Palau

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.
==Economical characteristics==
* Currency: US dollar (ISO code: USD)
* This country does not seem to have a central bank.
===Statistics===
Statistic / Year 	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
GDP (million USD)World Bank. "Palau: GDP", from World Bank Data. Referenced 2010-10-05. 	113 	120 	125 	119 	123 	134 	145 	157 	164 	181
Govt. debt (% of GDP)World Bank. "Palau: government debt", from World Bank Data. Referenced 2010-10-05. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Govt. revenue (% of GDP)World Bank. "Palau: government revenue", from World Bank Data. Referenced 2010-10-05. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Govt. expenses (% of GDP)World Bank. "Palau: government expenses", from World Bank Data. Referenced 2010-10-05.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Debt to revenue (years) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==References==
Note: statistical data was rounded. Different sources may use different methodologies for their estimates. Debt to revenue is calculated by dividing the two variables from their original ('unrounded') values. It represents how long it would a government take to repay its entire debt if it used its whole revenue for this purpose.
==External links==
* Palau on Wikipedia
* BBC country profile
Category:Countries