Palau Island
|
Republic of Palau Beluu er a Belau (Palauan) |
|
|---|---|
_(small_islands_magnified).svg) |
|
| Status | Sovereign state in free association with the United States |
| Capital |
Ngerulmud 7°30′N 134°37′E / 7.500°N 134.617°E |
| Largest city |
Koror 7°20′N 134°29′E / 7.333°N 134.483°E |
| Official languages | English, Palauan |
| Recognized regional languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2015) |
|
| Demonym | Palauan |
| Government | Unitary presidential constitutional republic under a non-partisan democracy |
| Tommy Remengesau | |
| Raynold Oilouch | |
|
• Senate President
|
Hokkons Baules |
|
• House Speaker
|
Sabino Anastacio |
|
• Chief Justice
|
Arthur Ngiraklsong |
| Legislature | Olbiil era Kelulau |
| Senate | |
| House of Delegates | |
| Independence from the United States | |
| 18 July 1947 | |
|
• Constitution
|
2 April 1979 |
| 1 October 1994 | |
| Area | |
|
• Total
|
465.55 km2 (179.75 sq mi) (196th) |
|
• Water (%)
|
negligible |
| Population | |
|
• 2015 estimate
|
17,948 (224th) |
|
• 2013 census
|
20,918 |
|
• Density
|
38.6/km2 (100.0/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2017 estimate |
|
• Total
|
$297 million |
|
• Per capita
|
$16,278 (81st) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2017 estimate |
|
• Total
|
$315 million |
|
• Per capita
|
$17,286 |
| HDI (2014) |
 0.780high · 60th |
| Currency | United States dollar (USD) |
| Time zone | (UTC+9) |
|
• Summer (DST)
|
not observed (UTC+9) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Drives on the | right |
| Calling code | +680 |
| ISO 3166 code | PW |
| Internet TLD | .pw |
Coordinates: 7°30′N 134°30′E / 7.500°N 134.500°E
Palau (/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 340 islands, forming the western chain of the Caroline Islands in Micronesia, and has an area of 466 square kilometers (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.
The country was originally settled approximately 3,000 years ago by migrants from the Philippines and sustained a Negrito population until around 900 years ago. The islands were first explored by Europeans in the 16th century, and were made part of the Spanish East Indies in 1574. Following Spain's defeat in the Spanish–American War in 1898, the islands were sold to Imperial Germany in 1899 under the terms of the German–Spanish Treaty, where they were administered as part of German New Guinea. The Imperial Japanese Navy conquered Palau during World War I, and the islands were later made a part of the Japanese-ruled South Pacific Mandate by the League of Nations. During World War II, skirmishes, including the major Battle of Peleliu, were fought between American and Japanese troops as part of the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign. Along with other Pacific Islands, Palau was made a part of the United States-governed Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947. Having voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1979, the islands gained full sovereignty in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
...
Wikipedia