Palau (Republic of Palau)

http://www.humantruth.info/palau.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Palau Republic of Palau
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	177th best
Capital	Melekeok
Land Area	460km²₁
Location	Australasia, Micronesia
Groupings	Small Islands
Population	17 907₂
Life Expectancy	66.02yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$13 819 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	PW, PLW, 585₅
Internet Domain	.pw₆
Currency	Dollar (USD)₇
Telephone	+680₈

1. Overview

“After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“You don´t have to get wet to enjoy Palau, but it helps. This tiny island country in the western Pacific Ocean is one of the world´s most spectacular diving and snorkelling destinations. Most tourists who come to the Republic of Palau like to spend their time underwater. This is among the world´s most spectacular diving and snorkelling destinations, featuring coral reefs, blue holes, WWII wrecks, hidden caves and tunnels, more than 60 vertical drop-offs, and an astonishing spectrum of coral, fish and rare sea creatures. There are also some outright miracles of evolution: giant clams that weigh a quarter of a ton, for example, and a lake teeming with 21 million softly pulsating, stingless jellyfish.
On land the republic embraces Micronesia´s richest flora and fauna: exotic birds fly, crocodiles slip through the swamps and orchids sprout profusely in backyards.
The Palauan archipelago encompasses the polyglot state of Koror; the marvellous Rock Islands; Micronesia´s second-largest island, Babeldaob (the land that Pacific Standard Time forgot); Peleliu, once war-ravaged, now just ravishing; tranquil, tiny Angaur; the coral atolls of Kayangel and Ngeruangel; and the remote South-West Islands.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Palau National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
4	Hong Kong	0.952
5	Australia	0.951
	...
79	China	0.768
80	Moldova	0.767
81	Dominican Rep.	0.767
82	Palau	0.767
83	Cuba	0.764
84	Peru	0.762
	Australasia Avg	0.70
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
4	Luxembourg	$84 649
5	Ireland	$76 169
	...
83	Brazil	$14 370
84	Azerbaijan	$14 257
85	Albania	$14 131
86	Palau	$13 819
87	Grenada	$13 484
88	Gabon	$13 367
	Australasia Avg	$12 519
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂_,₁₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂_,₁₃
1	Taiwan	28.6
2	Norway	29.4
3	Denmark	31.2
4	Sweden	32.2
5	Finland	32.6
	...
174	N. Korea	118.9
175	Congo, (Brazzaville)	119.6
176	Syria	120.1
177	Palau	120.7
178	Papua New Guinea	120.7
179	Sudan	121.2
	Australasia Avg	102.8
	World Avg	86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Palau's Demographics and Migration

#health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #population

Population:

Palau's population is predicted to rise to 24 742 by 2030.

Population (2018)₂
Pos.		Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
4	Indonesia	267.7m
5	Pakistan	212.2m
	...
190	Monaco	38 682
191	Liechtenstein	37 910
192	San Marino	33 785
193	Palau	17 907
194	Tuvalu	11 508
195	Nauru	10 670
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
4	Australia	84.5
5	Switzerland	84.0
	...
141	Tanzania	66.2
142	Pakistan	66.1
143	Rwanda	66.1
144	Palau	66.0
145	Gabon	65.8
146	Guyana	65.7
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)₁₄
Pos.		%₁₄
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
4	Liechtenstein	65.1%
5	Monaco	54.9%
	...
18	Antigua & Barbuda	28.1%
19	Brunei	25.3%
20	Israel	23.6%
21	Palau	23.0%
22	New Zealand	22.7%
23	Canada	21.5%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants (2010)₁₅
Pos.		%₁₅
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
4	Grenada	65.5%
5	St Kitts & Nevis	61.1%
	...
11	Barbados	41.0%
12	Suriname	39.0%
13	Bosnia & Herzegovina	38.9%
14	Palau	38.8%
15	St Vincent & Grenadines	37.7%
16	Cape Verde	37.6%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Palau's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2020)₁₆_,₁₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₆_,₁₇
1	New Zealand	17.5
2	Australia	24.1
3	Fiji	102.4
4	Papua New Guinea	122.4
5	Nauru	123.4
6	Micronesia	128.8
7	Palau	131.0
8	Tonga	132.9
9	Marshall Islands	134.6
10	Samoa	136.1
11	Vanuatu	138.2
12	Kiribati	138.4
13	Cook Islands	144.5
	Australasia Avg	120.0
q=15.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)₁₆_,₁₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₆_,₁₇
1	Sweden	9.2
2	Norway	14.7
3	Denmark	14.7
4	Netherlands	15.8
5	New Zealand	17.5
	...
172	Myanmar (Burma)	128.7
173	Micronesia	128.8
174	Chad	130.6
175	Palau	131.0
176	Tonga	132.9
177	Syria	133.1
178	Iran	133.8
	World Avg	87.7
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark₁₆. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu₁₆.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₆, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia₁₆.

For more, see:

"Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR (2009)₁₈
Pos.		Higher is better Treaties₁₈
1	Argentina	24
2	Chile	23
3	Costa Rica	23
4	Ecuador	23
5	Germany	23
	...
188	Nauru	5
189	Marshall Islands	4
190	Myanmar (Burma)	4
191	Palau	4
192	Malaysia	4
193	Bhutan	3
	Australasia Avg	8.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag (2019)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Yrs/Treaty₁₉
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
4	Colombia	3.68
5	Costa Rica	4.05
	...
190	Nauru	16.16
191	Sao Tome & Principe	16.17
192	Tuvalu	16.33
193	Palau	16.34
194	Marshall Islands	16.34
195	Palestine	17.21
	Australasia Avg	14.35
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

"Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Year Women Can Vote
Pos.		Lower is better Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
4	Norway	1913
5	Denmark	1915
	...
171	Guinea-Bissau	1977
172	Zimbabwe	1978
173	Marshall Islands	1979
174	Palau	1979
175	Micronesia	1979
176	Iraq	1980
	Australasia Avg	1962
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality (2017)₂₀
Pos.		Higher is better Score₂₀
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
4	Brazil	81
5	Spain	79
	...
83	Philippines	20
84	Central African Rep.	20
85	Sao Tome & Principe	20
86	Palau	20
87	Nauru	20
88	Marshall Islands	20
	Australasia Avg	07.1
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Freedom of Thought (2021)₂₁
Pos.		Lower is better₂₁
1	Belgium	1.0
2	Netherlands	1.0
3	Taiwan	1.0
4	Sao Tome & Principe	1.3
5	Ecuador	1.3
	...
15	S. Africa	1.7
16	S. Korea	1.8
17	Albania	1.8
18	Palau	1.8
19	USA	1.8
20	Kosovo	1.8
	Australasia Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Palau's Health

#alcohol #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2020)₂₂_,₂₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₂_,₂₃
1	Solomon Islands	82.0
2	Australia	84.6
3	Kiribati	87.0
4	New Zealand	88.8
5	Fiji	90.6
	...
10	Tuvalu	112.5
11	Micronesia	114.2
12	Papua New Guinea	120.8
13	Cook Islands	123.7
14	Nauru	134.8
15	Palau	146.0
16	Marshall Islands	158.3
	Australasia Avg	109.4
q=16.

Health (2020)₂₂_,₂₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₂_,₂₃
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Hong Kong	18.3
3	Maldives	41.0
4	Singapore	42.6
5	Japan	51.0
	...
190	Angola	133.1
191	Nauru	134.8
192	Equatorial Guinea	136.5
193	Nigeria	142.1
194	Palau	146.0
195	S. Sudan	146.5
196	Marshall Islands	158.3
	World Avg	93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives₂₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau₂₂.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean₂₂, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa₂₂.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Palau is a pretty unhealthy country. And finally, it does worse than average in its immunizations take-up₂₄ and in its average life expectancy₁₁. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
4	Australia	84.5
5	Switzerland	84.0
	...
141	Tanzania	66.2
142	Pakistan	66.1
143	Rwanda	66.1
144	Palau	66.0
145	Gabon	65.8
146	Guyana	65.7
	Australasia Avg	70.11
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption (2016)₂₅
Pos.		Lower is better Per Capita₂₅
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
4	Mauritania	0.0
5	Somalia	0.0
6	Yemen	0.1
7	Afghanistan	0.2
8	Saudi Arabia	0.2
9	Syria	0.3
10	Pakistan	0.3
11	Kiribati	0.4
12	Iraq	0.4
	Australasia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Overweight Adults (2016)₂₆
Pos.		Lower is better %₂₆
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
4	Ethiopia	20.9
5	Nepal	21.0
	...
186	Niue	80.0
187	Tuvalu	81.9
188	Marshall Islands	83.5
189	Cook Islands	84.7
190	Palau	85.1
191	Nauru	88.5
	Australasia Avg	73.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)₂₄
Pos.		Higher is better Avg %₂₄
1	Hungary	99.0
2	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
4	Niue	98.8
5	Mongolia	98.7
	...
101	France	92.6
102	El Salvador	92.4
103	Swaziland	92.4
104	Palau	92.4
105	Vietnam	92.3
106	Denmark	92.3
	Australasia Avg	86.4
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Palau's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)₁₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₇
1	New Zealand	17.6
2	Australia	19.2
3	Palau	59.3
4	Tonga	75.2
5	New Caledonia	75.5
6	Fiji	80.8
7	French Polynesia	95.0
8	Nauru	99.0
9	Marshall Islands	102.8
10	Samoa	103.4
11	Vanuatu	117.0
12	Micronesia	131.3
13	Kiribati	143.0
	Australasia Avg	98.1
q=16.

Modernity and Learning (2020)₁₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₇
1	Finland	8.4
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	15.1
4	Estonia	15.8
5	Denmark	16.0
	...
59	Kosovo	57.0
60	Puerto Rico	57.5
61	Bosnia & Herzegovina	58.1
62	Palau	59.3
63	Mexico	59.8
64	Saudi Arabia	60.4
65	Uzbekistan	61.7
	World Avg	83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education (2018)₂₇
Pos.		Higher is better₂₇
1	Luxembourg	100.0%
2	Estonia	100.0%
3	Austria	100.0%
4	Canada	100.0%
5	Finland	100.0%
	...
14	Slovenia	97.6%
15	Armenia	97.2%
16	Hungary	97.2%
17	Palau	97.1%
18	New Zealand	96.9%
19	Switzerland	96.5%
	Australasia Avg	79.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling (2021)₂₈
Pos.		Higher is better Years₂₈
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
4	Belgium	19.6
5	Sweden	19.4
	...
40	Estonia	15.9
41	Thailand	15.9
42	France	15.8
43	Palau	15.8
44	Russia	15.8
45	Kazakhstan	15.8
	Australasia Avg	13.4
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

IPv6 Uptake (2017)₂₉
Pos.		Higher is better Ratio₂₉
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
4	USA	35.0
5	Greece	33.5
	...
157	Brunei	0.0
158	Aruba	0.0
159	Bahrain	0.0
160	Palau	0.0
161	Equatorial Guinea	0.0
162	Belize	0.0
	Australasia Avg	1.55
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

7. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #the_environment

Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.		Earlier is better Signed
1	China	1993 Dec 29
2	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
3	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
4	Vanuatu	1993 Dec 29
5	Papua New Guinea	1993 Dec 29
	...
172	Macedonia	1998 Mar 02
173	Angola	1998 Jun 30
174	Tonga	1998 Aug 17
175	Palau	1999 Apr 06
176	Sao Tome & Principe	1999 Dec 28
177	UAE	2000 May 10
	Australasia Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

8. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₃₀:

Christian	86.7%
Muslim	0.1%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.8%
Folk Religion	0.8%
Jew	0.1%
Unaffiliated	1.2%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witnesses 0.9%, Mormon 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)₃₁.

Links:

A List of All Religions and Belief Systems