Palau

Republic of Palau
Republic of Palau Beluu er a Belau
	Anthem: Belau rekid; Our Palau
	Location of Palau (circled) in the western Pacific Ocean.
Capital	Ngerulmud, Melekeok Statea; 7°21′N 134°28′E / 7.35°N 134.467°E
Largest city	Koror
Official languages	English; Palauan;
Recognised regional languages	Japanese (in Angaur); 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	Palauan
Government	Unitary presidential democratic republic
Legislature	National Congress
Independence
Area
Population
GDP (PPP)	2008 estimate
HDI (2011)	0.782; high · 49th
Currency	United States dollar (USD)
Time zone	(UTC+9)
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+680
Internet TLD	.pw
a.	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 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 capital city of Palau is Melekeok. This has been true since October 1, 2006.

States[change | edit source]

The sixteen states of Palau

Palau is divided into sixteen administrative states:

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

↑ "Government offices moved to a new National Capitol Building complex located at Ngerulmud, Melekeok State" US Department of State. Palau (02/09). Retrieved 24 February 2013.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 2008 estimate. "Palau". CIA World Factbook. CIA. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ps.html. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
↑ Human Development Index and its components. undp.org (2011).