Head of state: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
President: Johnson Toribiong
Population
194,320
21,032
Life Expectancy
72.660 years
72.060 years
Capital City
Largest city
Apia (population: 40,407)
Meyungs (population: 1,275)
Human Development Index
0.76
0
GDP per capita
Literacy Rate
99.7%
92%
Corruption Perception Index
4.4
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
8.2%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary democracy
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Independence date
Religions
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)
Languages
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Area
2,831 km sq
459 km sq
Coastline
403 km
1,519 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
