Republic of Palau

Capital: Koror,note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror

Total Area 176.83 sq mi,458.00 sq km,(slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC)

Population: 19,092 (July 2001 est.)

Estimated Population in 2050: 26,300

Languages: English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral (Sonsorolese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)

Literacy: 92.0% total, 93.0% male, 90% female (1980 est.)

Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)

Life Expectancy: 65.77 male, 72.19 female (2001 est.)

Government Type: constitutional government in free association with the US

Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

GDP (per capita): $7,100 (1998 est.)

Industry: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making

Agriculture: coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Arable Land: N/A%

Natural Resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Where is Palau?