Palau is divided into sixteen administrative regions, called states (the still separately listed Rock Islands did originally not belong to any state, but now belong to the state of Koror).
Melekeok is a city in the island country of Palau. It has served as Palau's capital city since 2006, despite its small population of about 250 people. It is the smallest national capital in the world by population.
Politics of Palau takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, where by the President of Palau is both head of state and head of government, and Palau currently has no political parties.