Palau is a Micronesian archipelago of 340 islands east of the Philippines, famous for the Rock Islands and Jellyfish Lake — a marine lake where stingless jellyfish swarm by the millions.
Geography & landscape
Palau sits in Micronesia, in the northern hemisphere of Oceania. With an area of approximately 459 km², it is a compact territory, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Ngerulmud, lies near coordinates 7.5°, 134.62°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Oceania, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Micronesia region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Palau.
People & society
The population of Palau is around 18K. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
Palau recognises multiple official languages — Palauan and English — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.
Government & politics
Palau is structured as a presidential republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Ngerulmud, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Palau is the US Dollar (USD). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Ngerulmud and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Palau shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Palau through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Ngerulmud, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +680, and clocks are set to the PWT (UTC+9) time zone. ISO standards identify Palau as PW (alpha-2) and PLW (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇵🇼, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Ngerulmud | — |
| Continent | Oceania | — |
| Sub-region | Micronesia | — |
| Population | 18K | people |
| Area | 459 | km² |
| Currency | US Dollar (USD) | — |
| Calling code | +680 | international dialling |
| Time zone | PWT (UTC+9) | standard time |
| Government type | Presidential republic | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | PW | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | PLW | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 7.5 | degrees |
| Longitude | 134.62 | degrees |
Did you know?
Palau's Jellyfish Lake hosts millions of golden jellyfish that have lost their sting through evolution in their isolated home.
