Palau

The Republic of Palau extends across 340 islands with limestone formations, dense jungles, marine lakes, and coral reefs in the western Pacific Ocean.

First settled around 3000 BCE, Palau changed hands between Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States before gaining independence in 1994.

The Palauan society operates under matrilineal principles, determining inheritance, traditional titles, marriages, and funeral practices through maternal lineage.

The national currency is the United States dollar, with tourism, fishing, and agriculture forming the main economic activities of the country.

Palau established a 600,000 square kilometer marine sanctuary in 2009, creating the first national shark protection zone in global waters.

Inception: October 1, 1994

Capital city: Ngerulmud

Website: https://www.palaugov.pw/

Part of: Micronesia

Shares border with: Federated States of Micronesia, Indonesia, Philippines

Website: https://palaugov.pw

GPS coordinates: 5.37835,132.91026

Latest update: November 10, 2025 14:33