This entry provides the mean (average) age of mothers at the birth of their first child. It is a useful indicator for gauging the success of family planning programs aiming to reduce maternal mortality, increase contraceptive use – particularly among married and unmarried adolescents – delay age at first marriage, and improve the health of newborns.

Topic: Afghanistan19.9 years (2015 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Albania26.6 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Andorra32.8 years (2019)

Topic: Angola19.4 years (2015/16 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Armenia25.2 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Australia28.7 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Austria29.7 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Azerbaijan24 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Bangladesh18.6 years (2017/18 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Belarus26.8 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Belgium29.2 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Benin20.5 years (2017/18 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Bolivia21.1 years (2008 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina27.7 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Bulgaria26.4 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Burkina Faso19.4 years (2010 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Burma24.7 years (2015/16 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Burundi21.5 years (2016/17 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Cambodia22.4 years (2014 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Cameroon20.1 years (2018 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Canada29.4 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Chad18.1 years (2014/15 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Colombia21.7 years (2015 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Comoros23 years (2012 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the19.9 years (2013/14 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Congo, Republic of the19.6 years (2011/12 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire19.6 years (2011/12 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Croatia29 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Cyprus30 years (2020 est.)

note: data represent only government-controlled areas

Topic: Czechia28.5 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Denmark29.8 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Dominican Republic20.9 years (2013 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Egypt22.6 years (2014 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: El Salvador20.8 years (2008 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Eritrea21.3 years (2010 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Estonia28.2 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia19.3 years (2019 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Finland29.5 years (2020 est.)

Topic: France28.9 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Gabon19.6 years (2012 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Gambia, The20.7 years (2019/20 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Georgia25.9 years (2019 est.)

note: data do not cover Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Topic: Germany29.9 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Ghana20.7 years (2014 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Greece30.7 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Guatemala20.6 years (2014/15 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Guinea19.9 years (2018 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Guyana20.8 years (2009 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Haiti22.4 years (2016/7 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Honduras20.3 years (2011/12 est.)

note: median age a first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Hong Kong29.8 years (2008 est.)

Topic: Hungary28.4 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Iceland28.7 years (2020 est.)

Topic: India21.2 years (2019/21)

note: median age a first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Indonesia22.4 years (2017 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Ireland30.9 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Israel27.7 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Italy31.4 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Jamaica21.2 years (2008 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Japan30.7 years (2018 est.)

Topic: Jordan24.6 years (2017/18 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Kazakhstan28.9 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Kenya20.3 years (2014 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Kiribati23.1 years (2009 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Korea, South32.2 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan22.6 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Latvia27.3 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Lesotho20.9 years (2014 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Liberia19.1 years (2019/20 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Liechtenstein31.3 years (2017)

Topic: Lithuania28.2 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Luxembourg31 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Madagascar19.5 years (2008/09 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Malawi19.1 years (2015/16 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Maldives23.2 years (2016/17 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Mali19.2 years (2018 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Malta29.3 years (2020 est.)

note: data refer to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births

Topic: Mauritania21.8 years (2019/21)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Mexico21.3 years (2008 est.)

Topic: Moldova25.2 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Mongolia20.5 years (2008 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-24

Topic: Montenegro26.3 years (2010 est.)

Topic: Mozambique19.2 years (2011 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Namibia21.6 years (2013 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Nepal20.4 years (2016 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Netherlands30.2 years (2020 est.)

Topic: New Zealand27.8 years (2009 est.)

note: median age at first birth

Topic: Nicaragua19.2 years (2011/12 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Niger18.5 years (2012 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Nigeria20.4 years (2018 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: North Macedonia26.9 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Norway29.8 years (2020 est.)

note: data is calculated based on actual age at first births

Topic: Pakistan22.8 years (2017/18 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Papua New Guinea21.9 years (2016/18)

note: median age a first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Paraguay22.9 years (2008 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Peru21.9 years (2013 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Philippines23.5 years (2017 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Poland27.9 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Portugal29.9 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Romania27.1 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Russia25.2 years (2013 est.)

Topic: Rwanda23 years (2019/20 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Samoa23.6 years (2009 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: San Marino31.9 years (2019)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe19.4 years (2008/09 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Senegal21.9 years (2019 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Serbia28.2 years (2020 est.)

note: data do not cover Kosovo or Metohija

Topic: Sierra Leone19.6 years (2019 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Singapore30.5 years (2015 est.)

median age

Topic: Slovakia27.2 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Slovenia29 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Solomon Islands22.6 years (2015 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Spain31.2 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Sri Lanka25.6 years (2016 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 30-34

Topic: Sweden29.7 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Switzerland31.1 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Tajikistan23.2 years (2017 est.)

Topic: Tanzania19.8 years (2015/16 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Thailand23.3 years (2009 est.)

Topic: Timor-Leste23 years (2016 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Togo25 years (2017 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Topic: Tonga24.9 years (2012 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)26.6 years (2020 est.)

Topic: Turkmenistan24.2 years (2019)

Topic: Uganda19.4 years (2016 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Ukraine26.2 years (2019 est.)

Topic: United Kingdom29 years (2018 est.)

note: data represent England and Wales only

Topic: United States27 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Uzbekistan23.7 years (2019 est.)

Topic: Yemen20.8 years (2013 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Topic: Zambia19.2 years (2018 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Topic: Zimbabwe20.3 years (2015 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49


Topic: Photos of Slovenia

Topic: Introduction
Background: The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia was one of the republics in the restored Yugoslavia, which, though communist, soon distanced itself from the Soviet Union and spearheaded the Non-Aligned Movement. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a growing economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's postcommunist transition. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone and the Schengen Area in 2007.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: south Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 46 07 N, 14 49 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 20,273 sq km

land: 20,151 sq km

water: 122 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,211 km

border countries (4): Austria 299 km; Croatia 600 km; Hungary 94 km; Italy 218 km
Coastline: 46.6 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Terrain: a short southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic; an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north; mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Elevation: highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 492 m
Natural resources: lignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
Land use: agricultural land: 22.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 8.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 13.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 62.3% (2018 est.)

other: 14.9% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; pockets in the mountainous northwest exhibit less density than elsewhere
Natural hazards: flooding; earthquakes
Geography - note: despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes
Map description: Slovenia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Venice.Slovenia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Venice.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 2,101,208 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Slovene(s)

adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups: Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 est.)
Languages: Slovene (official) 87.7%, Croatian 2.8%, Serbo-Croatian 1.8%, Bosnian 1.6%, Serbian 1.6%, Hungarian 0.4% (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian national communities reside), Italian 0.2% (official, only in municipalities where Italian national communities reside), other or unspecified 3.9% (2002 est.)

major-language sample(s):
Svetovni informativni zvezek - neobhoden vir osnovnih informacij. (Slovene)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 1%, unaffiliated 3.5%, no response or unspecified 22.8%, none 10.1% (2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.84% (male 160,134/female 151,960)

15-24 years: 9.01% (male 98,205/female 91,318)

25-54 years: 40.73% (male 449,930/female 406,395)

55-64 years: 14.19% (male 148,785/female 149,635)

65 years and over: 21.23% (2020 est.) (male 192,420/female 253,896)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.9

youth dependency ratio: 23.6

elderly dependency ratio: 32.3

potential support ratio: 3.1 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 44.9 years

male: 43.4 years

female: 46.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.06% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 8.3 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 10.4 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; pockets in the mountainous northwest exhibit less density than elsewhere
Urbanization: urban population: 55.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 286,000 LJUBLJANA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.12 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 1.52 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 1.63 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 1.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.82 years

male: 78.96 years

female: 84.79 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

total: 99.5% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 8.5% (2019)
Physicians density: 3.28 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 4.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2020 est.) <1,000

note: estimate does not include children
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018 est.) <100
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.2% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 22% (2020 est.)

male: 24.4% (2020 est.)

female: 19.6% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: NA

total population: 99.7%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.7% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 18 years

male: 17 years

female: 18 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.2%

male: 12.7%

female: 16.2% (2020 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: air pollution from road traffic, domestic heating (wood buring), power generation, and industry; water pollution; biodiversity protection
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.81 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 12.63 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 2.1 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Land use: agricultural land: 22.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 8.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 13.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 62.3% (2018 est.)

other: 14.9% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 55.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 926,000 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 430,034 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 46.4% (2015 est.)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 169.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 758 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 3.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 31.87 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia

conventional short form: Slovenia

local long form: Republika Slovenija

local short form: Slovenija

former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

etymology: the country's name means "Land of the Slavs" in Slovene
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Ljubljana

geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: likely related to the Slavic root "ljub", meaning "to like" or "to love"; by tradition, the name is related to the Slovene word "ljubljena" meaning "beloved"
Administrative divisions: 201 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina) municipalities: Ajdovscina, Ankaran, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal ob Soci, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Store, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberk urban municipalities: Celje, Koper, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje201 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina)municipalities: Ajdovscina, Ankaran, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal ob Soci, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Store, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberkurban municipalities: Celje, Koper, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje
Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution: history: previous 1974 (preindependence); latest passed by Parliament 23 December 1991

amendments: proposed by at least 20 National Assembly members, by the government, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required if agreed upon by at least 30 Assembly members; passage in a referendum requires participation of a majority of eligible voters and a simple majority of votes cast; amended several times, last in 2016
Legal system: civil law system
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovenia; both parents if the child is born outside of Slovenia

dual citizenship recognized: yes, for select cases

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years, the last 5 of which have been continuous
Suffrage: 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Borut PAHOR (since 22 December 2012)

head of government: Prime Minister Robert GOLOB (since 25 May 2022)

cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held on 22 October with a runoff on 12 November 2017 (next election to be held on 23 October 2022); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually nominated prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly

election results:
2017: Borut PAHOR is reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Borut PAHOR (independent) 47.1%, Marjan SAREC (Marjan Sarec List) 25%, Romana TOMC (SDS) 13.7%, Ljudmila NOVAK (NSi) 7.2%, other 7%; percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR 52.9%, Marjan SAREC 47.1%; Robert GOLOB (GS) elected prime minister on 25 May 2022, National Assembly vote - 54-30

2012: Borut PAHOR elected president; percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR (SD) 67.4%, Danilo TURK (independent) 32.6%; note - a snap election was held on 13 July 2014 following the resignation of Prime Minister Alenka BRATUSEK on 5 May 2014; Miro CERAR (SMC) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 57 to 11
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
National Council (State Council)or Drzavni Svet (40 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve 5-year terms); note - the Council is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers
National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 88 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 2 directly elected in special constituencies for Italian and Hungarian minorities by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)

elections:
National Council - last held on 22 November 2017 (next to be held on 23 October 2022)
National Assembly - last held on 24 April 2022 (next to be held in 2026)

election results:
National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 36, women 4, percent of women 10%
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - GS 34.5%, SDS 23.5%, NSi 6.9%, SD 6.7%, Levica 4.4%, other 24%; seats by party - GS 41, SDS 27, NSi 8, SD 7, Levica 5; composition - men 54, women 36, percent of women 40%; note - total Parliament percent of women 30.8%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 37 judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor and social security, administrative, and registry departments); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and vice president appointed by the National Assembly upon the proposal of the Minister of Justice based on the opinions of the Judicial Council, an 11-member independent body elected by the National Assembly from proposals submitted by the president, attorneys, law universities, and sitting judges; other Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly from candidates proposed by the Judicial Council; Supreme Court judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly from nominations by the president of the republic; Constitutional Court president selected from among its own membership for a 3-year term; other judges elected for single 9-year terms

subordinate courts: county, district, regional, and high courts; specialized labor-related and social courts; Court of Audit; Administrative Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS [Ljubo JASNIC]
Freedom Movement or GS [Robert GOLOB] (formerly Greens Actions Party)
List of Marjan Sarec or LMS [Marjan SAREC]
New Slovenia - Christian Democrats or NSi [Matej TONIN]
Party of Alenka Bratusek or Stranka SAB [Alenka BRATUSEK] (formerly Alliance of Social Liberal Democrats or ZSD and before that Alliance of Alenka Bratusek or ZaAB)
Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA]
Slovenian National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC Plemeniti]
Social Democrats or SD [Tanja FAJON]
The Left or Levica [Luka MESEC] (successor to United Left or ZL)
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tone KAJZER (since 23 December 2020)

chancery: 2410 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 386-6601

FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633

email address and website:
vwa@gov.si

http://www.washington.embassy.si/index.php?id=51&L=1

consulate(s) general: Cleveland (OH)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jamie L. HARPOOTLIAN  (since 17 February 2022)

embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana

mailing address: 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140

telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500

FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555

email address and website:
LjubljanaACS@state.gov

https://si.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, derive from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola; the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the prominent Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries) appears in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands
National symbol(s): Mount Triglav; national colors: white, blue, red
National anthem: name: "Zdravljica" (A Toast)

lyrics/music: France PRESEREN/Stanko PREMRL

note: adopted in 1989 while still part of Yugoslavia; originally written in 1848; the full poem, whose seventh verse is used as the anthem, speaks of pan-Slavic nationalism
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Škocjan Caves (n); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija (c); The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana (c)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: With excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe, Slovenia has one of the highest per capita GDPs in Central Europe, despite having suffered a protracted recession in the 2008-09 period in the wake of the global financial crisis. Slovenia became the first 2004 EU entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has experienced a stable political and economic transition.   In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the process for joining the OECD; it became a member in 2012. From 2014 to 2016, export-led growth, fueled by demand in larger European markets, pushed annual GDP growth above 2.3%. Growth reached 5.0% in 2017 and is projected to near or reach 5% in 2018. What used to be stubbornly high unemployment fell below 5.5% in early 2018, driven by strong exports and increasing consumption that boosted labor demand. Continued fiscal consolidation through increased tax collection and social security contributions will likely result in a balanced government budget in 2019.   Prime Minister CERAR’s government took office in September 2014, pledging to press ahead with commitments to privatize a select group of state-run companies, rationalize public spending, and further stabilize the banking sector. Efforts to privatize Slovenia’s largely state-owned banking sector have largely stalled, however, amid concerns about an ongoing dispute over Yugoslav-era foreign currency deposits.With excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe, Slovenia has one of the highest per capita GDPs in Central Europe, despite having suffered a protracted recession in the 2008-09 period in the wake of the global financial crisis. Slovenia became the first 2004 EU entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has experienced a stable political and economic transition. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the process for joining the OECD; it became a member in 2012. From 2014 to 2016, export-led growth, fueled by demand in larger European markets, pushed annual GDP growth above 2.3%. Growth reached 5.0% in 2017 and is projected to near or reach 5% in 2018. What used to be stubbornly high unemployment fell below 5.5% in early 2018, driven by strong exports and increasing consumption that boosted labor demand. Continued fiscal consolidation through increased tax collection and social security contributions will likely result in a balanced government budget in 2019. Prime Minister CERAR’s government took office in September 2014, pledging to press ahead with commitments to privatize a select group of state-run companies, rationalize public spending, and further stabilize the banking sector. Efforts to privatize Slovenia’s largely state-owned banking sector have largely stalled, however, amid concerns about an ongoing dispute over Yugoslav-era foreign currency deposits.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $76.75 billion (2020 est.)

$81.25 billion (2019 est.)

$78.74 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.4% (2019 est.)

4.24% (2018 est.)

5.14% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $36,500 (2020 est.)

$38,900 (2019 est.)

$38,000 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $54.16 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (2019 est.)

1.7% (2018 est.)

1.4% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A (2019)

Moody's rating: A3 (2020)

Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2019)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.)

industry: 32.2% (2017 est.)

services: 65.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 82.3% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -72.6% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, maize, wheat, grapes, barley, potatoes, poultry, apples, beef, pork
Industries: ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Industrial production growth rate: 8.6% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 885,000 (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.5%

industry: 31.2%

services: 63.3% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.64% (2019 est.)

8.25% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.2%

male: 12.7%

female: 16.2% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 24.2 (2017 est.)

24.5 (2015)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8%

highest 10%: 20.1% (2016)
Budget: revenues: 21.07 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 21.06 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 73.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

78.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the central, state, local government, and social security funds
Taxes and other revenues: 43.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $3.05 billion (2019 est.)

$3.17 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $41.73 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$45.41 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$45.93 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Germany 18%, Italy 11%, Croatia 8%, Austria 7%, France 5%, Switzerland 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, electrical lighting/signaling equipment, electricity (2019)
Imports: $36.6 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$40.8 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$41.32 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Germany 14%, Italy 12%, Austria 8%, Switzerland 8%, China 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: packaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, electricity (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $889.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$853 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $48.656 billion (2019 est.)

$50.004 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.82771 (2020 est.)

0.90338 (2019 est.)

0.87789 (2018 est.)

0.885 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 4.062 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 13.447 billion kWh (2020 est.)

exports: 9.123 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 7.12 billion kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 848 million kWh (2020 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 36.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 32% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 3.175 million metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 3.502 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 335,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 371 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 54,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 29,350 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 93,060 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Natural gas: production: 4.899 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

consumption: 904.439 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.)

imports: 903.108 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 13.553 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.08 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 7.967 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 1.506 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 134.836 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 704,909 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,511,980 (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.85 (2019)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Slovenia’s telecom sector is dominated by four operators; the incumbent telco Telekom Slovenije has faced increasing pressure in all sectors; to address this, the company had diversified its business interests to reduce its reliance on telecom services; the mobile market has four MNOs and a small number of MVNOs, operating in a country with a potential market of just over two million people; the regulator in recent years has addressed the need for mobile operators to have more spectrum, so enabling them to improve the quality and range of services; a multi-spectrum auction was concluded in mid-2021, aimed at supporting 5G services; the broadband market continues to be dominated by a small number of players; DSL lost its dominance some years ago, being taken over by fiber as subscribers are migrated to new fiber-based networks; fiber accounted for almost half of all fixed broadband connections by March 2022. (2022)

domestic: fixed-line nearly 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 122 per 100 teledensity (2020)

international: country code - 386 (2016)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: public TV broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV), operates a system of national and regional TV stations; 35 domestic commercial TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 60% of households are connected to multi-channel cable TV; public radio broadcaster operates 3 national and 4 regional stations; more than 75 regional and local commercial and non-commercial radio stations
Internet country code: .si
Internet users: total: 1,829,105 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 87% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 651,604 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,094,762 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 540,000 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S5
Airports: total: 16 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 3 (2021)
Pipelines: 1,155 km gas, 5 km oil (2018)
Railways: total: 1,229 km (2014)

standard gauge: 1,229 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified)
Roadways: total: 38,985 km (2012)

paved: 38,985 km (2012) (includes 769 km of expressways)
Waterways: 710 km (2022) (some transport on the Drava River)
Merchant marine: total: 9

by type: other 9 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Koper

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Slovenian Armed Forces (Slovenska Vojska, SV): structured as a combined force with air, land, maritime, special operations, combat support, and combat service support elements (2022)
Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

1% of GDP (2020)

1.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $800 million)

1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $750 million)

1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $690 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 6,000 active duty troops (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Slovenian Armed Forces is a mix of Soviet-era and smaller quantities of more modern Russian and Western equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of military equipment from several countries led by France and Russia (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); conscription abolished in 2003 (2021)

note: as of 2019, women comprised about 15% of the military's full-time personnel
Military deployments: 200 Kosovo (NATO); 100 Slovakia (NATO) (2022)

note: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Slovenia, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe
Military - note: Slovenia became a member of NATO in 2004; Hungary and Italy provide NATO's air policing mission for Slovenia’s airspace (2022)

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Slovenia-Austria: none identified Slovenia-Croatia: since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piran Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea; in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led Slovenia to lift its objections to Croatia joining the EU; in June 2017, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a ruling on the border, but Croatia had withdrawn from the proceedings in 2015 and refused to implement it; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirements Slovenia-Hungary: none identified Slovenia-Italy: none identifiedSlovenia-Austria: none identifiedSlovenia-Croatia: since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piran Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea; in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led Slovenia to lift its objections to Croatia joining the EU; in June 2017, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a ruling on the border, but Croatia had withdrawn from the proceedings in 2015 and refused to implement it; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirementsSlovenia-Hungary: none identifiedSlovenia-Italy: none identified
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 7,200 (Ukraine) (as of 16 August 2022)

stateless persons: 10 (2020)

note:  544,284 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2022)
Illicit drugs: minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals


Topic: Photos of Palau

Topic: Introduction
Background: Humans arrived in the Palauan archipelago around 1000 B.C. from Southeast Asia and developed a complex, highly organized matrilineal society where high-ranking women picked the chiefs. The islands were the westernmost part of the widely scattered Pacific islands north of New Guinea that Spanish explorers named the Caroline Islands in the 17th century. There were several failed attempts by Spanish Jesuit missionaries to visit the islands in the early 1700s. Spain gained some influence in the islands and administered it from the Philippines but sold Palau to Germany in 1899 after it lost the Philippines in the Spanish-American War.

Japan seized Palau in 1914, was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the islands in 1920, and made Koror the capital of its South Seas Mandate in 1922. By the outbreak of World War II, there were four times as many Japanese living in Koror as Palauans. In 1944, the Battle of Peleliu between US and Japanese forces resulted in more than 15,000 deaths. Following the war, Palau became part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Palau voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978 and adopted its own constitution in 1981, which stated that Palau was a nuclear-free country. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted Palau financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities. However, many Palauans saw the COFA as incompatible with the Palauan Constitution because of the US military’s nuclear arsenal, and seven referenda failed to achieve ratification. Following a constitutional amendment and eighth referendum in 1993, the COFA was ratified and entered into force in 1994 when the islands gained their independence. Its funding was renewed in 2010.

Palau has been on the frontlines of combatting climate change and protecting marine resources. In 2011, Palau banned commercial shark fishing and created the world’s first shark sanctuary. In 2017, Palau began stamping the Palau Pledge into passports, reminding visitors to act in ecologically and culturally responsible ways. In 2020, Palau banned coral reef-toxic sunscreens and expanded its fishing prohibition to include 80% of its exclusive economic zone.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 459 sq km

land: 459 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,519 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
Terrain: varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
Elevation: highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use: agricultural land: 10.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 87.6% (2018 est.)

other: 1.6% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Geography - note: westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous Rock Islands
Map description: Palau map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean.Palau map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 21,695 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Palauan(s)

adjective: Palauan
Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 73%, Carolinian 2%, Asian 21.7%, Caucasian 1.2%, other 2.1% (2015 est.)
Languages: Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.)

note: Sonsoralese is official in Sonsoral; Tobian is official in Tobi; Angaur and Japanese are official in Angaur
Religions: Roman Catholic 45.3%, Protestant 34.9% (includes Evangelical 26.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.9%, Assembly of God .9%, Baptist .7%), Modekngei 5.7% (indigenous to Palau), Muslim 3%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.5%, other 9.7% (2015 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.68% (male 2,090/female 1,961)

15-24 years: 15.86% (male 1,723/female 1,716)

25-54 years: 45.33% (male 6,026/female 3,804)

55-64 years: 10.68% (male 853/female 1,463)

65 years and over: 9.45% (2020 est.) (male 501/female 1,548)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 33.9 years

male: 32.9 years

female: 35.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.39% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 11.52 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 8.25 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap
Urbanization: urban population: 82% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 277 NGERULMUD (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.66 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.64 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.27 male(s)/female

total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 13.26 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.64 years

male: 71.48 years

female: 78 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 99.8% of population

total: 99.7% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 0.2% of population

total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 15.2% (2019)
Physicians density: 1.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.8% of population

rural: 99% of population

total: 99.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population

rural: 1% of population

total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 55.3% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 17.6% (2020 est.)

male: 27.3% (2020 est.)

female: 7.9% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.6%

male: 96.8%

female: 96.3% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2013)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.6%

male: NA

female: (2014) NA

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal and destructive fishing practices, and overfishing; climate change contributes to rising sea level and coral bleaching; drought
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.18 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.06 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
Land use: agricultural land: 10.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 87.6% (2018 est.)

other: 1.6% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 82% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 9,427 tons (2016 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Palau

conventional short form: Palau

local long form: Beluu er a Belau

local short form: Belau

former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District

etymology: from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word "beluu" meaning "village"
Government type: presidential republic in free association with the US
Capital: name: Ngerulmud

geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 37 E

time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the Palauan meaning is "place of fermented 'mud'" ('mud' being the native name for the keyhole angelfish); the site of the new capitol (established in 2006) had been a large hill overlooking the ocean, Ngerulmud, on which women would communally gather to offer fermented angelfish to the gods

note: Ngerulmud, on Babeldaob Island, is the smallest national capital on earth by population, with only a few hundred people; the name is pronounced en-jer-al-mud; Koror, on Koror Island, with over 11,000 residents is by far the largest settlement in Palau; it served as the country's capital from independence in 1994 to 2006
Administrative divisions: 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol
Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day, 1 October (1994)
Constitution: history: ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981

amendments: proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25% of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election; amended several times, last in 2020
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: note - no procedure for naturalization
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021); Vice President Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021); Vice President Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate; also includes the vice president; the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws of Palau

elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)

election results: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president (in second round); percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7%, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3%
Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau consists of:
Senate (13 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
House of Delegates (16 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)
House of Delegates - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 13; composition - men 12, women 1; percent of women 7.7%
House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 16; composition - men 15, women 1; percent of women 6.3%; note - overall percent of women in National Congress 6.9%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; the Supreme Court organization also includes the Common Pleas and Land Courts)

judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by a 7-member independent body consisting of judges, presidential appointees, and lawyers and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65

subordinate courts: National Court and other 'inferior' courts
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997)

chancery: 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006

telephone: [1] (202) 349-8598

FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281

email address and website:
info@palauembassy.org

https://www.palauembassy.org/

consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John HENNESSEY-NILAND (since 6 March 2020)

embassy: Omsangel/Beklelachieb, Airai 96940

mailing address: 4260 Koror Place, Washington, DC  20521-4260

telephone: [680] 587-2920

FAX: [680] 587-2911

email address and website:
ConsularKoror@state.gov

https://pw.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility
National symbol(s): bai (native meeting house); national colors: blue, yellow
National anthem: name: "Belau rekid" (Our Palau)

lyrics/music: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL

note: adopted 1980
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The economy is dominated by tourism, fishing, and subsistence agriculture. Government is a major employer of the work force relying on financial assistance from the US under the Compact of Free Association (Compact) with the US that took effect after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994. The US provided Palau with roughly $700 million in aid for the first 15 years following commencement of the Compact in 1994 in return for unrestricted access to its land and waterways for strategic purposes. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly double that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia.   Business and leisure tourist arrivals reached a record 167,966 in 2015, a 14.4% increase over the previous year, but fell to 138,408 in 2016. Long-run prospects for tourism have been bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of industrial East Asia, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development. Proximity to Guam, the region's major destination for tourists from East Asia, and a regionally competitive tourist infrastructure enhance Palau's advantage as a destination.The economy is dominated by tourism, fishing, and subsistence agriculture. Government is a major employer of the work force relying on financial assistance from the US under the Compact of Free Association (Compact) with the US that took effect after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994. The US provided Palau with roughly $700 million in aid for the first 15 years following commencement of the Compact in 1994 in return for unrestricted access to its land and waterways for strategic purposes. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly double that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Business and leisure tourist arrivals reached a record 167,966 in 2015, a 14.4% increase over the previous year, but fell to 138,408 in 2016. Long-run prospects for tourism have been bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of industrial East Asia, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development. Proximity to Guam, the region's major destination for tourists from East Asia, and a regionally competitive tourist infrastructure enhance Palau's advantage as a destination.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $320 million (2019 est.)

$330 million (2018 est.)

$317 million (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -3.7% (2017 est.)

0% (2016 est.)

10.1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $17,600 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$18,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$17,841 (2017 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $292 million (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (2017 est.)

-1% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3% (2016 est.)

industry: 19% (2016 est.)

services: 78% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 60.5% (2016 est.)

government consumption: 27.2% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 22.7% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories: 1.9% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services: 55.2% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services: -67.6% (2016 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish, pigs, chickens, eggs, bananas, papaya, breadfruit, calamansi, soursop, Polynesian chestnuts, Polynesian almonds, mangoes, taro, guava, beans, cucumbers, squash/pumpkins (various), eggplant, green onions, kangkong (watercress), cabbages (various), radishes, betel nuts, melons, peppers, noni, okra
Industries: tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 11,610 (2016)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.2%

industry: 12.4%

services: 86.4% (2016)
Unemployment rate: 1.7% (2015 est.)

4.1% (2012)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.6%

male: NA

female: (2014) NA
Population below poverty line: 24.9% (2006) NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 193 million (2012 est.)

expenditures: 167.3 million (2012 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 8.8% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Public debt: 24.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

21.6% of GDP (2015)
Taxes and other revenues: 66.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Current account balance: -$53 million (2017 est.)

-$36 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $23.17 billion (2017 est.)

$14.8 million (2015 est.)
Exports - partners: Japan 70%, South Korea 15%, United States 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities: fish, computers, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts, scrap vessels (2019)
Imports: $4.715 billion (2018 est.)

$4.079 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners: South Korea 19%, China 18%, Taiwan 17%, United States 17%, Japan 16% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fish, cars, broadcasting equipment, modeling instruments (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $0 (31 December 2017 est.)

$580.9 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $18.38 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$16.47 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2018)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 8,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 24,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: well-developed mobile sector, recently boosted by satellite network capacity upgrades; 3G services available with satellite; lack of telecom regulations; newest and most powerful commercial satellite, Kacific-1 satellite, launched in 2019 to improve telecommunications in the Asia Pacific region (2020)

domestic: fixed-line nearly 41 per 100 and mobile-cellular services roughly 134 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 680; landing point for the SEA-US submarine cable linking Palau, Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, Hawaii (US), Guam (US) and California (US); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: no broadcast TV stations; a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to 4 local cable stations, rebroadcasts (on a delayed basis) of a number of US stations, as well as access to a number of real-time satellite TV channels; about a half dozen radio stations (1 government-owned) (2019)
Internet country code: .pw
Internet users: total: 7,650 (2016 est.)

percent of population: 36% (2016 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,224 (2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2015 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T8
Airports: total: 3 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2021)
Roadways: total: 125 km (2018)

paved: 89 km (2018)

unpaved: 36 km (2018)
Merchant marine: total: 264

by type: bulk carrier 16, container ship 7, general cargo 107, oil tanker 40, other 94 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Koror

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Ministry of Justice includes divisions/bureaus for public security, police functions, and maritime law enforcement
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: since 2018, Australia and Japan have provided patrol boats to the Palau's Division of Marine Law Enforcement (2021)
Military - note: under a 1994 Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US until 2044 is responsible for the defense of Palaus and the US military is granted access to the islands, but it has not stationed any military forces there

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Palau-Indonesia: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia Palau-Philippines: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, IndonesiaPalau-Indonesia: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, IndonesiaPalau-Philippines: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia


Topic: Introduction
Background: After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Kwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system.After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Kwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 181 sq km

land: 181 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Natural resources: coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Topic: People and Society
Population: 79,906 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006 est.)
Languages: Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 est.)
Religions: Protestant 80.5% (United Church of Christ 47%, Assembly of God 16.2%, Bukot Nan Jesus 5.4%, Full Gospel 3.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 3%, Salvation Army 1.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, Meram in Jesus 1.2%, other Protestant 1.1%), Roman Catholic 8.5%, Church of Jesus Christ 7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%,  other 1.2%, none 1.1% (2011 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.34% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US
Capital: name: Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands on the eastern side of the atoll: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap
Executive branch: chief of state: President David KABUA (since  13 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020)
Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Parliament consists of:
Council of Iroij, a 12-member group of tribal leaders advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice); members appointed to serve 1-year terms
Nitijela (33 seats; members in 19 single- and 5 multi-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - legislative power resides in the Nitijela

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance; large public sector workforce; produces coconut oil as a substitute to diesel fuel; becoming offshore banking locale; fishing rights seller; import-dependentupper middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance; large public sector workforce; produces coconut oil as a substitute to diesel fuel; becoming offshore banking locale; fishing rights seller; import-dependent
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $240 million (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $4,000 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts
Industries: copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)
Exports: $130 million (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: Poland 28%, Denmark 19%, South Korea 13%, Indonesia 10%, Cyprus 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: ships, fish, recreational boats, broadcasting equipment, coal tar oil (2019)
Imports: $170 million (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: South Korea 39%, China 27%, Japan 15% (2019)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, centrifuges, recreational boats, boat propellers (2019)Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022