Republic of Palau Beluu er a Belau ベルーええとベラウ República de Palaos
Anthem:
Location of Palau (circled) in the western Pacific Ocean.
Capital	Ngerulmud, Melekeok Statea 7°21′N 134°28′E / 7.350°N 134.467°E / 7.350; 134.467
Official languages	English Palauan
Filipino Japanese (in Angaur) Spanish (in Orukei) Sonsorolese (in Sonsoral) Tobian (in Hatohobei)
Ethnic groups (2000)	69.9% Palauan 15.3% Filipino 4.9% Chinese 2.4% other Asian 1.9% White 1.4% Carolinian 1.1% other Micronesian 3.2% other / unspecified
Demonym(s)	Palauan
Government	Unitary presidential democratic republic
• President	Surangel Whipps Jr.
• Vice President	Uduch Sengebau Senior
Legislature	National Congress
Independence
• Compact of Free Association with the United States	1 October 1994
Area
• Total	Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (196th)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2011 estimate	20,956 (218th)
• Density	Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1850: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
GDP (PPP)	2008 estimate
• Total	$164 million (not ranked)
• Per capita	$8,100 (119th)
HDI (2011)	0.782 high · 49th
Currency	United States dollar (USD)
Time zone	UTC+9
Driving side	right
Calling code	+680
ISO 3166 code	PW
Internet TLD	.pw
On 7 October 2006, government officials moved their offices in the former capital of Koror to Ngerulmud in Melekeok State, located 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Koror on Babelthaup Island and 2 km (1 mi) northwest of Melekeok village.

Map of Palau

Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island nation. It is in the Pacific Ocean. Palau is 300 miles (500 km) east of the Philippines. It got independence from United Nations trusteeship administration (administered by the United States of America) in 1994. It is one of the world's youngest and smallest nations. It is sometimes referred to in English under its native name Belau. The capitol of Palau used to be Koror. It is now located in Melekeok State.