Abstract:
Palau is located in the north-west tropical Pacific, 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines. There are over 500 islands in Palau, most of which are small, uninhabited, rocky islands. Only nine islands are currently inhabited, and they are divided into 16 states. The total land area is 206 square miles (535 km2). About 80% of the population live in Koror (both an island and a state). Melekeok, on the bigger but less developed island of Babeldaob to the north, replaced Koror as the capital in October 2006.