:Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the People
Population:
15,775 (July 1992), growth rate 1.9% (1992)
Birth rate:
23 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
25 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
69 years male, 73 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
3.0 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Palauan(s); adjective - Palauan
Ethnic divisions:
Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races
Religions:
predominantly Christian, including Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists,
Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and
Latter-Day Saints; a third of the population observes the Modekngei
religion, indigenous to Palau
Languages:
English is an official language, though Palauan is also official in 13 of
Palau's 16 states, and Tobi and Sonsorolese are official in the 3 other
states
Literacy:
92% (male 93%, female 91%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
Labor force:
NA
Organized labor:
NA
:Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the Government
Long-form name:
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (no short-form name); may change to
Republic of Palau after independence; note - Belau, the native form of
Palau, is sometimes used
Type:
UN trusteeship administered by the US; constitutional government signed a
Compact of Free Association with the US on 10 January 1986, which was never
approved in a series of UN-observed plebiscites; until the UN trusteeship is
terminated with entry into force of the Compact, Palau remains under US
administration as the Palau District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands
Capital:
Koror; a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern
Babelthuap
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel,
Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar,
Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi
Independence:
still part of the US-administered UN trusteeship (the last polity remaining
under the trusteeship; the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated
States of Micronesia, and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas have left);
administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US
Department of Interior
Constitution:
1 January 1981
Legal system:
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common,
and customary laws
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Executive branch:
US president, US vice president, national president, national vice president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK) consists of an upper house
or Senate and a lower house or House of Delegates
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, National Court, and Court of Common Pleas
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); represented by the Assistant
Secretary for Territorial Affairs, US Department of the Interior, Stella
GUERRA (since 21 July 1989) and J. Victor HOBSON Jr., Director (since 16
December 1990)
Head of Government:
President Ngiratkel ETPISON (since 2 November 1988), Vice-President Kuniwo
NAKAMURA (since 2 November 1988)
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
House of Delegates:
last held 2 November 1988 (next to be held NA November 1992); results -
percent of vote NA; seats - (16 total); number of seats by party NA
President:
last held on 2 November 1988 (next to be held NA November 1992); results -
Ngiratkel ETPISON 26.3%, Roman TMETUCHL 25.9%, Thomas REMENGESAU 19.5%,
other 28.3%
:Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the Government
Senate:
last held 2 November 1988 (next to be held NA November 1992); results -
percent of vote NA; seats - (14 total); number of seats by party NA
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer)
Diplomatic representation:
none
US:
US Liaison Officer Lloyed W. MOSS; US Liaison Office at Top Side, Neeriyas,
Koror (mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Koror, PW 96940); telephone (680)
488-2920; (680) 488-2911
Flag:
light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly
to the hoist side
:Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the Economy
Overview:
The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing.
Tourism provides some foreign exchange, although the remote location of
Palau and a shortage of suitable facilities has hindered development. The
government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on
financial assistance from the US.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $31.6 million, per capita $2,260; real growth
rate NA% (1986); note - GDP numbers reflect US spending
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
20% (1986)
Budget:
revenues $6.0 million; expenditures NA, including capital expenditures of NA
(1986)
Exports:
$0.5 million (f.o.b., 1986)
commodities:
NA
partners:
US, Japan
Imports:
$27.2 million (c.i.f., 1986)
commodities:
NA
partners:
US
External debt:
about $100 million (1989)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
16,000 kW capacity; 22 million kWh produced, 1,540 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some commercial fishing and
agriculture
Agriculture:
subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava, sweet potatoes
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2,560 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $92 million
Currency:
US currency is used
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
:Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the Communications
Highways:
22.3 km paved, some stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads (1991)
Ports:
Koror
Airports:
2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
station