ific Ocean, southeast
of the Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 458 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 458 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,519 km

Maritime claims: 3 NM extended fishing zone: Climate: wet season May
to November; hot and humid

Terrain: varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island
of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

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

Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 0% other: 78% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of
solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging,
illegal fishing practices, and overfishing

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea,
Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements

Geography - note: westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists
of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War
II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

People Palau

Population: 19,409 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.8% (male 2,678; female 2,522) 15-64 years:
68.6% (male 7,241; female 6,074) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 426;
female 468) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.61% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 19.32 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 16.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 72.5 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 2.47 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/A