Republic of Palau

The Republic of Palau is sovereign state in the Pacific made up of six island groups and over 300 islands. Palau is freely associated with the United States via a treaty, the Compact of Free Association States. It was formerly part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, administered by the United States. Palau's residents are citizens of the Republic of Palau. Palau has a land mass of 196 square miles spread across 700 miles of ocean, with an estimated population of 20,796 (CIA, 2009). The capital, Melekeok, is located on Babeldaob, Palau's largest island. According to the 2000 Census of Palau, 71.2% of the population is Pacific Islander, 24.5% is Asian, 2.8% white, and 1.7% other.

Palau's Division of Primary and Preventive Health has 4 community health centers (CHCs), the Northern CHC in Ngarchelong, the Eastern CHC in Melkeok, the Western CHC in Ngaremlengui, and the Southern CHC in Peleliu, as well as 4 satellite dispensaries. According to the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, as of 1998 Palau had 1 80-bed hospital. In 2003 Palau was served by 25 physicians and 111 nurses.

The 2000 Census of Palau indicated that 54.4% of households had an income below $15,000. The Census found that 22.5% of Palau residents aged 25 or older had not completed high school.

For additional resources and information, please see the Pacific Territories, Commonwealth, and Freely Associated States.

Data Sources:

CIA World Fact Book: Palau

Country Health Information Profile: Palau

Palau Health Statistics

U.S. Affiliated Pacific Basin Jurisdictions: Legal, Geographic and Demographic Information

Contacts

Embassy of the United States, Koror, Republic of Palau
P.O. Box 6028
Koror, Palau 96940
Tel: 011.680.488.2920
Fax: 011.680.488.2911

Embassy of the Republic of Palau, Washington, DC
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400
Washington, D.C.  20006
Phone:  202.452.6814
Fax:  202.452.6281
E-mail:  info@palauembassy.com

Organizations

Palau Bureau of Public Health
International organization
Works to provide quality health care and education to all of Palau's residents. Site provides bureau contact information.

Republic of Palau
International organization
Official site of the government of the Republic of Palau.

Tools

California STD/HIV Prevention Training Center
Web site
Provides training courses that are designed to meet the needs of medical, health, and community professionals serving persons and communities impacted by STD and HIV. Service area includes the federal Health and Human Services Region IX: California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the following Pacific Islands: American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CIA World Fact Book: Palau
Web site
Provides current information on Palau, covering geography, population characteristics, government and the economy.
Sponsoring organization: Central Intelligence Agency

Compacts of Free Association
Web site
Provides access to the Compacts of Free Association for the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of the Interior: Office of Insular Affairs

Office of Insular Affairs: Republic of Palau
Web site
Provides Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) Field Office information, as well as an overview of Palau's history, government, economy, demographics, and more.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of the Interior: Office of Insular Affairs

Palau Health Statistics
Web site
Provides statistics on health status, demographics, economics, and educational status for Palau.
Sponsoring organization: Palau Bureau of Public Health

State Department: Republic of Palau
Web site
Provides access to background information on Palau.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of State: Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Title V: A Snapshot of Maternal and Child Health: Palau
Web site
Presents data on maternal and child health for Palau.
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Documents, Reports and Other Publications

Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant State Narrative for Palau
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau
The Republic of Palau's Title V maternal and child health annual report for 2005. Includes an overview of Palau, its health system, and maternal and child health status.
Date: 10 / 2006

Title V Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment: Republic of Palau
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Provides access to Republic of Palau's maternal and child health needs assessment for the period of 2005-2010. Includes a detailed overview of maternal and child health status in Palau.
Date: 2006

Western Pacific Country Health Information Profile: Palau
Sponsoring organization: World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office
Provides an overview of health issues in Palau. Covers the political and economic situation, health trends, the health system, and health indicators.
Date: 2006

Success Stories

U.S. Pacific Islands: Helping Hearts
The purpose of this program is to provide the U.S. Pacific Islands region with automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), and educate to residents so they can train others in their use and save more lives.

Vector Control and Prevention Program
This program was designed to educate individuals and communities about the steps they can take to prevent vector borne diseases, and to help control future outbreaks that may jeopardize the health of those who call Palau home.