Belu’u era Belau

Political Status: Former U.S. Trust Territory; became sovereign state in free association with the United States on October 1, 1994.

Land Area: 178 sq. mi. (461 sq. km.).

Population: 19,907 (2005C); 20,100 (2006E). Approximately 6,000 residents are non-nationals.

Major Urban Center (2005C): KOROR (10,743). The constitution calls for a new capital on the largely undeveloped northern island of Babeldaob (Babelthuap).

Official Languages: English, Palauan.

Monetary Unit: U.S. Dollar (see U.S. article for principal exchange rates).

President: Thomas (Tommy) REMENGESAU Jr. (nonparty); served as vice president 1993–2000; elected president on November 7, 2000, and inaugurated for a four-year term on January 19, 2001, succeeding Kuniwo NAKAMURA (nonparty); reelected for a four-year term on November 2, 2004.

Vice President: Elias Camsek CHIN (nonparty); elected on November 2, 2004, for a ...