Environment - international agreements: party to : Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

@Palau:People

Population: 17,240 (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years : NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 1.66% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 21.04 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth : NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population: NA male(s)/female