Approved on Oct. 22, 1980, and hoisted on Jan. 1, 1981, the Palauan flag was left unaltered at independence in 1994. The golden disk represents the full moon, which is said on Palau to be propitious for fishing, planting, and other activities and gives the people "a feeling of warmth, tranquillity, peace, love and domestic unity."

Palau Official name: Belu`u er a Belau (Palauan); Republic of Palau (English). Form of government: unitary republic with a national congress composed of two legislative houses (Senate [14]; House of Delegates [16]). Head of state and government: President. Population (1998): 18,100. Population projection: (2000) 18,800; (2010) 21,700. Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1997): 14.0 (world avg. 15.7). Gross national product (at current market prices; 1997): U.S.$159,800,000 (U.S.$8,806 per capita). Land use: n. a.

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