Palau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Republic of Palau
Beluu er a Belau (Palauan)
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Seal
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Anthem: Belau rekid
"Our Palau” |
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| 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 |
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| Recognized regional languages |
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| Ethnic groups
(2020 census)
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| Religion
(2020 census)
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| Demonym(s) | Palauan |
| Government | Unitary presidential republic under a non-partisan democracy |
| Surangel Whipps Jr. | |
| Uduch Sengebau Senior | |
| Legislature | Palau National Congress |
| Senate | |
| House of Delegates | |
| Independence
from the United States and Micronesia
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• Trusteeship
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18 July 1947 |
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• Constitution
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2 April 1979 |
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• Establishment of the Republic of Palau
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1 January 1981 |
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• Compact of Free Association
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1 October 1994 |
| Area | |
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• Total
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459 km2 (177 sq mi) (180th) |
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• Water (%)
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negligible |
| Population | |
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• Estimate
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17,907 (192nd) |
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• 2021 census
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16,766 |
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• Density
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38.375/km2 (99.4/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2024 estimate |
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• Total
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• Per capita
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| GDP (nominal) | 2024 estimate |
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• Total
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• Per capita
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| HDI (2022) | high · 71st |
| Currency | United States dollar (USD) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (PWT) |
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• Summer (DST)
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not observed |
| Date format | DD-MM-YYYY |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +680 |
| ISO 3166 code | PW |
| Internet TLD | .pw |
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Website
PalauGov.pw |
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Palau, also known as the Republic of Palau, is a beautiful island country in the western Pacific Ocean. It's part of the Micronesia region in Oceania. Palau is made up of about 340 islands. It connects the western part of the Caroline Islands with some areas of the Federated States of Micronesia.
Palau is one of the smallest countries in the world, covering about 466 square kilometers (180 square miles). Most people live on Koror, which is also home to the biggest city, Koror City. The capital city, Ngerulmud, is located on the largest island, Babeldaob, in Melekeok State. Palau shares its ocean borders with international waters to the north, the Federated States of Micronesia to the east, Indonesia to the south, and the Philippines to the northwest.
People first settled in Palau about 3,000 years ago, coming from Southeast Asia. A European map of Palau was first drawn in 1696 by a missionary named Paul Klein. This was based on what some Palauans told him after they were shipwrecked in the Philippines. Palau became part of the Spanish East Indies in 1885. After Spain lost the Spanish–American War in 1898, the islands were sold to Germany in 1899. They were then managed as part of German New Guinea.
After World War I, Japan took control of the islands under the League of Nations. During World War II, big battles like the Battle of Peleliu happened here between American and Japanese soldiers. In 1947, Palau became part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, managed by the United States. Palau chose not to join the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978. It became fully independent in 1994, with a special agreement called a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
Today, Palau is a republic that works closely with the United States. The U.S. helps with defense and funding. Palau's economy mostly relies on tourism, farming, and fishing. The country uses the United States dollar. Palauan culture is a mix of Micronesian, Melanesian, Asian, and Western influences. The main languages are Palauan and English.
Contents
Understanding the Name of Palau
The local name for the islands is Belau. This name comes from a Palauan word meaning "village" or from a phrase about "indirect replies," linked to an old story about how the islands were created. The name "Palau" that we use in English came from the Spanish name Los Palaos. An older English name for the islands was the "Pelew Islands."
A Look at Palau's History
Palau has a rich history with many different countries playing a part in its past.
Early Settlements and Discoveries
Palau was first settled between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago, likely by people from the Philippines or Indonesia. The Spanish first saw the island of Sonsorol in 1522. In 1696, a group of sailors from the Caroline Islands were shipwrecked in the Philippines. They met a missionary named Paul Klein and helped him draw the first European map of Palau. Klein sent this map and a letter describing the islands and their people back to Europe.
Spanish Influence in Palau
The map and letter from Paul Klein made many people interested in these new islands. There were several attempts by Jesuit priests to visit Palau from the Spanish Philippines, but they were not successful at first. The islands were finally visited by a Jesuit expedition in 1710. However, two priests got stranded, and another rescue ship sank, leading to more deaths. Because of these difficulties, the Spanish first called Palau the Islas Encantadas, meaning "Enchanted Islands."
Changing Hands: From Spain to Japan
British traders started visiting Palau in the 1700s. Later, Spanish influence grew in the 1800s. In 1898, Palau was even included in the Malolos Congress in the Philippines, which was working for independence from colonial rule. Palau was part of the Spanish East Indies, with its main office in the Spanish Philippines.
In 1899, Spain sold Palau to the German Empire. This was part of a larger deal that made Palau part of German New Guinea. When World War I started, the Japanese Empire took control of the islands from Germany in 1914. After the war, the League of Nations officially put the islands under Japanese control as part of the South Seas Mandate. During World War II, Japan used Palau to help with its invasion of the Philippines.
Palau's Journey to Independence
During World War II, the United States took Palau from Japan in 1944 after tough battles like the Battle of Peleliu. In 1947, Palau officially became part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, managed by the United States under the United Nations.
In 1979, four districts of the Trust Territory joined to form the Federated States of Micronesia. However, Palau and the Marshall Islands decided not to join. Palau chose to become independent in 1978, a decision supported by the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. Palau approved its own constitution and became the Republic of Palau on January 1, 1981. It signed a special agreement with the United States in 1982, called a Compact of Free Association. This agreement officially began on October 1, 1994, marking Palau's full independence. Palau also became a founding member of the Nauru Agreement, which helps manage fisheries.
In recent years, Palau has become a leader in protecting its environment. In 2005, it started the Micronesia Challenge, aiming to protect a large part of its coastal waters and forests. In 2009, Palau created the world's first shark sanctuary, banning commercial shark fishing in its waters. In 2012, the beautiful Rock Islands of Palau were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How Palau is Governed
Palau is a democratic republic. The President of Palau is both the head of the country and the head of the government. The government has executive power, meaning it carries out laws. The Palau National Congress has legislative power, meaning it makes laws. The courts, or judiciary, are separate from the government and the lawmakers. Palau adopted its constitution in 1981.
Palau does not have its own military. It relies on the United States for defense, as part of their Compact of Free Association. The U.S. military has access to the islands for 50 years under this agreement. The U.S. Coast Guard also helps patrol Palau's waters. In November 2020, Surangel Whipps Jr. was elected as the new President of Palau.
Palau's Relationships with Other Countries
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As an independent country, Palau handles its own relationships with other nations. Since becoming independent, Palau has formed diplomatic ties with many countries, especially its neighbors in the Pacific, like Micronesia and the Philippines. Palau joined the United Nations in 1994. It has also joined several other international groups.
Palau has strong ties with Japan, which has helped fund building projects like the Koror–Babeldaob Bridge. In 2015, Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Peleliu to remember the 70th anniversary of World War II.
In 1981, Palau voted for the world's first nuclear-free constitution. This means it banned nuclear, chemical, gas, and biological weapons unless 75% of people voted to allow them. This rule caused some delays in Palau becoming independent because the U.S. wanted to be able to use nuclear-powered ships and store nuclear weapons there. In 2017, Palau signed the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
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President Remengesau with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018
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Palau is a member of the Nauru Agreement, which helps manage fishing. The Philippines, a close neighbor, has said it would support Palau if it wanted to join ASEAN, a group of Southeast Asian countries.
Palau's States and Divisions
Palau is divided into sixteen states. These used to be called municipalities until 1984. Here are the states with their populations from the 2020 Census:
| State | Population 2020 Census | Notes |
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| 41 | Includes the islands of Kayangel Atoll | |
| 384 | At the northern end of Babeldaob Island | |
| 396 | At the northern end of Babeldaob Island, just south of Ngarchelong State | |
| 238 | On the western side of Babeldaob Island | |
| 349 | On the western side of Babeldaob Island | |
| 289 | On the western side of Babeldaob Island | |
| 312 | On the eastern side of Babeldaob Island | |
| 318 | On the eastern side of Babeldaob Island | |
| 319 | On the eastern side of Babeldaob Island | |
| 363 | In the southwestern part of Babeldaob Island | |
| 2,529 | In the southeastern part of Babeldaob Island | |
| 11,199 | Includes Koror, Ngerekebesang, and Malakal Islands, plus the Rock Islands (Chelbacheb) and Eil Malk to the southwest | |
| 470 | Includes Peleliu Island and some small islands to its north | |
| 114 | Angaur Island, 12 km south of Peleliu | |
| 53 | Includes Sonsorol, Fanna, Pulo Anna, and Merir Islands | |
| 39 | Includes Tobi Island and (uninhabited) Helen Reef |
Palau's Geography and Climate
Palau is an archipelago, which means it's a group of islands, located in the Pacific Ocean. Its most populated islands are Angaur, Babeldaob, Koror, and Peleliu. Koror, Babeldaob, and Peleliu are all within the same barrier reef. About two-thirds of Palau's people live on Koror. North of these islands is the coral atoll of Kayangel. To the west of the main islands are about 200 uninhabited Rock Islands. Far to the southwest, about 600 kilometers (375 miles) away, are a remote group of six islands called the Southwest Islands.
Palau's Tropical Climate
Palau has a tropical rainforest climate, which means it's warm and rainy all year. The average temperature is about 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). It rains a lot, averaging about 3,800 millimeters (150 inches) per year. Even though it rains often, especially from June to October, there's still plenty of sunshine. Palau is on the edge of the typhoon belt, so tropical storms can form nearby, but strong typhoons rarely hit the islands directly.
Protecting Palau's Environment
Palau has a strong history of protecting its environment. For example, the Ngerukewid islands and the area around them have been a protected wildlife preserve since 1956. While much of Palau is still very natural, there are some concerns. These include illegal fishing methods, problems with trash disposal in Koror, and too much sand and coral being dug up from the Palau lagoon.
Like other Pacific island nations, Palau faces a big threat from rising sea levels. This could flood low-lying areas, harm coastal plants, affect farming, and reduce the already limited fresh water supply.
One type of saltwater crocodile, called Crocodylus porosus, lives in Palau. These crocodiles can be found in the mangrove forests and parts of the Rock Islands. Even though they are known to be dangerous, there has only been one recorded fatal attack on a human in Palau's modern history, which happened in 1965.
In 2005, President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. started a big environmental effort called the Micronesia Challenge. This plan aimed to protect 30% of coastal waters and 20% of forest land by 2020. Other islands like the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands joined this challenge. Together, this protected area covers almost 5% of the Pacific Ocean's marine area.
Palau's Shark Sanctuary
On September 25, 2009, Palau announced that it would create the world's first shark sanctuary. This means all commercial shark fishing is banned in Palau's waters. The sanctuary protects about 600,000 square kilometers (230,000 square miles) of ocean, which is about the size of France! Palau's president suggested that all countries should ban shark fishing worldwide. In 2012, Palau received an award for being a global leader in protecting ocean life.
Palau's Economy and How People Live
Palau's economy mainly depends on tourism, farming for personal use, and fishing. Tourists love to visit Palau for scuba diving and snorkeling in its amazing ocean environment, which includes beautiful barrier reefs and World War II shipwrecks. In April 2022, Palau launched a program called Ol'au Palau to encourage responsible tourism and protect its nature and culture. The government is the biggest employer in Palau, and it relies a lot on financial help from the United States.
People in Palau generally have a good income, about twice as much as those in Micronesia as a whole. The future for tourism looks bright because more people are traveling by air in the Pacific region. Also, countries in East Asia are becoming wealthier, and foreigners are willing to help fund new buildings and roads.
Major tourist attractions in Palau include the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are also other important cultural sites like the Ngebedech Terraces, Imeong Conservation Area, and the Tet el Bad Stone Coffin.
Getting Around Palau
Palau International Airport has direct flights to places like Guam, Manila in the Philippines, and Taipei in Taiwan. There are also smaller airports on Angaur and Peleliu for flights within Palau. In November 2023, a new flight service started from Singapore to Palau. In May 2024, Nauru Airlines began direct weekly flights to Brisbane, Australia.
Large cargo ships and cruise ships often visit Malaehaka Harbor, near Koror. Palau does not have any railways. Most of its roads are paved. When driving, people drive on the right side of the road, and the speed limit is 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour). Taxis are available in Koror, but they don't have meters, so you need to agree on the price beforehand. To travel between islands, people mostly use private boats or domestic flights. There are also some government-run boats that offer a cheaper way to travel between islands.
Palau's People and Languages
The population of Palau is about 21,779 people (as of 2023). About 73% of them are native Palauans, who have a mix of Melanesian and Austronesian heritage. There are also many Asian communities in Palau. Filipinos are the largest Asian group and the second largest ethnic group overall. There are also many Chinese and Koreans. Some Palauans also have Japanese ancestors. Most Asians came to Palau in the late 20th century as workers. There are also smaller numbers of Europeans and Americans.
Languages Spoken in Palau
The official languages of Palau are Palauan and English. However, in two states, Sonsorol and Hatohobei, the local languages (Sonsorolese and Tobian) are also official, along with Palauan. Japanese is spoken by some older Palauans and is an official language in Angaur. English is a very important subject in Palauan schools, and most people use it as a second language.
Religions in Palau
Most people in Palau are Christians, mainly Roman Catholics and Protestants. There is also a local religion called Modekngei, which mixes Christianity with traditional Palauan beliefs and fortune telling. Some people also follow ancient Palauan religions. Japanese rule brought Buddhism and Shinto to Palau, but after World War II, most Japanese settlers became Christians.
Palauan Culture and Traditions
Palauan society follows a very strong matrilineal system. This means that family lines and important traditions are passed down through the mother's side of the family. You can see this in many Palauan customs, especially in funerals, marriages, how things are inherited, and how traditional titles are passed on.
Palauan food includes local items like cassava, taro, yam, potatoes, fish, and pork. The food is also greatly influenced by Japanese, American, and Filipino cuisine, partly because many Filipino workers live there. A special Palauan dish is fruit bat soup. Popular local drinks include an alcoholic drink made from coconuts and a drink made from the roots of the kava plant. Chewing betel nuts is also common. A unique dessert called tama was created in Palau.
Sports in Palau
Baseball has been very popular in Palau since the 1920s, when the Japanese introduced it. The Palau national baseball team has won gold medals at the Micronesian Games and the Pacific Games. In 2022, Bligh Madris became the first Palauan to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States. Palau also has a national football team, but it is not a member of FIFA. The country also hosts the Belau Omal Marathon, which started in 2023.
Education in Palau
Children in Palau are required to go to primary school until they are 16 years old. There are both public schools, like Palau High School, and private schools. Students can also study certain subjects at Palau Community College. For higher education, like college or university degrees, students usually travel abroad, mostly to the United States. Palau also offers distance learning programs through San Diego State University and the University of the South Pacific.
Images for kids
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Koror chiefs in 1915
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The Euatel, Kabekl M'tal and Bul provide littoral fishery protection.
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Flags of countries who have foreign relations with Palau, Palasia Hotel
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An aerial view of limestone islands
See also
In Spanish: Palaos para niños