Palau

Summary

Official Name

Republic of Palau

International Conventions

CSICH (2011), UNCRPD (2013)

Population

18,000

Principal Languages

English, Palauan

Literacy Rate

97% (2015 UNESCO)

General References

Bender, B. 1971, Bender 1981, Bender and Capelle 1996, Bender and Rehg 1991

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Palau is 4. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 1 is non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional and 2 are in trouble. Also listed are 2 unestablished languages.

Languages

English eng: Users: 21,440 in Palau, all users. L1 users: 3,440 in Palau (2019). L2 users: 18,000 (Crystal 2003a). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1979, Constitution, Article 13(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Japanese jpn: Users: 1,120 in Palau, all users. L1 users: 120 in Palau (2008 UNSD). L2 users: 1,000. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Japonic
Palauan pau: Widespread. Users: 11,700 in Palau (2019). Total users in all countries: 15,840. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1979, Constitution, Article 13(1)). Alternate Names: Belauan, Palau Autonym: Tekoi ra Belau Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Palauan
Sonsorolese sov: Sonsorol state: Merir, Pulo Anna, and Sonsorol islands. Users: 360 (2007 R. Dongosaro). About 60 on the outer islands (Sonsoral 30, Pulo Anna 10, Merir 3) and 300 in Koror town, Echang village. Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1979, Constitution, Article 13(1)). Alternate Names: Sonsorol, Sonsorol-Tobi Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Pohnpeic-Chuukic, Chuukic
Tagalog tgl: Users: 1,780 in Palau (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Tobian tox: Hatohobei state: Helen and Tobi islands; Koror state: Koror island. Users: 150 (2017). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Hatohobei, Tobi Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Pohnpeic-Chuukic, Chuukic

Languages by Status

1 (National)

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1979, Constitution, Article 13(1)). 21,440 in Palau, all users. L1 users: 3,440 in Palau (2019). L2 users: 18,000 (Crystal 2003a).

Palauan

[pau] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1979, Constitution, Article 13(1)). 11,700 in Palau (2019). Total users in all countries: 15,840.

6b (Threatened)

Sonsorolese

[sov] 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1979, Constitution, Article 13(1)). 360 (2007 R. Dongosaro). About 60 on the outer islands (Sonsoral 30, Pulo Anna 10, Merir 3) and 300 in Koror town, Echang village.

Tobian

[tox] 6b (Threatened). 150 (2017).