Republic of Palau Beluu er a Belau (Palauan) |
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Status | Associated State | ||||
Capital |
Ngerulmud 7°30′N 134°37′E / 7.500°N 134.617°E |
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Largest city |
Koror 7°20′N 134°29′E / 7.333°N 134.483°E |
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Official languages | English, Palauan | ||||
Recognised regional languages | |||||
Ethnic groups (2005) |
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Demonym | Palauan | ||||
Government | Unitary presidential constitutional republic under a non-partisan democracy | ||||
Tommy Remengesau | |||||
Raynold Oilouch | |||||
• Senate President
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Hokkons Baules | ||||
• House Speaker
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Sabino Anastacio | ||||
• Chief Justice
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Arthur Ngiraklsong | ||||
Legislature | Olbiil era Kelulau | ||||
Senate | |||||
House of Delegates | |||||
Independence from the United States | |||||
18 July 1947 | |||||
• Constitution
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2 April 1979 | ||||
1 October 1994 | |||||
Area | |||||
• Total
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465.55 km2 (179.75 sq mi) (196th) | ||||
• Water (%)
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negligible | ||||
Population | |||||
• 2015 estimate
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17,948 (224th) | ||||
• 2013 census
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20,918 | ||||
• Density
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38.6/km2 (100.0/sq mi) | ||||
GDP (PPP) | 2014 estimate | ||||
• Total
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$288 million (not ranked) | ||||
• Per capita
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$16,300 (81st) | ||||
HDI (2014) |
0.780 high · 60th |
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Currency | United States dollar (USD) | ||||
Time zone | (UTC+9) | ||||
• Summer (DST)
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not observed (UTC+9) | ||||
Drives on the | right | ||||
Calling code | +680 | ||||
Internet TLD | .pw |
Coordinates: 7°30′N 134°30′E / 7.500°N 134.500°E
Palau (i/pəˈlaʊ/, historically Belau or Pelew), officially the Republic of Palau (Palauan: Beluu er a Belau), is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. The country contains approximately 250 islands, forming the western chain of the Caroline Islands in Micronesia, and has an area of 466 square kilometres (180 sq mi). The most populous island is Koror. The capital Ngerulmud is located on the nearby island of Babeldaob, in Melekeok State. Palau shares maritime boundaries with Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Federated States of Micronesia.