Country Guide • Palau
Palau is the western most cluster of the six major island groups that make up the Caroline Islands which lies 600 miles east of the Philippines. Palau is in the west Pacific Ocean. The archipelago consists of over 200 islands and atolls which vary in size from small islands of coral limestone formation to Babeldoab, the 367km² (142mile²) main island, which is also the second largest Micronesian island after Guam.
| Official Name | Republic of Palau |
|---|---|
| Area | 458km² (177mile²) |
| Population | 19,500 |
| Continent | Australia/Oceania |
| Population per mile² | 110 |
| Capital City | Koror |
| Religions | 41% Roman Catholic, 25% Protestant |
| Language | English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official) |
| Government | Constitutional government in free association with the USA |
| Currency | U.S. Dollar |
| GDP | $174 million |
| GDP per Head | $9,000 |
| Natural Resources | Forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals |
| Land Use | Arable Land 22% |
| Agriculture | Coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes |
| Industry | Tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making |
| Tourism | Palau is an archipelago which is more than 400 miles long and it harbours one of the world’s richest flora and fauna, corals, fish and other marine life. So it comes as no surprise that Palau has some of the world’s most spectacular snorkelling and diving locations and a well-developed diving infrastructure, with numerous operators offering a wide choice of facilities, including live-aboard dive tours to more remote sites. Palau’s coral reefs are home to more than 1500 species of fish and 700 species of corals and sea anemones |
| Natural Hazards | Typhoons (June to December) |
| Health Risks | Dengue fever, typhoid fever, filariasis and while in the waters - jellyfish, poisonous fish, coral and sea snakes |
| Climate | Palau has a tropical maritime climate with hot and humid conditions. From May - November the wet season prevails with typhoons occurring between June - December. Average annual rainfall is 150 inches and the average daily temperature is 27°C with 82% average humidity all year |
| Time | GMT/UTC+9 hours |
| National Days | Constitution Day, 9 July |
| Visas | All foreign nationals may visit as tourists to Palau for 30 days, visa is issued on arrival for up to 30 day stay and can be extendend and passport should be valid for 6 months further and onward tickets and documents required by entry |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
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