Palau
in Micronesia
Oceania

National active POI
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Dollar - USD
Spoken languages:
English, Japanese, Chinese
Local electricity:
120 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
900 MHz, 1800 MHz
ISO 2-Letter code:
PW
Internet top level domain:
.pw
Country phone prefix:
+680
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Palau in Micronesia

Safety Score: 3,0 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning we advice caution when travelling to Palau.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Palau. Last Update: 2024-03-18 07:26:14

Explore Palau

Palau with its capital Melekeok is located in Oceania (Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean). It covers some 460 square kilometers (slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC) with a population of 21,431. English, Japanese and Chinese are the languages spoken by people in Palau (consider regional differences). Thiscountry has no land-based border with any other country.

Palau is a group of islands in the Micronesia area of Oceania, to the southeast of the Philippines. Palau enjoys a tropical climate all year round with an annual mean temperature of 82 °F (28 °C). Rainfall can occur throughout the year, averaging a total of 150 inches (3,800 mm). Palau is most famous for scuba diving. One of the most famous dive sites - Blue Corner, with constant sharks and a high current - is located less than 1 hour's boat ride from most resorts.

Popular Destinations in Palau

Administrative regions of Palau

About the country

Website: Palau Tourism

P.O. Box 256
Koror 96940
Republic of Palau

Phone: +1 680 488 2793
Fax: +1 680 488 1453
Mail: pva@visit-palau.com

The topography is varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs. The average density of population is about 47 per km². The climate in Palau can be described as tropicalhot and humid, wet season May to November. Potential natural disasters are typhoons (June to December).

To reach someone Palau dial +680 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".pw". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 120 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is USD.

Light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility.

Flag of Palau

After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 198) 459sq km
Land (World Rank: 195) 459sq km
Forest (World Rank: 164) 4.30%
Comparative slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
1519
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 211) 242m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 191) 10.80%
Arable (World Rank: 178) 2.20%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 59) 4.30%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 164) 4.30%
Map reference
Oceania
Environment
Issues
  • - and overfishing
  • - illegal fishing practices
  • - inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste
  • - threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging
Agreement party
  • - Biodiversity
  • - Climate Change
  • - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
  • - Desertification
  • - Law of the Sea
  • - Ozone Layer Protection
  • - Wetlands
  • - Whaling
Hazzards typhoons (June to December)
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
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

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 216) 21,431
Deathrate (World Rank: 86) 0.81%
Birthrate (World Rank: 172) 1.13%
Growthrate (World Rank: 160) 0.39%
Migration rate (World Rank: 58) 0.08%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 169) 1.71%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 90) 32.70
Female (World Rank: 82) 35.00
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 215) 2,177
0 14 female (World Rank: 215) 2,043
15 24 male (World Rank: 214) 1,788
15 24 female (World Rank: 214) 1,787
25 54 male (World Rank: 214) 6,005
25 54 female (World Rank: 217) 3,830
55 64 male (World Rank: 218) 731
55 64 female (World Rank: 216) 1,338
65 x male (World Rank: 222) 446
65 x female (World Rank: 216) 1,286
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 129) 1.06%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 132) 73years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 127) 77years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 140) 70years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 98) 1.42
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 39) 4.80
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 4) 100.00%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 2) 55.30%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 108) 95.30%

Nation

Budget
Health (World Rank: 41) 9% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 4) 9% of GDP
National symbol
bai
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Palauan
Noun
Palauan(s)
Background
After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
Flag description
light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 214) 292,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 143) 1.90%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 102) 16,200USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 151) 3.00%
Source industry (World Rank: 158) 19.00%
Source service (World Rank: 30) 78.00%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 213) 11,610
Products
Industries
  • - fishing
  • - subsistence agriculture
  • - tourism
Agriculture
  • - bananas
  • - beans
  • - betel nuts
  • - breadfruit
  • - cabbages
  • - calamansi
  • - cassava
  • - chickens
  • - coconuts
  • - cucumbers
  • - eggplant
  • - eggs
  • - fish
  • - green onions
  • - guava
  • - kangkong
  • - mangoes
  • - manioc
  • - melons
  • - noni
  • - okra
  • - papaya
  • - peppers
  • - pigs
  • - Polynesian almonds
  • - Polynesian chestnuts
  • - pumpkins
  • - radishes
  • - soursop
  • - squash
  • - sweet potatoes
  • - tapioca
  • - taro
  • - various
  • - watercress
Exports
  • - other fish (many species)
  • - shellfish
  • - tuna
Imports
  • - equipment
  • - foodstuffs
  • - fuels
  • - machinery
  • - metals

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 196) 7,204
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 54) 34.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 100) 112.00
Assessment 0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 209) 7,650
Population (World Rank: 143) 36.00%

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 210) 1.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 175) 2.00