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 193/197 by GDP ($282M) and 67/197 by GDP per capita ($15,899). The top export category is animal & marine products, while the top import is raw materials & minerals.
Main facts and rankings
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
17663
|
194/197 |
| GDP |
$282M
2023 |
193/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$15,899
2023 |
67/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$17,532
2023 |
105/197 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$8,654
2025 |
81/197 |
| Land area | 177.6 sq mi | 180/197 |
| Population density | 99.6 ppl/mi² | 147/197 |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 | 105/196 |
| Median age | 39.2 years | 53/196 |
| Life expectancy | 69.5 years | 139/197 |
Palau trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 1970 | $11,563,041 |
| 1971 | $12,706,874 |
| 1972 | $13,956,474 |
| 1973 | $15,331,889 |
| 1974 | $16,848,759 |
| 1975 | $18,521,112 |
| 1976 | $20,364,420 |
| 1977 | $22,308,104 |
| 1978 | $24,530,015 |
| 1979 | $27,004,251 |
| 1980 | $29,728,054 |
| 1981 | $32,726,594 |
| 1982 | $36,027,583 |
| 1983 | $39,661,530 |
| 1984 | $44,814,259 |
| 1985 | $51,030,637 |
| 1986 | $58,109,314 |
| 1987 | $66,169,905 |
| 1988 | $75,348,615 |
| 1989 | $85,800,543 |
| 1990 | $97,702,303 |
| 1991 | $106,555,300 |
| 1992 | $104,771,300 |
| 1993 | $96,455,700 |
| 1994 | $106,138,500 |
| 1995 | $121,018,500 |
| 1996 | $137,494,600 |
| 1997 | $143,860,800 |
| 1998 | $149,079,600 |
| 1999 | $144,206,500 |
| 2000 | $149,535,800 |
| 2001 | $159,453,500 |
| 2002 | $162,665,500 |
| 2003 | $154,559,900 |
| 2004 | $166,391,600 |
| 2005 | $191,048,400 |
| 2006 | $193,679,700 |
| 2007 | $200,903,600 |
| 2008 | $201,167,300 |
| 2009 | $189,998,000 |
| 2010 | $188,174,300 |
| 2011 | $198,873,900 |
| 2012 | $215,762,400 |
| 2013 | $225,345,700 |
| 2014 | $243,156,500 |
| 2015 | $278,824,800 |
| 2016 | $298,323,500 |
| 2017 | $285,600,000 |
| 2018 | $288,546,300 |
| 2019 | $281,941,600 |
| 2020 | $258,990,800 |
| 2021 | $235,752,900 |
| 2022 | $255,591,100 |
| 2023 | $281,849,100 |
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 1970 | $1,017 |
| 1971 | $1,081 |
| 1972 | $1,145 |
| 1973 | $1,221 |
| 1974 | $1,328 |
| 1975 | $1,464 |
| 1976 | $1,616 |
| 1977 | $1,781 |
| 1978 | $1,972 |
| 1979 | $2,189 |
| 1980 | $2,423 |
| 1981 | $2,639 |
| 1982 | $2,838 |
| 1983 | $3,049 |
| 1984 | $3,360 |
| 1985 | $3,728 |
| 1986 | $4,144 |
| 1987 | $4,616 |
| 1988 | $5,145 |
| 1989 | $5,741 |
| 1990 | $6,403 |
| 1991 | $6,824 |
| 1992 | $6,553 |
| 1993 | $5,892 |
| 1994 | $6,329 |
| 1995 | $7,038 |
| 1996 | $7,788 |
| 1997 | $7,945 |
| 1998 | $8,048 |
| 1999 | $7,630 |
| 2000 | $7,797 |
| 2001 | $8,240 |
| 2002 | $8,341 |
| 2003 | $7,862 |
| 2004 | $8,395 |
| 2005 | $9,640 |
| 2006 | $9,885 |
| 2007 | $10,408 |
| 2008 | $10,583 |
| 2009 | $10,155 |
| 2010 | $10,229 |
| 2011 | $11,001 |
| 2012 | $12,145 |
| 2013 | $12,769 |
| 2014 | $13,726 |
| 2015 | $15,691 |
| 2016 | $16,763 |
| 2017 | $16,034 |
| 2018 | $16,198 |
| 2019 | $15,841 |
| 2020 | $14,557 |
| 2021 | $13,257 |
| 2022 | $14,392 |
| 2023 | $15,899 |
Palau's life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 52.7 |
| 1951 | 52.9 |
| 1952 | 53.1 |
| 1953 | 53.3 |
| 1954 | 53.5 |
| 1955 | 53.7 |
| 1956 | 53.9 |
| 1957 | 54.1 |
| 1958 | 54.4 |
| 1959 | 54.6 |
| 1960 | 54.9 |
| 1961 | 55.1 |
| 1962 | 55.4 |
| 1963 | 55.6 |
| 1964 | 55.8 |
| 1965 | 55.9 |
| 1966 | 56.2 |
| 1967 | 56.5 |
| 1968 | 56.9 |
| 1969 | 57.3 |
| 1970 | 57.7 |
| 1971 | 58.1 |
| 1972 | 58.6 |
| 1973 | 59 |
| 1974 | 59.5 |
| 1975 | 60 |
| 1976 | 60.5 |
| 1977 | 60.9 |
| 1978 | 61.3 |
| 1979 | 61.6 |
| 1980 | 61.9 |
| 1981 | 62.1 |
| 1982 | 62.3 |
| 1983 | 62.5 |
| 1984 | 62.6 |
| 1985 | 62.7 |
| 1986 | 62.8 |
| 1987 | 62.8 |
| 1988 | 62.8 |
| 1989 | 62.8 |
| 1990 | 62.8 |
| 1991 | 62.8 |
| 1992 | 62.9 |
| 1993 | 63 |
| 1994 | 63.1 |
| 1995 | 63.3 |
| 1996 | 63.5 |
| 1997 | 63.7 |
| 1998 | 64 |
| 1999 | 64.2 |
| 2000 | 64.5 |
| 2001 | 64.8 |
| 2002 | 65.1 |
| 2003 | 65.4 |
| 2004 | 65.8 |
| 2005 | 66.2 |
| 2006 | 66.6 |
| 2007 | 67.1 |
| 2008 | 67.6 |
| 2009 | 68 |
| 2010 | 68.3 |
| 2011 | 68.6 |
| 2012 | 68.9 |
| 2013 | 69 |
| 2014 | 69.1 |
| 2015 | 69.1 |
| 2016 | 69 |
| 2017 | 69 |
| 2018 | 69 |
| 2019 | 69 |
| 2020 | 68.7 |
| 2021 | 68.6 |
| 2022 | 68.9 |
| 2023 | 69.3 |
| 2024 | 69.4 |
| 2025 | 69.5 |
Palau's population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 9,328 |
| 1961 | 9,555 |
| 1962 | 9,793 |
| 1963 | 10,037 |
| 1964 | 10,292 |
| 1965 | 10,547 |
| 1966 | 10,805 |
| 1967 | 10,988 |
| 1968 | 11,080 |
| 1969 | 11,159 |
| 1970 | 11,368 |
| 1971 | 11,759 |
| 1972 | 12,194 |
| 1973 | 12,552 |
| 1974 | 12,687 |
| 1975 | 12,655 |
| 1976 | 12,598 |
| 1977 | 12,525 |
| 1978 | 12,440 |
| 1979 | 12,337 |
| 1980 | 12,271 |
| 1981 | 12,402 |
| 1982 | 12,694 |
| 1983 | 13,006 |
| 1984 | 13,337 |
| 1985 | 13,688 |
| 1986 | 14,024 |
| 1987 | 14,334 |
| 1988 | 14,645 |
| 1989 | 14,945 |
| 1990 | 15,259 |
| 1991 | 15,614 |
| 1992 | 15,989 |
| 1993 | 16,372 |
| 1994 | 16,770 |
| 1995 | 17,195 |
| 1996 | 17,654 |
| 1997 | 18,108 |
| 1998 | 18,524 |
| 1999 | 18,901 |
| 2000 | 19,178 |
| 2001 | 19,352 |
| 2002 | 19,503 |
| 2003 | 19,659 |
| 2004 | 19,820 |
| 2005 | 19,819 |
| 2006 | 19,593 |
| 2007 | 19,302 |
| 2008 | 19,009 |
| 2009 | 18,709 |
| 2010 | 18,396 |
| 2011 | 18,078 |
| 2012 | 17,765 |
| 2013 | 17,648 |
| 2014 | 17,715 |
| 2015 | 17,770 |
| 2016 | 17,797 |
| 2017 | 17,812 |
| 2018 | 17,814 |
| 2019 | 17,798 |
| 2020 | 17,792 |
| 2021 | 17,783 |
| 2022 | 17,759 |
| 2023 | 17,727 |
| 2024 | 17,695 |
Palau's birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.19 |
| 1961 | 7.17 |
| 1962 | 7.15 |
| 1963 | 7.12 |
| 1964 | 7.08 |
| 1965 | 7.01 |
| 1966 | 6.93 |
| 1967 | 6.84 |
| 1968 | 6.71 |
| 1969 | 6.58 |
| 1970 | 6.39 |
| 1971 | 6.16 |
| 1972 | 5.9 |
| 1973 | 5.59 |
| 1974 | 5.26 |
| 1975 | 4.9 |
| 1976 | 4.53 |
| 1977 | 4.09 |
| 1978 | 3.74 |
| 1979 | 3.49 |
| 1980 | 3.35 |
| 1981 | 3.28 |
| 1982 | 3.22 |
| 1983 | 3.14 |
| 1984 | 3.08 |
| 1985 | 3.01 |
| 1986 | 2.98 |
| 1987 | 2.93 |
| 1988 | 2.91 |
| 1989 | 2.92 |
| 1990 | 2.88 |
| 1991 | 2.74 |
| 1992 | 2.71 |
| 1993 | 2.73 |
| 1994 | 2.66 |
| 1995 | 2.55 |
| 1996 | 2.39 |
| 1997 | 2.19 |
| 1998 | 2.01 |
| 1999 | 1.91 |
| 2000 | 1.82 |
| 2001 | 1.87 |
| 2002 | 1.92 |
| 2003 | 1.96 |
| 2004 | 1.99 |
| 2005 | 2.02 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1.97 |
| 2008 | 1.95 |
| 2009 | 1.94 |
| 2010 | 1.94 |
| 2011 | 1.97 |
| 2012 | 2.01 |
| 2013 | 2.05 |
| 2014 | 2.03 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2.06 |
| 2017 | 2.02 |
| 2018 | 1.97 |
| 2019 | 1.98 |
| 2020 | 1.97 |
| 2021 | 1.95 |
| 2022 | 1.93 |
| 2023 | 1.91 |
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 16.7 |
| 1961 | 16.1 |
| 1962 | 15.5 |
| 1963 | 15.1 |
| 1964 | 15 |
| 1965 | 14.9 |
| 1966 | 14.9 |
| 1967 | 15.2 |
| 1968 | 15.7 |
| 1969 | 16.1 |
| 1970 | 16.5 |
| 1971 | 16.6 |
| 1972 | 16.6 |
| 1973 | 16.8 |
| 1974 | 17.1 |
| 1975 | 17.4 |
| 1976 | 17.8 |
| 1977 | 18.1 |
| 1978 | 18.3 |
| 1979 | 18.6 |
| 1980 | 18.9 |
| 1981 | 19.3 |
| 1982 | 19.9 |
| 1983 | 20.5 |
| 1984 | 21.1 |
| 1985 | 21.6 |
| 1986 | 22.2 |
| 1987 | 23.1 |
| 1988 | 24 |
| 1989 | 24.9 |
| 1990 | 25.6 |
| 1991 | 26 |
| 1992 | 26.4 |
| 1993 | 26.9 |
| 1994 | 27.4 |
| 1995 | 27.8 |
| 1996 | 28.3 |
| 1997 | 28.8 |
| 1998 | 29.4 |
| 1999 | 30.2 |
| 2000 | 30.8 |
| 2001 | 31.2 |
| 2002 | 31.5 |
| 2003 | 31.8 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 32.3 |
| 2006 | 32.7 |
| 2007 | 33.1 |
| 2008 | 33.5 |
| 2009 | 33.9 |
| 2010 | 34.2 |
| 2011 | 34.6 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2013 | 35.3 |
| 2014 | 35.6 |
| 2015 | 36 |
| 2016 | 36.3 |
| 2017 | 36.7 |
| 2018 | 37 |
| 2019 | 37.4 |
| 2020 | 37.8 |
| 2021 | 38.1 |
| 2022 | 38.5 |
| 2023 | 38.8 |
| 2024 | 39.2 |
Palau vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Palau with other countries.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
Palau: National Statistics
Finance
|
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$249M
2023 |
193/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
53%
2025 |
12/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
3.53%
2023 |
119/193 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+2.29%
2025 |
11/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
0.77%
2020 |
191/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
76.7%
2023 |
9/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
9.87%
2023 |
181/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
62
2025 |
84/197 |
| Personal remittances received |
$1.95M
2024 |
177/190 |
| 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 |
19/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$1.99
1990 |
173/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
1.44 megatons
2023 |
155/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
81.2 tons
2023 |
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 |
-14
2024 |
83/196 |
| Urban population |
82.8%
2024 |
40/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
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 |
47.9
2025 |
98/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
49
2025 |
74/197 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
11.2
2018 |
33/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
4.78
2013 |
169/197 |
| Visa free countries |
123
2025 |
90/195 |
| 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 |
$1,979
2022 |
38/191 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$328
2022 |
50/191 |
| Life expectancy |
69.5 years
2025 |
139/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
21.3%
2022 |
35/178 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
1.78
2020 |
94/193 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
89
2023 |
68/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
22.3
2023 |
73/192 |
| Obesity rate |
42.1%
2022 |
15/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
19.3%
2024 |
17/195 |
| Air quality index |
65
2025 |
71/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
17.3%
2022 |
92/164 |
Territory
|
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.0003%
2025 |
180/197 |
| Land area per capita |
10,037 sq mi
2024 |
51/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
16.6 sq mi
2025 |
188/194 |
| Forest area |
160.8 sq mi
2025 |
166/196 |
Compare Palau with other countries
Relevant pages:
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Facts comparisons
