Palau

Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island nation located in the Micronesia subregion of Oceania in the western Pacific Ocean. The republic consists of approximately 340 to 356 islands, with only eleven of them inhabited by a population of around 17.600 people. The capital city, Ngerulmud, is situated on the island of Babeldaob. As a presidential republic closely associated with the United States, Palau forms the western part of the Caroline Islands. The official languages are Palauan and English. The state is characterized by its isolated location in the Pacific and operates as a distinct political entity west of the Federated States of Micronesia.

The modern history of Palau was significantly shaped by its administration as a UN Trust Territory under the management of the United States. This status continued until October 1, 1994, when the country achieved official independence. Despite its sovereignty, the state remains closely linked to the USA through a compact of free association, reflecting a political system modeled after the American example. The structure of the republic is divided into 16 states, adopting the administrative organization of the former colonial power. Geographically, Palau forms the western edge of the Caroline Islands, while the central and eastern areas of this island group now constitute the Federated States of Micronesia.

Palau is located in the Micronesia subregion in the western Pacific Ocean. As the western part of the Caroline Islands, the state borders the Federated States of Micronesia. The territory consists of a multitude of islands, with the capital Ngerulmud located on Babeldaob. The administrative division comprises 16 states.

The national territory consists of a total of over 350 islands, emphasizing the maritime character of the region. The geographical structure is defined by the Caroline Islands archipelago, with Palau forming the western part of this island arc in the Pacific.

Babeldaob IslandCapital NgerulmudCaroline Islands