The Human Truth Foundation

Palau (Republic of Palau)

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Palau
Republic of Palau
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index177th best
CapitalMelekeok
Land Area 460km21
LocationAustralasia, Micronesia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population17 9072
Life Expectancy66.02yrs (2017)3
GNI$13 819 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesPW, PLW, 5855
Internet Domain.pw6
CurrencyDollar (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

Book CoverYou 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
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
79China0.768
80Moldova0.767
81Dominican Rep.0.767
82Palau0.767
83Cuba0.764
84Peru0.762
Australasia Avg0.70
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
83Brazil$14 370
84Azerbaijan$14 257
85Albania$14 131
86Palau$13 819
87Grenada$13 484
88Gabon$13 367
Australasia Avg$12 519
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
174N. Korea118.9
175Congo, (Brazzaville)119.6
176Syria120.1
177Palau120.7
178Papua New Guinea120.7
179Sudan121.2
Australasia Avg102.8
World Avg86.1
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
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
190Monaco38 682
191Liechtenstein37 910
192San Marino33 785
193Palau17 907
194Tuvalu11 508
195Nauru10 670
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
141Tanzania66.2
142Pakistan66.1
143Rwanda66.1
144Palau66.0
145Gabon65.8
146Guyana65.7
World Avg71.28
q=195.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)14
Pos.
%14
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
18Antigua & Barbuda28.1%
19Brunei25.3%
20Israel23.6%
21Palau23.0%
22New Zealand22.7%
23Canada21.5%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)15
Pos.
%15
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
11Barbados41.0%
12Suriname39.0%
13Bosnia & Herzegovina38.9%
14Palau38.8%
15St Vincent & Grenadines37.7%
16Cape Verde37.6%
World Avg11.5%
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
1New Zealand17.5
2Australia24.1
3Fiji102.4
4Papua New Guinea122.4
5Nauru123.4
6Micronesia128.8
7Palau131.0
8Tonga132.9
9Marshall Islands134.6
10Samoa136.1
11Vanuatu138.2
12Kiribati138.4
13Cook Islands144.5
Australasia Avg120.0
q=15.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)16,17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank16,17
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
172Myanmar (Burma)128.7
173Micronesia128.8
174Chad130.6
175Palau131.0
176Tonga132.9
177Syria133.1
178Iran133.8
World Avg87.7
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:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR (2009)18
Pos.Higher is better
Treaties18
1Argentina24
2Chile23
3Costa Rica23
4Ecuador23
5Germany23
...
188Nauru5
189Marshall Islands4
190Myanmar (Burma)4
191Palau4
192Malaysia4
193Bhutan3
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag (2019)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Yrs/Treaty19
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
4Colombia3.68
5Costa Rica4.05
...
190Nauru16.16
191Sao Tome & Principe16.17
192Tuvalu16.33
193Palau16.34
194Marshall Islands16.34
195Palestine17.21
Australasia Avg14.35
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Pos.Lower is better
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
4Norway1913
5Denmark1915
...
171Guinea-Bissau1977
172Zimbabwe1978
173Marshall Islands1979
174Palau1979
175Micronesia1979
176Iraq1980
Australasia Avg1962
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality (2017)20
Pos.Higher is better
Score20
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
4Brazil81
5Spain79
...
83Philippines20
84Central African Rep.20
85Sao Tome & Principe20
86Palau20
87Nauru20
88Marshall Islands20
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought (2021)21
Pos.Lower is better21
1Belgium1.0
2Netherlands1.0
3Taiwan1.0
4Sao Tome & Principe1.3
5Ecuador1.3
...
15S. Africa1.7
16S. Korea1.8
17Albania1.8
18Palau1.8
19USA1.8
20Kosovo1.8
Australasia Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
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
1Solomon Islands82.0
2Australia84.6
3Kiribati87.0
4New Zealand88.8
5Fiji90.6
...
10Tuvalu112.5
11Micronesia114.2
12Papua New Guinea120.8
13Cook Islands123.7
14Nauru134.8
15Palau146.0
16Marshall Islands158.3
Australasia Avg109.4
q=16.
Health (2020)22,23
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank22,23
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
190Angola133.1
191Nauru134.8
192Equatorial Guinea136.5
193Nigeria142.1
194Palau146.0
195S. Sudan146.5
196Marshall Islands158.3
World Avg93.5
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:

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
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
141Tanzania66.2
142Pakistan66.1
143Rwanda66.1
144Palau66.0
145Gabon65.8
146Guyana65.7
Australasia Avg70.11
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)25
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita25
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
6Yemen0.1
7Afghanistan0.2
8Saudi Arabia0.2
9Syria0.3
10Pakistan0.3
11Kiribati0.4
12Iraq0.4
Australasia Avg4.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Overweight Adults (2016)26
Pos.Lower is better
%26
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
186Niue80.0
187Tuvalu81.9
188Marshall Islands83.5
189Cook Islands84.7
190Palau85.1
191Nauru88.5
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)24
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %24
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
101France92.6
102El Salvador92.4
103Swaziland92.4
104Palau92.4
105Vietnam92.3
106Denmark92.3
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Palau's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1New Zealand17.6
2Australia19.2
3Palau59.3
4Tonga75.2
5New Caledonia75.5
6Fiji80.8
7French Polynesia95.0
8Nauru99.0
9Marshall Islands102.8
10Samoa103.4
11Vanuatu117.0
12Micronesia131.3
13Kiribati143.0
Australasia Avg98.1
q=16.
Modernity and Learning (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
59Kosovo57.0
60Puerto Rico57.5
61Bosnia & Herzegovina58.1
62Palau59.3
63Mexico59.8
64Saudi Arabia60.4
65Uzbekistan61.7
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education (2018)27
Pos.Higher is better27
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
14Slovenia97.6%
15Armenia97.2%
16Hungary97.2%
17Palau97.1%
18New Zealand96.9%
19Switzerland96.5%
Australasia Avg79.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)28
Pos.Higher is better
Years28
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
40Estonia15.9
41Thailand15.9
42France15.8
43Palau15.8
44Russia15.8
45Kazakhstan15.8
Australasia Avg13.4
World Avg13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

IPv6 Uptake (2017)29
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio29
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
157Brunei0.0
158Aruba0.0
159Bahrain0.0
160Palau0.0
161Equatorial Guinea0.0
162Belize0.0
Australasia Avg1.55
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #the_environment

Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
172Macedonia1998 Mar 02
173Angola1998 Jun 30
174Tonga1998 Aug 17
175Palau1999 Apr 06
176Sao Tome & Principe1999 Dec 28
177UAE2000 May 10
Australasia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 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:

Christian86.7%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.8%
Folk Religion0.8%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated1.2%

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: