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Palau statistics: country profile & rankings

Updated on by Georank

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 ($345M) and 63/197 by GDP per capita ($19,532). The top category for both exports and imports is transport & tourism services.

Main facts and rankings

Palau Rank
Population
17620
194/197
GDP
$345M
2025
193/197
GDP per capita
$19,532
2025
63/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$18,230
2023
103/197
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,433
2026
73/197
Land area 177.6 sq mi 180/197
Population density 99.2 ppl/mi² 148/197
Fertility rate 1.88 104/196
Median age 39.5 years 53/196
Life expectancy 69.6 years 140/197

Palau trends dashboard: time-series charts

Palau's economy ranked

1x
Year GDP
2025 $345,000,000
2024 $321,501,813
2023 $276,157,406
2022 $247,470,813
2021 $235,935,734
2020 $258,985,859
2019 $281,954,000
2018 $288,228,344
2017 $289,983,656
2016 $303,326,125
2015 $283,224,750
2014 $245,436,547
2013 $226,257,828
2012 $214,928,297
2011 $195,163,578
2010 $184,292,328
2009 $184,049,766
2008 $199,046,109
2007 $196,012,719
2006 $190,777,422
2005 $185,658,172
2004 $166,363,734
2003 $154,566,781
2002 $162,658,719
2001 $159,446,234
2000 $149,551,484
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 (1970–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY

Palau's economy ranked

1x
Year GDP per capita
2025 $19,532
2024 $18,169
2023 $15,578
2022 $13,935
2021 $13,267
2020 $14,556
2019 $15,842
2018 $16,180
2017 $16,280
2016 $17,044
2015 $15,938
2014 $13,855
2013 $12,821
2012 $12,098
2011 $10,796
2010 $10,018
2009 $9,837
2008 $10,471
2007 $10,155
2006 $9,737
2005 $9,368
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 (1970–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY

Palau's life expectancy calculator

1x
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY

Palau's population clock and projection

1x
Year Population
2025 17,663
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY

Palau's birth and fertility rates

1x
Year Fertility rate
2024 1.88
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau | CC BY

Palau's demographics

1x
Year Median age, years
2025 39.5
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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.

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Palau: National Statistics

Finance

Palau Rank
GNI, Atlas method
$351M
2025
192/194
Government expenditure, % of GDP
52.1%
2025
14/195
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.44%
2023
124/193
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+1.73%
2025
18/188
Unemployment rate
2.09%
2023
174/196
Services, % of GDP
73.1%
2024
15/191
Industry, % of GDP
13%
2024
170/194
Economic freedom index
62
2026
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
16/177
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%
2025
194/197
Annual migration change
-16
2025
78/196
Urban population
79.3%
2025
49/195
Male:Female ratio
53.8:46.2
2025
N/A
Average male height
5.6 ft
2026
116/190
Average female height
5.23 ft
2026
100/190
Quality of life index
53
2026
82/197
Corruption Perceptions Index
49
2026
71/197
Homicides per 100K people
11.2
2018
34/197
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
4.78
2013
170/197
Visa free countries
121
2026
90/195
Adult literacy rate
99.8%
2020
16/196
English speaking
92.5%
2026
12/197
People using the Internet
83.9%
2024
83/195

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
21.4
2024
71/192
Obesity rate
42.1%
2022
15/189
Diabetes prevalence
19.3%
2024
17/195
Air quality index
65
2026
71/197
Tobacco use prevalence
23%
2024
61/170

Territory

Palau Rank
% of world land
0.0003%
2026
180/197
Land area per capita
10,055 sq mi
2025
51/197
Agricultural land area
16.6 sq mi
2026
188/194
Forest area
160.8 sq mi
2026
166/196

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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