(s) Palauan
from the Philippines or Government Unitary
Indonesia.[17] Sonsorol, part presidential
Manila galleon in the Marianas and Carolinas, c.
of the Southwest Islands, an republic under a
1590 Boxer Codex. non-partisan
island chain approximately
democracy
600 kilometers (370  mi;
320 nmi) from the main island chain of Palau, was sighted by the Spanish as • President Surangel Whipps
early as 1522, when the Spanish mission of the Trinidad, the flagship of Jr.
Ferdinand Magellan's voyage of circumnavigation, sighted two small islands • Vice President Uduch Sengebau
around the 5th parallel north, naming them "San Juan".[18] Senior
Legislature Olbiil era Kelulau
• Upper house Senate
After the 16th century
• Lower house House of
Delegates
The next recording of the existence of Palau by Europeans came a century later
in 1697 when a group of Palauans was shipwrecked on the Philippine island of Independence from the United States
Samar to the northwest. They were interviewed by the Czech missionary Paul • Trusteeship 18 July 1947
Klein on 28 December 1696. Klein was able to draw the first known European • Constitution 2 April 1979
map of Palau based on the Palauans' representation of their home islands that • Establishment of 1 January 1981
they made with an arrangement of 87 pebbles on the beach. Klein reported his the Republic of
findings to the Jesuit Superior General in a letter sent in June 1697.[19] Palau
• Compact of Free 1 October 1994
Association
Spanish era Area
• Total 459 km2
(177 sq mi)
(180th)
• Water (%) negligible

Population
• 2018 estimate 18,024[3][4]
(222nd)
• 2022 census 18,233
• Density 46.7/km2
An 1888 map showing the Palau Islands of the Spanish (121.0/sq mi)
East Indies (excluding the Philippine Islands). GDP (PPP) 2018 estimate
• Total $300 million[5]
• Per capita $16,296[5] (81st)

GDP (nominal) 2018 estimate
• Total $322 million[5]
• Per capita $17,438[5]

HDI (2021)  0.767[6]
high · 80th
Village on the Palau Islands, painting
by Rudolf Hellgrewe c. 1908.
Currency United States
dollar (USD)

Time zone UTC+9 (PWT)

 Date format DD-MM-YYYY

Driving side right

Calling code +680

ISO 3166 code PW

Internet TLD .pw

Website
PalauGov.pw (http://palaugov.pw/)
Koror chiefs in 1915.

This map and the letter caused a vast interest in the new islands. Another letter written by Fr. Andrés Serrano was sent to
Europe in 1705, essentially copying the information given by Klein. The letters resulted in three unsuccessful Jesuit attempts
to travel to Palau from Spanish Philippines in 1700, 1708, and 1709. The islands were first visited by the Jesuit expedition led
by Francisco Padilla on 30 November 1710. The expedition ended with the stranding of the two priests, Jacques Du Beron
and Joseph Cortyl, on the coast of Sonsorol, because the mother ship Santísima Trinidad was driven to Mindanao by a storm.
Another ship was sent from Guam in 1711 to save them only to capsize, causing the death of three more Jesuit priests. The
failure of these missions gave Palau the original Spanish name Islas Encantadas (Enchanted Islands).[20]

Transitions era

British traders became regular visitors to Palau in the 18th century (the British East India
Company packet ship Antelope shipwrecked off Ulong Island in 1783, leading to Prince
Lee Boo's visit to London), followed by expanding Spanish influence in the 19th
century. Palau, under the name Palaos, was included in the Malolos Congress in 1898,
the first revolutionary congress in the Philippines, which wanted full independence from
colonialists. Palau, at the time, was part of the Spanish East Indies headquartered in the
Philippines. Palau had one appointed member to the Congress, becoming the only group
Palau in Japanese mandate
of islands in the entire Caroline Islands granted high representation in a non-colonial
Philippine Congress. Congress also supported the right of Palau to self-determination if
ever it wished to pursue such a path.[21] Later in 1899 as part of the Caroline Islands, Palau was sold by the Spanish Empire
to the German Empire as part of German New Guinea in the German–Spanish Treaty (1899). During World War I, the
Japanese Empire annexed the islands after seizing them from Germany in 1914. Following World War I, the League of
Nations formally placed the islands under Japanese administration as part of the South Seas Mandate. In World War II, Palau
was used by Japan to support its 1941 invasion of the Philippines, which succeeded in 1942. The invasion overthrew the
American-installed Commonwealth government in the Philippines and installed the Japanese-backed Second Philippine
Republic in 1943.[22]

United States era

During World War II, the United States captured Palau from Japan in 1944 after the costly Battle of Peleliu, when more than
2,000 Americans and 10,000 Japanese were killed and later the Battle of Angaur. In 1945–1946, the United States re-
established control of the Philippines and managed Palau through the Philippine capital of Manila. By the latter half of 1946,
however, the Philippines was granted full independence with the formation of the Third Republic of the Philippines, shifting
the U.S. Far West Pacific capital to Guam. Palau was passed formally to the United States under United Nations auspices in
1947 as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 21.

Independence
 TTPI High Commissioner and staff,
1960s.

Four of the Trust Territory districts joined together and formed the Federated States of Micronesia in 1979, but the districts of
Palau and the Marshall Islands voted against the proposed constitution. Palau, the westernmost cluster of the Carolines,
instead opted for independent status in 1978, which was widely supported by the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. It approved
a new constitution and became the Republic of Palau on 1 January 1981.[23] It signed a Compact of Free Association with the
United States in 1982. In the same year, Palau became one of the founding members of the Nauru Agreement. After eight
referendums and an amendment to the Palauan constitution, the Compact was ratified in 1993. The Compact went into effect
on 1 October 1994,[24] making Palau de jure independent, although it had been de facto independent since 25 May 1994,
when the trusteeship ended. Formal diplomatic relations with the Philippines were re-established in the same year, although
the two nations already had diplomatic back channels prior to 1994. Palau also became a member of the Pacific Islands
Forum, but withdrew in February 2021 after a dispute regarding Henry Puna's election as the Forum's secretary-
general.[25][26]

Legislation making Palau an "offshore" financial center was passed by the U.S. Senate in 1998.[27]

In 2001, Palau passed its first bank regulation and anti-money laundering laws.

In 2005, Palau led the Micronesia challenge, which would conserve 30% of near-shore coastal waters and 20% of forest land
of participating countries by 2020. In 2009, Palau created the world's first shark sanctuary, banning commercial shark fishing
within its waters. In 2012, the Rock Islands of Palau was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[28]

In 2015, Palau became a member of the Climate Vulnerable Forum under the chairmanship of the Philippines, and at the same
time, the country officially protected 80% of its water resources, becoming the first country to do so.[29] The protection of its
water resources made significant increases in the country's economy in less than two years.[30] In 2017, the nation became the
first to establish an eco-promise, known as the Palau Pledge, which are stamped on local and foreign passports.[31] In 2018,
Palau and the Philippines began re-connecting their economic and diplomatic relations. The Philippines supported Palau to
become an observer state in ASEAN, as Palau also has Southeast Asian ethnic origins.[32]

In November 2020, Surangel Whipps Jr was elected as the new President of Palau to succeed President Tommy
Remengesau.[33]

Politics and government

Capitol of Palau, the seat of

government.

Palau is a democratic republic. The President of Palau is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is
exercised by the government, while legislative power is vested in both the government and the Palau National Congress. The
judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Palau adopted a constitution in 1981.
The governments of the United States and Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association in 1986, similar to compacts that
the United States had entered into with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.[34] The
compact entered into force on 1 October 1994, concluding Palau's transition from trusteeship to independence[34] as the last
portion of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to secure its independence pursuant to Security Council Resolution 956.

The Compact of Free Association between the United States and Palau[35] sets forth the free and voluntary association of their
governments. It primarily focuses on the issues of government, economic, security, and defense relations.[36] Palau has no
independent military, relying on the United States for its defense. Under the compact, the American military was granted
access to the islands for 50 years. The U.S. Navy role is minimal, limited to a handful of Navy Seabees (construction
engineers). The U.S. Coast Guard patrols in national waters.

Foreign relations

President Thomas Remengesau with

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in
2016.

As a sovereign nation, Palau conducts its own foreign relations.[34] Since independence, Palau has established diplomatic
relations with a number of nations, including many of its Pacific neighbors, like Micronesia and the Philippines. On 29
November 1994, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 963 recommending Palau's admission to the United
Nations. The United Nations General Assembly approved admission for Palau pursuant to Resolution 49/63 on 15 December
1994.[37] Palau has since joined several other international organizations. In September 2006, Palau hosted the first Taiwan-
Pacific Allies Summit. Its President has made official visits to other Pacific countries, including Japan.[38]

The United States maintains a diplomatic delegation and an embassy in Palau, but most aspects of the countries' relationship
have to do with Compact-funded projects, which are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of
Insular Affairs.[39] For example, as part of this Compact, Palau was granted ZIP Codes 96939 and 96940, along with regular
U.S. Mail delivery.

In international politics, Palau often votes with the United States on United Nations
General Assembly resolutions.[40]

Palau has maintained close ties with Japan, which has funded infrastructure projects,
including the Koror–Babeldaob Bridge. In 2015, Emperor Akihito and Empress
Michiko visited Peleliu to honor the 70th anniversary of World War II.[41]

Palau is a member of the Nauru Agreement for the Management of Fisheries.[42]

In 1981, Palau voted for the world's first nuclear-free constitution. This constitution
Flags of countries who have foreign
banned the use, storage, and disposal of nuclear, toxic chemical, gas, and biological
relations with Palau, Palasia Hotel
weapons without first being approved by a 3 ⁄4 , or 75 percent, majority in a
referendum.[43] This ban delayed Palau's transition to independence because while
negotiating the Compact, the U.S. insisted on the option to operate nuclear-propelled vessels and store nuclear weapons
within the territory,[44] prompting campaigns for independence and denuclearization.[45] After several referendums that failed
to achieve a 3 ⁄4 majority, the people of Palau finally approved the Compact in 1994.[46][47]
 President Remengesau with
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
in 2018.

The Philippines, a neighboring ally of Palau to the west has expressed its intent to back Palau if ever it wishes to join
ASEAN.[32]

In June 2009, Palau announced that it would accept up to seventeen Uyghurs who had previously been detained by the
American military at Guantanamo Bay,[48] with some American compensation for the cost of their upkeep.[49]

Only one of the Uyghurs initially agreed to resettlement,[50] but by the end of October, six of the seventeen had been
transferred to Palau.[51] An aid agreement with the United States, finalized in January 2010, was reported to be unrelated to
the Uyghur agreement.[52]

In 2017, Palau signed the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.[53]

The government has agreed to host a large United States Air Force high-frequency radar station in Palau, a Tactical Multi-
Mission Over the Horizon Radar (TACMOR) system costing well over $100 million, which is expected to be operational in
2026.[54][55]

Administrative divisions

Palau is divided into sixteen states (until 1984 called municipalities). These are listed
below with their areas (in square kilometres) and 2012 estimated and 2015 Census
populations:

The sixteen states of Palau

 Population Population
Area
State estimate census 13 Notes
(km2) 2012 April 2015

comprising islands of
1.7 76 54
Kayangel Kayangel Atoll

northern end of Babeldaob

11.2 281 316
Ngarchelong Island

north end of Babeldaob

Ngaraard 34 453 413 Island, just south of
Ngarchelong state

on western side of
34 195 185
Ngardmau Babeldaob Island

on western side of Republic of Palau.

68 310 350
Ngaremlengui Babeldaob Island

on western side of
33 257 282
Ngatpang Babeldaob Island

on eastern side of
Ngiwal 17 226 282
Babeldaob Island

on eastern side of
26 300 277
Melekeok Babeldaob Island

on eastern side of
43 287 291
Ngchesar Babeldaob Island

southwest part of Babeldaob

Aimeliik 44 281 334
Island

southeast part of Babeldaob

Airai 59 2,537 2,455
Island

Koror, Ngerekebesang and

Koror Malakal Islands, plus Rock
60.52 11,670 11,444
Islands (Chelbacheb) and Eil
Malk to the southwest
comprises Peleliu Island and
Peleliu 22.3 510 484 some islets to its north,
notably Ngercheu

Angaur Island, 12 km south

Angaur 8.06 130 119
of Peleliu

Sonsorol comprises Sonsorol, Fanna,

3.1 42 40
Pulo Anna and Merir Islands

comprises Tobi Island and

0.9 10 25
Hatohobei (uninhabited) Helen Reef

Historically, Palau's Rock Islands have been part of the State of Koror. The Southwestern islands (Sonsorol and Hatohobei
States) do not speak Palauan, but the distantly related Sonsorolese-Tobian (related to Woleaian of Woleai atoll, Yap State)

Maritime law enforcement

Palau's Division of Marine Law Enforcement patrols the nation's 600,000 square
kilometers (230,000 square miles) exclusive economic zone. They operate two long-
range patrol boats, the Kedam and the Remeliik II, to hunt for poachers and
unlicensed fishermen.[57][58][59] Smaller boats are used for littoral operations.[56]
They are based on Koror.[60]

Political future
The Euatel, Kabekl M’tal and Bul
provide littoral fishery protection.[56]
Palau may now be seen, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, as a key example of
the successes of modern state-building.  It has successfully transitioned peacefully
from colonial rule to full admission to the United Nations. Palau has maintained strong
foreign relations with its neighbors in its region of Oceania, maintaining membership in the Pacific Island Forum. There have
also been pushes for Palau to have observer status to the ASEAN as a demonstration of its growing influence in the
region.[61]  However, Palau's peaceful transition to fully autonomous sovereign nation is not without debate. Palau is hugely
reliant on international aid, as demonstrated by President Surangel Whipps Jr address to the UN General Assembly in
2021.[62] American influence has also led some to contest that there are challenges to its sovereignty with its reliance on the
American military under the Compact of Free Association, although not officially designated a de facto protectorate or
otherwise. American influence has also resulted in huge changes to Palau's society with vast changes to the economy and
political processes and as such Palau may not yet be seen as a fully independent state or a fully realised success of modern
state-building.[63]

International shipping

Although Palau's ship registry represents less than 0.001% of the world fleet of commercial ships, it contains almost 60% of
last-voyage flags in 2019. It suggests that the registry is used by shipping companies to evade end-of-life responsibilities.
These responsibilities entail the decommissioning of a ship in such a way that the environmental impact and labor conditions
are in order.[64]

Geography
Palau's territory consists of an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean. Its most populous islands are Angaur, Babeldaob,
Koror and Peleliu. The latter three lie together within the same barrier reef, while Angaur is an oceanic island several
kilometers to the south. About two-thirds of the population lives on Koror.

The coral atoll of Kayangel is north of these islands, while the uninhabited Rock Islands (about 200) are west of the main
island group. A remote group of six islands, known as the Southwest Islands, some 604 kilometers (375 miles) from the main
islands, make up the states of Hatohobei and Sonsorol.

Climate

Palau has a tropical rainforest climate with an annual mean temperature of 28 °C (82 °F). Rainfall is heavy throughout the
year, averaging 3,800 mm (150 in). The average humidity is 82% and, although rain falls more frequently between June and
October, there is still much sunshine.

Palau lies on the edge of the typhoon belt. Tropical disturbances frequently develop near Palau every year, but significant
tropical cyclones are quite rare. Mike, Bopha and Haiyan are the only systems that struck Palau as typhoons on record.[65]
 Climate data for Palau Islands (1961–1990)

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Average
30.6 30.6 30.9 31.3 31.4 31.0 30.6 30.7 30.9 31.1 31.4 31.1 31.0
high °C
(87.1) (87.1) (87.6) (88.3) (88.5) (87.8) (87.1) (87.3) (87.6) (88.0) (88.5) (88.0) (87.7)
(°F)

Daily
27.3 27.2 27.5 27.9 28.0 27.6 27.4 27.5 27.7 27.7 27.9 27.7 27.6
mean °C
(81.1) (81.0) (81.5) (82.2) (82.4) (81.7) (81.3) (81.5) (81.9) (81.9) (82.2) (81.9) (81.7)
(°F)

Average
23.9 23.9 24.1 24.4 24.5 24.2 24.1 24.3 24.5 24.4 24.4 24.2 24.2
low °C
(75.0) (75.0) (75.4) (75.9) (76.1) (75.6) (75.4) (75.7) (76.1) (75.9) (75.9) (75.6) (75.6)
(°F)

Average
rainfall 271.8 231.6 208.3 220.2 304.5 438.7 458.2 379.7 301.2 352.3 287.5 304.3 3,758.3
mm (10.70) (9.12) (8.20) (8.67) (11.99) (17.27) (18.04) (14.95) (11.86) (13.87) (11.32) (11.98) (147.97)
(inches)

Average
rainy 19.0 15.9 16.7 14.8 20.0 21.9 21.0 19.8 16.8 20.1 18.7 19.9 224.6
days

Mean
monthly
198.4 194.9 244.9 234.0 210.8 168.0 186.0 176.7 198.0 179.8 183.0 182.9 2,357.4
sunshine
hours

Source: Hong Kong Observatory [66]

Environment

Palau has a history of strong environmental conservation. For example, Ngerukewid

islands and the surrounding area are protected under the Ngerukewid Islands Wildlife
Preserve, which was established in 1956.[67]

While much of Palau remains free of environmental degradation, areas of concern

include illegal dynamite fishing, inadequate solid waste disposal facilities in Koror,
and extensive sand and coral dredging in the Palau lagoon. As with other Pacific
island nations, rising sea level presents a major environmental threat. However,
Aerial view of Ngerukewid
according to the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research average
carbon dioxide emissions per person were 60 tonnes in 2019, the highest in the world,
and mostly from transport.[68] Inundation of low-lying areas threatens coastal
vegetation, agriculture, and an already insufficient water supply. Wastewater treatment
is a problem, along with the handling of toxic waste from fertilizers and biocides.

One species of saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, is also indigenous to Palau,

occurring in varying numbers throughout the mangroves and in parts of the Rock
Islands. Although this species is generally considered extremely dangerous, there has
only been one fatal human attack, on 28 December 1965, in Palau in modern
history.[69] This attack led to a crocodile eradication program and trade in crocodile Aerial view of Rock Islands
hides that ran into the 1980s. A management and conservation program running since
the 1990s has led to a stabilization of the Palauan crocodile population.[70] In Palau,
the largest crocodile measured 4.5 meters (14 ft 9 in).

The nation is also vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tropical storms.
Palau already has a problem with inadequate water supply and limited agricultural
areas to support its population.

On 5 November 2005, President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. took the lead on a

regional environmental initiative called the Micronesia challenge, which would Rock Islands in Palau
conserve 30% of near-shore coastal waters and 20% of forest land by 2020.
Following Palau, the initiative was joined by the Federated States of Micronesia, the
Marshall Islands, and the US territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands.
Together, this combined region represents nearly 5% of the marine area of the Pacific
Ocean and 7% of its coastline.

Palau contains the Palau tropical moist forests terrestrial ecoregion.[71] It had a 2019
Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.09/10, ranking it 27th globally out
of 172 countries.[72]
An aerial view of limestone islands

Sanctuary

On 25 September 2009, Palau announced that it would create the world's first shark sanctuary.[73] Palau banned all
commercial shark fishing within the waters of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The sanctuary protects about 600,000
square kilometers (230,000 sq mi) of ocean,[74] a similar size to France.[75][76][77] President Johnson Toribiong announced
the sanctuary at a meeting of the United Nations.[75][78][79] President Toribiong proposed a worldwide ban on fishing for
sharks.[75] In 2012, Palau received the Future Policy Award from World Future Council, because "Palau is a global leader in
protecting marine ecosystems".[80]

Economy
Palau's economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing.
Tourist activity focuses on scuba diving and snorkeling in the islands' rich marine
environment, including its barrier reefs' walls and World War II wrecks. In April 2022,
Palau launched Ol'au Palau, a responsible tourism program aimed to preserve the
country's natural environment and traditional culture.[81] The government is the
largest employer, relying heavily on US financial assistance. Business and tourist
arrivals numbered some 50,000 in fiscal year 2000–2001.
A proportional representation of
The population enjoys a per capita income twice that of Micronesia as a whole. Long-
Palau exports, 2019
term prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion
of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries and the
willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

Air service has at times been spotty. Palau Micronesia Air, Asian Spirit and Pacific
Flier provided service to the Philippines and other destinations at various times during
the 2000s, but all suspended service.[82] United Airlines now provides near-daily
service to and from Guam, and once-weekly service to Yap. Also, Korean Air
provides service three times per week to Incheon.

Palau is served by an 80-bed hospital, Belau National Hospital. With some medical
specialties, there is no such specialty care in Palau necessitating medical care in Artificially made German Channel is
Taiwan, the Philippines, or Hawaii.[83] There are no dermatologists or one of the most popular dive sites. It
ophthalmologists (eye specialists) in Palau.[84] VEGF drugs for diabetic eye diseases is also a major transport route for
cannot be given for eye conditions so laser surgery is done by visiting American boats that connects the lagoon to the
ophthalmologists.[84] Belau National Hospital cannot treat certain brain hemorrhages Pacific Ocean in the south-west.
necessitating emergency airlift to Taiwan.[85]

In November 2006, Pacific Saving Bank officially announced bankruptcy. On 13

December 2006, the Palau Horizon reported that 641 depositors had been affected.
Among them, 398 held less than US$5,000, with the remainder ranging from
US$5,000 to US$2  million. On 12 December 79 affected people received
compensation. Mr. Toribiong said, "The fund for the payout came from the balance of
the Palau government's loan from Taiwan." From a total of US$1  million, which
originally was for assisting Palau's development, US$955,000 was left at the time of
bankruptcy. Toribiong requested the Taiwanese government use the balance to repay
Aerial view of Koror–Babeldaob
its loans. Taiwan agreed to the request. The compensation would include those who
Bridge in 2016.
held less than US$4,000 in an account.[86]
The income tax has three brackets with progressive rates of 9.3 percent, 15 percent, and 19.6 percent respectively. Corporate
tax is four percent, and the sales tax is zero. There are no property taxes.

Major tourist draws in Palau include Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,[87] and four tentative
UNESCO sites, namely, Ouballang ra Ngebedech (Ngebedech Terraces), Imeong Conservation Area, Yapease Quarry Sites,
and Tet el Bad (Stone Coffin).[88]

Transportation
Palau International Airport provides scheduled direct flights with Guam, Manila, and
Taipei. Palau Pacific Airways also has charter flights to and from Hong Kong and
Macau. In addition, the states of Angaur and Peleliu have regular service to domestic
destinations.

Freight, military, and cruise ships often call at Malakal Harbor, on Malakal Island
outside Koror. The country has no railways, and of the 61 km or 38 mi of highways,
only 36 km or 22 mi are paved. Driving is on the right and the speed limit is 40 km/h
(25 mph). Taxis are available in Koror. They are not metered and fares are negotiable.
Transportation between islands mostly relies on private boats and domestic air Palau International Airport
services. However, there are some state-run boats[89] between islands as a cheaper
alternative.

Demographics
The population of Palau is approximately 18,024, of whom 73% are native Palauans Historical population
of mixed Melanesian and Austronesian descent. There are many Asian communities Year Pop. ±%
within Palau. Filipinos form the largest Asian group and second largest ethnic group in 1958 8,987 —    
the country, dating back to the Spanish colonial period. There are significant numbers 1970 11,210 +24.7%
of Chinese and Koreans. There are also smaller numbers of Palauans of mixed or full 1980 12,116 +8.1%
Japanese ancestry. Smaller numbers of Bangladeshi and Nepalese migrant workers
1990 15,122 +24.8%
and their descendants who came to the islands during the late 1900s can also be found.
1995 17,225 +13.9%
Most Palauans of Asian origin came during the late 1900s with many Chinese,
Bangladeshis, and Nepalese coming to Palau as unskilled workers and 2000 19,129 +11.1%
professionals.[90] There are also small numbers of Europeans and Americans. 2005 19,907 +4.1%
2015 17,661 −11.3%
Source:
Languages "Island Areas" (https://www.census.go
v/history/www/programs/geography/is
land_areas.html). U.S. Census
The official languages of Palau are Palauan and English, except in two states Bureau.
(Sonsorol and Hatohobei) where the local languages, Sonsorolese and Tobian, "Census of Population and Housing"
respectively, along with Palauan, are official. Japanese is spoken by some older (https://www.palaugov.pw/executive-b
ranch/ministries/finance/budgetandpl
Palauans and is an official language in the State of Angaur.[91][92] Including second- anning/census-of-population-and-hou
language speakers, more people speak English than Palauan in Palau. Additionally, a sing/). Poets & Writers.
significant portion of the population speak Filipino[93] and Bengali.

Religion

According to 2015 estimates 45.3% of the population is Roman Catholic (due to its shared colonial heritage with the
Philippines), 6.9% Seventh-day Adventist, 34.9% other Protestant (due to American administration), 5.7% Modekngei and
3.0% Muslim (due to its shared Islamic heritage with southern Philippines).[1] In 2009, the small Jewish community sent two
cyclists to the 18th Maccabiah Games.[94]

The German and Japanese occupations of Palau both subsidized missionaries to follow the Spanish. Germans sent Roman
Catholics and Protestants, the Japanese sent Shinto and Buddhist, and the Spaniards sent Roman Catholic missionaries as they
controlled Palau. Three-quarters of the population are Christians (mainly Roman Catholics and Protestants), while Modekngei
(a combination of Christianity, traditional Palauan religion and fortune telling) and the ancient Palauan religion are commonly
observed. Japanese rule brought Mahayana Buddhism and Shinto to Palau, which was the majority religion among Japanese
settlers. However, following Japan's World War II defeat, the remaining Japanese largely converted to Christianity, while the
remainder continued to observe Buddhism, but stopped practicing Shinto rites.[95] There are also approximately 400 Bengali
Muslims in Palau, and recently a few Uyghurs detained in Guantanamo Bay were allowed to settle in the island nation.

Culture
Palauan society follows a very strict matrilineal system. Matrilineal practices are seen
in nearly every aspect of Palauan traditions, especially in funerals, marriages,
inheritance, and the passing of traditional titles. The system probably had its origins in
the Philippine archipelago, which had a similar system until the archipelago was
colonized by Spain.Evidence?

The cuisine includes local foods such as cassava, taro, yam, potato, fish and pork.
Western cuisine is favored among young Palauans and the locals are joined by foreign
tourists. The rest of Micronesia is similar with much less tourism, leading to fewer A traditional Palauan bai
restaurants. Tourists eat mainly at their hotels on such islands. Some local foods
include an alcoholic drink made from a coconut on the tree; a drink made from the
roots of the kava; and the chewing of betel nuts.

The traditional government system still influences the nation's affairs, leading the federal government to repeatedly attempt to
limit its power. Many of these attempts took the form of amendments to the constitution that were supported by the corporate
sector to protect what they deemed should be free economic zones. One such example occurred in early 2010, when the Idid
clan, the ruling clan of the Southern Federation, under the leadership of Bilung, the Southern Federation's queen, raised a civil
suit against the Koror State Public Lands Authority (KSPLA). The Idid clan laid claim over Malakal Island, a major economic
zone and Palau's most important port, citing documents from the German Era. The verdict held that the island belonged to the
KSPLA.

Traditional government

State Title[96]
Melekeok Reklai

Ngaraard Maderngebuked
Ngerchelong Uongerchetei

Ngiwal Uongruious

Ngchesar Ngirakebou
Airai Ngiraked

Ngeremlengui Ngirturong

Peleliu Obak
Angaur Ucherbelau

Aimeliik Rengulbai
Ngatpang Rekemesik

Ngardmau Beouch

Kayangel Rdechor
Sonsorol Nurap

Hatohobei Heimong

The present-day "traditional" government of Palau is a continuation of its predecessors. Traditionally, Palau was hierarchically
organized. The lowest level is the village or hamlet, then the chiefdom (now politically referred to as a state), and finally
alliances of chiefdoms. In ancient times, numerous federations divided power, but upon the 17th-century introduction of
firearms by the British, an imbalance of power occurred.
Palau became divided into northern and southern federations. The Northern Federation is headed by the high chief and
chiefess of the ruling clan Uudes of Melekeok state, the Reklai, and Ebilreklai. They are commonly referred to as the king and
queen of the Northern Federation. This northern federation comprises the states of Kayangel, Ngerchelong, Ngardmau,
Ngiwal, Ngaraard, Ngatpang, Ngeremlengui, Melekok, Aimeliik, Ngchesar, and Airai. The Southern Federation is likewise
represented by the high chief and chiefess of the ruling Idid of Koror state.

The Southern Federation comprises the states of Koror, Peleliu, and Angaur. However, fewer and fewer Palauans have
knowledge of the concept of federations, and the term is slowly dying out. Federations were established as a way of
safeguarding states and hamlets that shared economic, social, and political interests, but with the advent of federal
government, safeguards are less meaningful. However, in international relations, the king of Palau is synonymous with the
Ibedul of Koror. This is because Koror is the industrial capital of the nation, elevating his position over the Reklai of
Melekeok.

It is a misconception that the king and queen of Palau, or any chief and his female counterpart for that matter, are married.
Traditional leaders and their female counterparts have always been related and unmarried (marrying relatives was a traditional
taboo). Usually, a chief and his female counterpart are brother and sister, or close cousins, and have their own spouses.

Newspapers

Palau has several newspapers:[97][98]

Rengel Belau (1983–1985)

Tia Belau (1992–present)
Island Times

Sports

Baseball is a popular sport in Palau after its introduction by the Japanese in the 1920s. The Palau national baseball team won
the gold medal at the 1990, 1998 and 2010 Micronesian Games, as well as at the 2007 Pacific Games.

Palau also has a national football team, organized by the Palau Football Association, but is not a member of FIFA. The
Association also organizes the Palau Soccer League.

On 20 June 2022, left fielder Bligh Madris played his first game for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Chicago Cubs, thus
becoming the first player ever to play in MLB from Palau. He went 3-for-4 with two RBI in his debut.

Education

Primary education is required until the age of 16. Schools include both public and private institutions as well as some fields of
study available at Palau Community College. For further undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, students travel
abroad to attend tertiary institutions, primarily in the United States of America. Other popular choices among Palauan scholars
include San Diego State University, the University of Guam, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, the University of the
Philippines, Mindanao State University, and the University of the South Pacific.[99]

Cuisine

Palau has its own cuisine, for instance, a dessert called tama.[100] Palauan cuisine includes local foods such as cassava, taro,
yam, potato, fish and pork. It is also heavily influenced by Japanese, American as well as the Philippines' cuisine, due to the
significant presence of Filipino migrant workers. Fruit bat soup is a commonly referenced Palauan delicacy.[101]

See also
Geography portal

Islands portal

Oceania portal
 Index of Palau-related articles
Outline of Palau

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Notes
a. /pəˈlaʊ/ ( listen); Palauan: Belau, pronounced [ˈbɛlaw]
b. Palauan: Beluu er a Palau

External links

Government
Republic of Palau National Government (https://www.palaugov.pw/)
Embassy of the Republic of Palau in Japan (http://palauembassy.or.jp/en/)
Chief of State and Cabinet Members (https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/palau/)
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Palau to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (htt
ps://palauconsulate.org.uk/)
Honorary Consulate-General of Palau to Belgium (https://www.palauconsulate.be/index.php/en/)

Local News
Island Times (https://islandtimes.org/)
Palau Wave Radio (http://palauwaveradio.com/)
Pacific Note (https://www.pacificnote.com/)

General information
Palau (https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/palau/). The World Factbook. Central Intelligence
Agency.
 Palau (https://web.archive.org/web/20080607085400/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/palau.htm)
from the University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries (USA) – Government Publications
Palau (https://curlie.org/Regional/Oceania/Palau) at Curlie
Palau profile (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15446659) from the BBC News
"Palau" (https://www.britannica.com/place/Palau)—Encyclopædia Britannica entry
Wikimedia Atlas of Palau
NOAA's National Weather Service – Palau (https://www.weather.gov/gum/Palau)
The Interesting History of Prince Lee Boo, Brought to England from the Pelew Islands (https://www.loc.gov/re
source/rbc0001.2008prince09673/)—From the Collections at the Library of Congress

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