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GOVERNMENT OF PALAU
Palau is a presidential republic in free association with the U.S. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Names of the Country: Official Name: Republic of Palau; conventional short form: Palau; local long form: Beluu er a Belau; local short form: Belau. Former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District. Source of the Name: from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word "beluu" meaning "village". [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Capital: Ngerulmud: Geographic Coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 37 E. The Palauan meaning is "place of fermented 'mud'" ('mud' being the native name for the keyhole angelfish); the site of the new capitol (established in 2006) had been a large hill overlooking the ocean, Ngerulmud, on which women would communally gather to offer fermented angelfish to the gods. Ngerulmud, on Babeldaob Island, is the smallest national capital on earth by population, with only a few hundred people; the name is pronounced en-jer-al-mud; Koror, on Koror Island, with over 11,000 residents is by far the largest settlement in Palau; it served as the country's capital from independence in 1994 to 2006. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Administrative Divisions: 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship). National Holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day, 1 October (1994). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Voting Age: 18 years of age; universal. Political Parties: none. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
National Symbols of Palau
Flag: light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
National Symbols: bai (native meeting house); national colors: blue, yellow
National Anthem: name: "Belau rekid" (Our Palau), lyrics/music: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL, adopted 1980
Constitution and Legal System of Palau
Constitution: ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981. Amendments: proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25 percent of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election; amended several times, last in 2020. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legal System: mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
International Law Organization Participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Citizenship: Citizenship by Birth: no; Citizenship by Descent Only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau; Dual Citizenship Recognized: no; Residency Requirement for Naturalization: There is no procedure for naturalization. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Executive Branch of Palau
Chief of State: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021); Vice President Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021); The president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of Government: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021); Vice President Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate; also includes the vice president; the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws of Palau. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Executive Branch Elections and Appointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)
Results of Last Presidential Election: 2020: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president (in second round); percent of vote: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7 percent, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3 percent
2016: Tommy REMENGESAU reelected president; percent of vote: Tommy REMENGESAU (independent) 51.3 percent, Surangel WHIPPS, Jr.(independent) 48.7 percent; Antonio BELLS elected vice president. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legislative Branch of Palau
Palau has a bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau consists of: A) Senate (13 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority vote to serve 4-year terms); B) House of Delegates (16 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms). [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Legislative Elections: Senate: last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024); House of Delegates: last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)
Results of the Last Legislative Election: A) Senate: percent of vote: NA; seats: independent 13; composition: men 12, women 1; percent of women 7.7 percent; B) House of Delegates: percent of vote: NA; seats: independent 16; composition: men 15, women 1; percent of women 6.3 percent;
Overall percent of women in National Congress 6.9 percent
Judicial Branch of Palau
Highest Court: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; the Supreme Court organization also includes the Common Pleas and Land Courts)
Judge Selection and Term of Office for the Highest Court: justices nominated by a 7-member independent body consisting of judges, presidential appointees, and lawyers and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65. [Source: CIA World Factbook 2023]
Subordinate Courts: National Court and other 'inferior' courts
Government Spending, Taxes and Revenues
Government Budget: revenues: $122 million (2019 estimate)
expenditures: $121 million (2019 estimate)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
8.8 percent (of GDP) (2016 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 3. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Public Debt: 86.13 percent of GDP (2019 estimate)
84.75 percent of GDP (2018 estimate)
79.83 percent of GDP (2017 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 37. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Taxes: 18.59 percent (of GDP) (2020 estimate); ranking compared to other countries in the world: 103. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Military and International Relations of Palau
Military and Security Forces: no regular military forces; the Ministry of Justice includes divisions/bureaus for public security, police functions, and maritime law enforcement (2023). [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2023]
Military Equipment: since 2018, Australia and Japan have provided patrol boats to Palau's Division of Marine Law Enforcement (2022)
Under the Compact of Free Association (COFA) between Palau and the US, the U.S. is responsible for the defense of Palau and the U.S. military is granted access to the islands, but it has not stationed any military forces there; the COFA also allows citizens of Palau to serve in the U.S. armed forces
Palau has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Palau's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)
International Disputes: Palau-Indonesia: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia
International Organization That It Participates In: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Image Sources:
Text Sources: CIA World Factbook, 2023; “Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Volume 2: Oceania,” edited by Terence E. Hays, 1991, Wikipedia, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Lonely Planet Guides, Library of Congress, The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, BBC, CNN, and various books, websites and other publications.
Last updated August 2023