Palau
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Republic of Palau
Country name - conventional short form : Palau
Country name - local long form : Beluu er a Belau
Country name - local short form : Belau
Country name - former : Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District
Government type : constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Capital - name : Melekeok
Capital - time difference : UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Population : 21,093 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Palauan(s)
Nationality - adjective : Palauan
Languages : Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)
Currency (code) : US dollar (USD)
Currency code : USD
Palau is located Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines. The climate is tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November. The terrain is varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : 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.
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