Palau is a high-income country with a population of 17.7K people. The capital and largest city is Ngerulmud, with 318 residents.
Palau ranks 194/197 by GDP ($277M) and 67/197 by GDP per capita ($15,611). The top export category is animal & marine products, while the top import is raw materials & minerals.
Main facts and rankings
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
17629
|
194/197 |
| GDP |
$277M
2023 |
194/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$15,611
2023 |
67/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$18,230
2023 |
103/197 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$9,869
2026 |
79/197 |
| Land area | 177.6 sq mi | 180/197 |
| Population density | 99.3 ppl/mi² | 148/197 |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 | 105/196 |
| Median age | 39.2 years | 53/196 |
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 140/197 |
Palau trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $276,733,063 |
| 2022 | $243,826,813 |
| 2021 | $231,343,460 |
| 2020 | $261,688,507 |
| 2019 | $282,041,290 |
| 2018 | $287,998,352 |
| 2017 | $292,148,590 |
| 2016 | $305,227,020 |
| 2015 | $287,057,526 |
| 2014 | $245,591,095 |
| 2013 | $224,110,611 |
| 2012 | $215,616,882 |
| 2011 | $198,742,371 |
| 2010 | $188,042,374 |
| 2009 | $189,854,706 |
| 2008 | $201,067,734 |
| 2007 | $200,789,764 |
| 2006 | $193,611,359 |
| 2005 | $190,961,685 |
| 2004 | $166,363,739 |
| 2003 | $154,566,788 |
| 2002 | $162,658,722 |
| 2001 | $159,446,228 |
| 2000 | $149,551,483 |
| 1999 | $144,206,500 |
| 1998 | $149,079,600 |
| 1997 | $143,860,800 |
| 1996 | $137,494,600 |
| 1995 | $121,018,500 |
| 1994 | $106,138,500 |
| 1993 | $96,455,700 |
| 1992 | $104,771,300 |
| 1991 | $106,555,300 |
| 1990 | $97,702,303 |
| 1989 | $85,800,543 |
| 1988 | $75,348,615 |
| 1987 | $66,169,905 |
| 1986 | $58,109,314 |
| 1985 | $51,030,637 |
| 1984 | $44,814,259 |
| 1983 | $39,661,530 |
| 1982 | $36,027,583 |
| 1981 | $32,726,594 |
| 1980 | $29,728,054 |
| 1979 | $27,004,251 |
| 1978 | $24,530,015 |
| 1977 | $22,308,104 |
| 1976 | $20,364,420 |
| 1975 | $18,521,112 |
| 1974 | $16,848,759 |
| 1973 | $15,331,889 |
| 1972 | $13,956,474 |
| 1971 | $12,706,874 |
| 1970 | $11,563,041 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $15,611 |
| 2022 | $13,730 |
| 2021 | $13,009 |
| 2020 | $14,708 |
| 2019 | $15,847 |
| 2018 | $16,167 |
| 2017 | $16,402 |
| 2016 | $17,150 |
| 2015 | $16,154 |
| 2014 | $13,863 |
| 2013 | $12,699 |
| 2012 | $12,137 |
| 2011 | $10,994 |
| 2010 | $10,222 |
| 2009 | $10,148 |
| 2008 | $10,578 |
| 2007 | $10,403 |
| 2006 | $9,882 |
| 2005 | $9,635 |
| 2004 | $8,394 |
| 2003 | $7,862 |
| 2002 | $8,340 |
| 2001 | $8,239 |
| 2000 | $7,798 |
| 1999 | $7,630 |
| 1998 | $8,048 |
| 1997 | $7,945 |
| 1996 | $7,788 |
| 1995 | $7,038 |
| 1994 | $6,329 |
| 1993 | $5,892 |
| 1992 | $6,553 |
| 1991 | $6,824 |
| 1990 | $6,403 |
| 1989 | $5,741 |
| 1988 | $5,145 |
| 1987 | $4,616 |
| 1986 | $4,144 |
| 1985 | $3,728 |
| 1984 | $3,360 |
| 1983 | $3,049 |
| 1982 | $2,838 |
| 1981 | $2,639 |
| 1980 | $2,423 |
| 1979 | $2,189 |
| 1978 | $1,972 |
| 1977 | $1,781 |
| 1976 | $1,616 |
| 1975 | $1,464 |
| 1974 | $1,328 |
| 1973 | $1,221 |
| 1972 | $1,145 |
| 1971 | $1,081 |
| 1970 | $1,017 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY
Palau's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 69.6 |
| 2025 | 69.5 |
| 2024 | 69.4 |
| 2023 | 69.3 |
| 2022 | 68.9 |
| 2021 | 68.6 |
| 2020 | 68.7 |
| 2019 | 69 |
| 2018 | 69 |
| 2017 | 69 |
| 2016 | 69 |
| 2015 | 69.1 |
| 2014 | 69.1 |
| 2013 | 69 |
| 2012 | 68.9 |
| 2011 | 68.6 |
| 2010 | 68.3 |
| 2009 | 68 |
| 2008 | 67.6 |
| 2007 | 67.1 |
| 2006 | 66.6 |
| 2005 | 66.2 |
| 2004 | 65.8 |
| 2003 | 65.4 |
| 2002 | 65.1 |
| 2001 | 64.8 |
| 2000 | 64.5 |
| 1999 | 64.2 |
| 1998 | 64 |
| 1997 | 63.7 |
| 1996 | 63.5 |
| 1995 | 63.3 |
| 1994 | 63.1 |
| 1993 | 63 |
| 1992 | 62.9 |
| 1991 | 62.8 |
| 1990 | 62.8 |
| 1989 | 62.8 |
| 1988 | 62.8 |
| 1987 | 62.8 |
| 1986 | 62.8 |
| 1985 | 62.7 |
| 1984 | 62.6 |
| 1983 | 62.5 |
| 1982 | 62.3 |
| 1981 | 62.1 |
| 1980 | 61.9 |
| 1979 | 61.6 |
| 1978 | 61.3 |
| 1977 | 60.9 |
| 1976 | 60.5 |
| 1975 | 60 |
| 1974 | 59.5 |
| 1973 | 59 |
| 1972 | 58.6 |
| 1971 | 58.1 |
| 1970 | 57.7 |
| 1969 | 57.3 |
| 1968 | 56.9 |
| 1967 | 56.5 |
| 1966 | 56.2 |
| 1965 | 55.9 |
| 1964 | 55.8 |
| 1963 | 55.6 |
| 1962 | 55.4 |
| 1961 | 55.1 |
| 1960 | 54.9 |
| 1959 | 54.6 |
| 1958 | 54.4 |
| 1957 | 54.1 |
| 1956 | 53.9 |
| 1955 | 53.7 |
| 1954 | 53.5 |
| 1953 | 53.3 |
| 1952 | 53.1 |
| 1951 | 52.9 |
| 1950 | 52.7 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY
Palau's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 17,695 |
| 2023 | 17,727 |
| 2022 | 17,759 |
| 2021 | 17,783 |
| 2020 | 17,792 |
| 2019 | 17,798 |
| 2018 | 17,814 |
| 2017 | 17,812 |
| 2016 | 17,797 |
| 2015 | 17,770 |
| 2014 | 17,715 |
| 2013 | 17,648 |
| 2012 | 17,765 |
| 2011 | 18,078 |
| 2010 | 18,396 |
| 2009 | 18,709 |
| 2008 | 19,009 |
| 2007 | 19,302 |
| 2006 | 19,593 |
| 2005 | 19,819 |
| 2004 | 19,820 |
| 2003 | 19,659 |
| 2002 | 19,503 |
| 2001 | 19,352 |
| 2000 | 19,178 |
| 1999 | 18,901 |
| 1998 | 18,524 |
| 1997 | 18,108 |
| 1996 | 17,654 |
| 1995 | 17,195 |
| 1994 | 16,770 |
| 1993 | 16,372 |
| 1992 | 15,989 |
| 1991 | 15,614 |
| 1990 | 15,259 |
| 1989 | 14,945 |
| 1988 | 14,645 |
| 1987 | 14,334 |
| 1986 | 14,024 |
| 1985 | 13,688 |
| 1984 | 13,337 |
| 1983 | 13,006 |
| 1982 | 12,694 |
| 1981 | 12,402 |
| 1980 | 12,271 |
| 1979 | 12,337 |
| 1978 | 12,440 |
| 1977 | 12,525 |
| 1976 | 12,598 |
| 1975 | 12,655 |
| 1974 | 12,687 |
| 1973 | 12,552 |
| 1972 | 12,194 |
| 1971 | 11,759 |
| 1970 | 11,368 |
| 1969 | 11,159 |
| 1968 | 11,080 |
| 1967 | 10,988 |
| 1966 | 10,805 |
| 1965 | 10,547 |
| 1964 | 10,292 |
| 1963 | 10,037 |
| 1962 | 9,793 |
| 1961 | 9,555 |
| 1960 | 9,328 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY
Palau's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.91 |
| 2022 | 1.93 |
| 2021 | 1.95 |
| 2020 | 1.97 |
| 2019 | 1.98 |
| 2018 | 1.97 |
| 2017 | 2.02 |
| 2016 | 2.06 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2.03 |
| 2013 | 2.05 |
| 2012 | 2.01 |
| 2011 | 1.97 |
| 2010 | 1.94 |
| 2009 | 1.94 |
| 2008 | 1.95 |
| 2007 | 1.97 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2.02 |
| 2004 | 1.99 |
| 2003 | 1.96 |
| 2002 | 1.92 |
| 2001 | 1.87 |
| 2000 | 1.82 |
| 1999 | 1.91 |
| 1998 | 2.01 |
| 1997 | 2.19 |
| 1996 | 2.39 |
| 1995 | 2.55 |
| 1994 | 2.66 |
| 1993 | 2.73 |
| 1992 | 2.71 |
| 1991 | 2.74 |
| 1990 | 2.88 |
| 1989 | 2.92 |
| 1988 | 2.91 |
| 1987 | 2.93 |
| 1986 | 2.98 |
| 1985 | 3.01 |
| 1984 | 3.08 |
| 1983 | 3.14 |
| 1982 | 3.22 |
| 1981 | 3.28 |
| 1980 | 3.35 |
| 1979 | 3.49 |
| 1978 | 3.74 |
| 1977 | 4.09 |
| 1976 | 4.53 |
| 1975 | 4.9 |
| 1974 | 5.26 |
| 1973 | 5.59 |
| 1972 | 5.9 |
| 1971 | 6.16 |
| 1970 | 6.39 |
| 1969 | 6.58 |
| 1968 | 6.71 |
| 1967 | 6.84 |
| 1966 | 6.93 |
| 1965 | 7.01 |
| 1964 | 7.08 |
| 1963 | 7.12 |
| 1962 | 7.15 |
| 1961 | 7.17 |
| 1960 | 7.19 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 39.2 |
| 2023 | 38.8 |
| 2022 | 38.5 |
| 2021 | 38.1 |
| 2020 | 37.8 |
| 2019 | 37.4 |
| 2018 | 37 |
| 2017 | 36.7 |
| 2016 | 36.3 |
| 2015 | 36 |
| 2014 | 35.6 |
| 2013 | 35.3 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2011 | 34.6 |
| 2010 | 34.2 |
| 2009 | 33.9 |
| 2008 | 33.5 |
| 2007 | 33.1 |
| 2006 | 32.7 |
| 2005 | 32.3 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2003 | 31.8 |
| 2002 | 31.5 |
| 2001 | 31.2 |
| 2000 | 30.8 |
| 1999 | 30.2 |
| 1998 | 29.4 |
| 1997 | 28.8 |
| 1996 | 28.3 |
| 1995 | 27.8 |
| 1994 | 27.4 |
| 1993 | 26.9 |
| 1992 | 26.4 |
| 1991 | 26 |
| 1990 | 25.6 |
| 1989 | 24.9 |
| 1988 | 24 |
| 1987 | 23.1 |
| 1986 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 21.6 |
| 1984 | 21.1 |
| 1983 | 20.5 |
| 1982 | 19.9 |
| 1981 | 19.3 |
| 1980 | 18.9 |
| 1979 | 18.6 |
| 1978 | 18.3 |
| 1977 | 18.1 |
| 1976 | 17.8 |
| 1975 | 17.4 |
| 1974 | 17.1 |
| 1973 | 16.8 |
| 1972 | 16.6 |
| 1971 | 16.6 |
| 1970 | 16.5 |
| 1969 | 16.1 |
| 1968 | 15.7 |
| 1967 | 15.2 |
| 1966 | 14.9 |
| 1965 | 14.9 |
| 1964 | 15 |
| 1963 | 15.1 |
| 1962 | 15.5 |
| 1961 | 16.1 |
| 1960 | 16.7 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY
Palau vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Palau with other countries.
Palau: National Statistics
Finance
|
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$262M
2023 |
192/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
52.3%
2024 |
14/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
3.53%
2023 |
119/193 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+1.67%
2024 |
23/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
2.09%
2023 |
173/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
74.8%
2023 |
13/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
10.1%
2023 |
183/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
62
2025 |
89/197 |
| Personal remittances received |
$1.95M
2024 |
185/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
18,399
2020 |
182/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
93.5%
2017 |
1/184 |
Energy
|
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
4,814 kg
1990 |
20/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$2
1990 |
173/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
1.47 megatons
2024 |
153/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
82.8 tons
2024 |
1/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
0%
1990 |
165/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
0.9%
2022 |
183/193 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
4.6%
2021 |
161/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
0%
2021 |
177/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
145/192 |
| Electricity access |
100%
2023 |
73/195 |
Society
|
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.0002%
2024 |
194/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-16
2025 |
78/196 |
| Urban population |
79.2%
2024 |
48/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
53.9:46.1
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.6 ft
2025 |
125/190 |
| Average female height |
5.23 ft
2025 |
119/190 |
| Quality of life index |
52.2
2026 |
86/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
49
2025 |
72/197 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
11.2
2018 |
33/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
4.78
2013 |
169/197 |
| Visa free countries |
120
2025 |
91/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
100%
2020 |
5/196 |
| English speaking |
92.5%
2023 |
16/197 |
| People using the Internet |
27%
2004 |
174/195 |
Health
|
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$1,684
2023 |
47/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$203.8
2023 |
73/192 |
| Life expectancy |
69.6 years
2026 |
140/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
18.5%
2023 |
37/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
1.81
2023 |
95/193 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
89
2023 |
68/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
22.3
2023 |
73/192 |
| Obesity rate |
42.1%
2022 |
15/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
19.3%
2024 |
17/195 |
| Air quality index |
65
2026 |
71/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
17.3%
2022 |
92/164 |
Territory
|
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.0003%
2026 |
180/197 |
| Land area per capita |
10,037 sq mi
2024 |
51/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
16.6 sq mi
2026 |
188/194 |
| Forest area |
160.8 sq mi
2026 |
166/196 |
Compare Palau with other countries
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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