Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/182.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 9KB | 287 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\palau.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Palau"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Palau, click {z,"126.406015,-17.585170,179.458647,22.454910",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 458 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 458 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 1,519 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}continental shelf:{4} 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
extended fishing zone: 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 3 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} wet season May to November; hot and humid

{2}Terrain:{4} varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral
islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
{3}lowest point:{4} Pacific Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} NA%
{3}permanent crops:{4} NA%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} NA%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} NA%
{3}other:{4} NA%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem
from sand and coral dredging and illegal fishing practices that involve the use of dynamite

{2}natural hazards:{4} typhoons (June to December)

{2}international agreements:{4} NA

{2}Geographic note:{4} 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


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 16,952 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} NA
{3}15-64 years:{4} NA
{3}65 years and over:{4} NA

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 1.71% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 21.61 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} NA male(s)/female

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 71.01 years
{3}male:{4} 69.14 years
{3}female:{4} 73.02 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 2.79 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Palauan(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Palauan

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races

{2}Religions:{4} Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of
God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the
population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)

{2}Languages:{4} English (official in all of Palau's 16 states), Sonsorolese (official in the state of
Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese (in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in
the other 13 states)

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 92%
{3}male:{4} 93%
{3}female:{4} 90%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Palau
{3}conventional short form:{4} Palau
{3}local long form:{4} Beluu er a Belau
{3}local short form:{4} Belau
{3}former:{4} Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

{2}Type of government:{4} constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of
Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

{2}Capital:{4} Koror
{3}note:{4} a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 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

{2}Independence:{4} 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

{2}National holiday:{4} Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

{2}Constitution:{4} 1 January 1981

{2}Legal system:{4} based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and
customary laws

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
chief of state and head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and
Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993) were elected for four-year
terms by popular vote; election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996);
results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3%
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet

{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK)
Senate: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14 total) number of seats by party NA
House of Delegates: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (16 total) number of seats by party NA

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp BASILIUS

{2}International organization participation:{4} ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF, UN, WHO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Isaac Ngewakl SOALADAOB
{3}chancery:{4} 2000 L Street NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard G. WATKINS
{3}embassy:{4} address NA, Koror
{3}mailing address:{4} P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
{3}telephone:{4} [680] 488-2920, 2990
{3}FAX:{4} [680] 488-2911

{2}Flag:{4} light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. The
government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from
the US. The population, in effect, enjoys a per capita income of $5,000, twice that of the
Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly
bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rapidly rising prosperity of leading
East Asian countries. Reducing budgeted operating expenditures - which have increased 56%
from 1989 to 1993 - will be the biggest challenge for the government over the next several years.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.)
{3}note:{4} GDP numbers reflect US spending

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} NA%

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $5,000 (1994 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} NA%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} NA%

{2}Labor force:{4} NA
{3}by occupation:{4} NA

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 20% (1986)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $17 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $57 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some commercial fishing and agriculture

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} NA%

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 16,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 22 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 1,540 kWh (1990)

{2}Agriculture:{4} coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

{2}Exports:{4} $600,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
{3}commodities:{4} trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
{3}partners:{4} US, Japan

{2}Imports:{4} $24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989)
{3}commodities:{4} NA
{3}partners:{4} US

{2}External debt:{4} about $100 million (1989)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA
{3}note:{4} the compact of "free association" with the US, entered into after the end of the UN
trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with $500 million in US aid over 15 years in return
for furnishing military facilities

{2}Currency:{4} 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

{2}Exchange rates:{4} US currency is used

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 October - 30 September


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 61 km
{3}paved:{4} 36 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 25 km

{2}Ports:{4} Koror

{2}Merchant marine:{4} none

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 2 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 1,500 (1988 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} NA
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 9,000 (1993 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 2

{2}Televisions:{4} 1,600 (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} NA

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} $NA, NA% of GDP
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US