Religions: Catholic 49%, Protestant 33%, Modekngei supporters 9%, Other 9%
Population: Palau (Micronesian, Polynesian, Melanesian, Malay) 87%, 8% of Filipinos, other Asians 5%
Currency: US-Dollar
Economy: Services 83%, Industry 15%, Agriculture 2%
GDP per capita: 6220 US-Dollars
Climate: Tropical, rainy season from May to November
Highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus (242m high)
The Republic of Palau is located 750km southeast of the Philippines and includes about 300 islands. The colonization of Palau began about 1000 BC by different people of Southeast Asia and was then occupied by Spain, Germany, Japan and the United States in the last hundred years. In 1978, the
inclusion into the neighboring "Federated States of Micronesia" was rejected. At first the citizens of Palau voted against a "free association with the United States" because it was feared that it would lead to the stationing of nuclear-powered ships, but Palau ultimately agreed to the free
association in 1994 because the USA offered support payments for the next 15 years adding up to 500 000 000 US-Dollars. Palau also became a United Nations member last year.