Palau is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean. 11 of its 356 islands are inhabited and home to around 20,500 people. Until gaining independence on October 1, 1994, Palau was a UN Trust Territory administered by the United States.
The Palau archipelago is part of the Caroline Islands, which also include the Federated States of Micronesia.
Palau lies about 880 kilometers east of the Philippines, roughly 430 kilometers southwest of the Yap Islands, which belong to the Federated States of Micronesia and about 850 kilometers north of New Guinea.
