World Context: Palau

Source and mapping status

This page maps the site registry entry “Palau” to the supplied dataset entity “Palau.” Mapping status: exact-name. The source is a frozen 2025 snapshot; dates embedded in individual fields remain controlling.

• Source entity count: 1.
• Selected public fields present: 19.
• Independent corroboration in this page: none.

Place and environment

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines Area: total : 459 sq km; land: 459 sq km; water: 0 sq km Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November Terrain: varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December) Environmental issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing; rising sea level; coral bleaching; drought

Population, settlement, and language context

Population: total: 21,947 (2025 est.); male: 11,257; female: 10,690 Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap Urbanization: urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023); rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Languages: Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.); note: Sonsoralese is official in Sonsoral; Tobian is official in Tobi; Angaur and Japanese are official in Angaur

Public and legal context

Capital: name: Ngerulmud; geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 37 E; time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); etymology: the name comes from a Palauan term meaning "place of fermented angelfish;" the site of the capital was the traditional location for women to gather and offer fermented angelfish to the gods Government type: presidential republic in free association with the US Legal system: mixed system of civil, common, and customary law

Economy and connectivity context

Economic overview: high-income Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; subsistence agriculture and fishing industries; US aid reliance; rebounding post-pandemic tourism industry and services sector; very high living standard and low unemployment Industries: tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.); electrification - urban areas: 99.9%; electrification - rural areas: 100% Internet users: percent of population: 27% (2004 est.) Airports: 3 (2025) Ports: total ports: 1 (2024); large: 0; medium: 0; small: 0; very small: 1; ports with oil terminals: 1; key ports: Malakal Harbor

Interpretation and freshness boundary

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