Palau

Republic of Palau Beluu er a Belau ベルーええとベラウ República de Palaos
Flag
Anthem: Our Palau
Location of Palau (circled) in the western Pacific Ocean.
Capital	Ngerulmud, Melekeok Statea 7°21′N 134°28′E
Largest city	Koror
Official languages	English Palauan
Other languages	Filipino Japanese (in Angaur) Spanish (in Orukei) Sonsorolese (in Sonsoral) Tobian (in Hatohobei)
Ethnic groups (2000)	69.9% Palauan 15.3% Filipino 4.9% Chinese 2.4% other Asian 1.9% White 1.4% Carolinian 1.1% other Micronesian 3.2% other / unspecified
Demonym(s)	Palauan
Government	Unitary presidential democratic republic
• President	Surangel Whipps Jr.
• Vice President	Uduch Sengebau Senior
Legislature	National Congress
Independence
• Compact of Free Association with the United States	1 October 1994
Area
• Total	459 km2 (177 sq mi) (196th)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2011 estimate	20,956 (218th)
• Density	28.4/km2 (73.6/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2008 estimate
• Total	$164 million (not ranked)
• Per capita	$8,100 (119th)
HDI (2011)	0.782 high · 49th
Currency	United States dollar (USD)
Time zone	UTC+9
Driving side	right
Calling code	+680
ISO 3166 code	PW
Internet TLD	.pw
On 7 October 2006, government officials moved their offices in the former capital of Koror to Ngerulmud in Melekeok State, located 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Koror on Babelthaup Island and 2 km (1 mi) northwest of Melekeok village.

Map of Palau

Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island nation. It is in the Pacific Ocean. Palau is 300 miles (500 km) east of the Philippines. It got independence from United Nations trusteeship administration (administered by the United States of America) in 1994. It is one of the world's youngest and smallest nations. It is sometimes referred to in English under its native name Belau. The capitol of Palau used to be Koror. It is now located in Melekeok State.

States

The sixteen states of Palau

Palau is divided into sixteen (16) administrative states:

Aimeliik Airai Angaur Hatohobei Kayangel Koror Melekeok Ngaraard

Ngarchelong Ngardmau Ngatpang Ngchesar Ngeremlengui Ngiwal Peleliu Sonsorol

Climate

Palau has a tropical climate all year round. Average yearly temperature is around 82 °F (27 °C).

Related pages

• List of rivers of Palau
• Palau at the Olympics
• Palau national football team

Other websites

• My Micronesia.com’s Palau section Archived 2006-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
• Olekoi Palau
• Palauan Embassy to the United States
• WWFM 89.5 Radio Palau
• East Javanese Beads as Palau Heirlooms Archived 2006-03-21 at the Wayback Machine
• Palau photographs Archived 2006-08-18 at the Wayback Machine
• Travel Notes - Runoko Rashidi in the Republic of Palau
• Encyclopedia of the Nations - Palau