NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Republic of Palau
Beluu er a Belau
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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
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Location:
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Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines |
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Geographic coordinates:
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7 30 N, 134 30 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 458 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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1,519 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM extended fishing zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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wet season May to November; hot and humid |
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Terrain:
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varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m |
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Natural resources:
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forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals |
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Land use:
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arable land: 21.74%
permanent crops: 0% other: 78.26% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons (June to December) |
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Environment - current issues:
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inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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19,409 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 26.8% (male 2,678; female 2,522)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 7,241; female 6,074) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 426; female 468) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.61% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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19.32 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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16.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 69.19 years
female: 72.5 years (2002 est.) male: 66.07 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.47 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70%, Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese) 28%, white 2% (2000 est.) |
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Religions:
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Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, 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) |
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Languages:
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English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral (Sonsorolese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92% male: 93% female: 90% (1980 est.) |