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| Independence Year : 1994 Population : 19000 Life Expectancy : 68.6 Capital : 2881 GNP : 105.00 GNP Old : 0.00 Local Name : Belau/Palau Government Form : Republic Location : Oceania, group of islands in the Western Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines. Terrain : A mountainous volcanic main island and smaller, reef-rimmed coral islands Climate : Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November Ethnic Group : Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian elements Religions : Roman Catholic,Protestant, Modekngei (an indigenous Palauan religion). Official Website :www.palaugov.net | 
Genral Information - Palau
Background
The Republic of Palau with its main island Babeldaob (Babelthuap), is an island nation in the northern Pacific Ocean, located some 700 km east of the Philippines, perched on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge. The westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands consists of 20 large islands and 566 smaller islands and is one of the world's youngest and least populated nations. After 47 years as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), under US administration, Palau (Belau) 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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