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Palau vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank

Palau has a population of 17.7K (ranked 194/197), compared with 64.7M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Palau's land area is 177.6 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 180th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Palau ranks 193/197 ($345M) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($427B). By GDP per capita, Palau ranks 63/197 ($19,532), while South Africa ranks 109/197 ($6,598).

Main facts and rankings

Palau South Africa
Population
17620
65829368
Population rank 194/197 24/197
GDP
$345M
2025
$427B
2025
GDP rank 193/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$19,532
2025
$6,598
2025
GDP per capita rank 63/197 109/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$18,230
2023
$15,456
2024
Government debt n/a
$336B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
78.6%
2025
Government debt per person n/a
$5,189
2025
Government debt per person rank n/a 84/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,433
2026
$4,738
2026
Land area 177.6 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
99.2 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.88
2024
2.21
2024
Median age
39.5 years
2025
29.7 years
2025
Life expectancy
69.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Palau and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Palau and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Palau

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Palau South Africa
2025 $345,000,000 $427,184,325,997
2024 $321,501,813 $401,144,998,374
2023 $276,157,406 $381,440,724,491
2022 $247,470,813 $407,596,043,068
2021 $235,935,734 $419,986,284,375
2020 $258,985,859 $337,974,655,408
2019 $281,954,000 $389,330,032,224
2018 $288,228,344 $405,260,723,893
2017 $289,983,656 $381,448,814,653
2016 $303,326,125 $323,585,509,674
2015 $283,224,750 $346,709,790,459
2014 $245,436,547 $381,198,869,776
2013 $226,257,828 $400,886,013,596
2012 $214,928,297 $434,400,545,086
2011 $195,163,578 $458,199,494,831
2010 $184,292,328 $417,363,822,802
2009 $184,049,766 $329,754,060,647
2008 $199,046,109 $316,131,258,616
2007 $196,012,719 $333,077,117,254
2006 $190,777,422 $303,858,675,364
2005 $185,658,172 $288,867,217,197
2004 $166,363,734 $255,806,908,595
2003 $154,566,781 $197,018,965,309
2002 $162,658,719 $129,087,556,612
2001 $159,446,234 $135,429,905,923
2000 $149,551,484 $151,752,757,215
1999 $144,206,500 $151,516,957,079
1998 $149,079,600 $152,982,984,557
1997 $143,860,800 $168,978,057,328
1996 $137,494,600 $163,234,925,381
1995 $121,018,500 $171,735,933,897
1994 $106,138,500 $153,512,712,382
1993 $96,455,700 $147,194,747,566
1992 $104,771,300 $146,956,150,987
1991 $106,555,300 $135,203,698,238
1990 $97,702,303 $126,048,140,142
1989 $85,800,543 $108,055,624,082
1988 $75,348,615 $103,976,831,871
1987 $66,169,905 $96,535,763,418
1986 $58,109,314 $73,354,771,399
1985 $51,030,637 $64,459,376,087
1984 $44,814,259 $84,870,163,366
1983 $39,661,530 $96,204,110,942
1982 $36,027,583 $85,904,057,409
1981 $32,726,594 $93,141,472,164
1980 $29,728,054 $89,411,864,402
1979 $27,004,251 $63,038,658,089
1978 $24,530,015 $51,607,412,902
1977 $22,308,104 $45,328,411,332
1976 $20,364,420 $41,150,460,288
1975 $18,521,112 $42,906,905,672
1974 $16,848,759 $41,389,186,095
1973 $15,331,889 $33,262,772,008
1972 $13,956,474 $24,515,919,217
1971 $12,706,874 $23,411,076,638
1970 $11,563,041 $21,218,391,513
1969 - $19,256,992,297
1968 - $17,124,793,150
1967 - $15,821,393,671
1966 - $14,211,394,315
1965 - $13,068,994,772
1964 - $11,955,995,218
1963 - $10,854,195,658
1962 - $9,813,996,074
1961 - $9,225,996,310
1960 - $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau/south-africa | CC BY

Palau and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Palau

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Palau South Africa
2025 $19,532 $6,598
2024 $18,169 $6,267
2023 $15,578 $6,034
2022 $13,935 $6,534
2021 $13,267 $6,829
2020 $14,556 $5,581
2019 $15,842 $6,534
2018 $16,180 $6,914
2017 $16,280 $6,618
2016 $17,044 $5,651
2015 $15,938 $6,112
2014 $13,855 $6,857
2013 $12,821 $7,332
2012 $12,098 $8,077
2011 $10,796 $8,646
2010 $10,018 $7,973
2009 $9,837 $6,375
2008 $10,471 $6,185
2007 $10,155 $6,592
2006 $9,737 $6,077
2005 $9,368 $5,837
2004 $8,394 $5,221
2003 $7,862 $4,062
2002 $8,340 $2,688
2001 $8,239 $2,847
2000 $7,798 $3,218
1999 $7,630 $3,242
1998 $8,048 $3,310
1997 $7,945 $3,700
1996 $7,788 $3,618
1995 $7,038 $3,856
1994 $6,329 $3,489
1993 $5,892 $3,400
1992 $6,553 $3,462
1991 $6,824 $3,243
1990 $6,403 $3,093
1989 $5,741 $2,727
1988 $5,145 $2,702
1987 $4,616 $2,586
1986 $4,144 $2,027
1985 $3,728 $1,839
1984 $3,360 $2,504
1983 $3,049 $2,938
1982 $2,838 $2,717
1981 $2,639 $3,050
1980 $2,423 $3,029
1979 $2,189 $2,202
1978 $1,972 $1,852
1977 $1,781 $1,671
1976 $1,616 $1,559
1975 $1,464 $1,670
1974 $1,328 $1,656
1973 $1,221 $1,369
1972 $1,145 $1,038
1971 $1,081 $1,020
1970 $1,017 $952
1969 - $891
1968 - $817
1967 - $779
1966 - $722
1965 - $685
1964 - $646
1963 - $605
1962 - $563
1961 - $546
1960 - $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau/south-africa | CC BY

Palau vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Palau

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Palau South Africa
2026 69.6 66.7
2025 69.5 66.5
2024 69.4 66.3
2023 69.3 66.1
2022 68.9 65.5
2021 68.6 62
2020 68.7 65.2
2019 69 66.1
2018 69 65.7
2017 69 65.4
2016 69 64.7
2015 69.1 64.1
2014 69.1 63.2
2013 69 62.4
2012 68.9 61.7
2011 68.6 60.6
2010 68.3 58.9
2009 68 57.4
2008 67.6 56
2007 67.1 54.9
2006 66.6 54.2
2005 66.2 53.9
2004 65.8 54
2003 65.4 54.2
2002 65.1 55.6
2001 64.8 57.2
2000 64.5 58.4
1999 64.2 59.2
1998 64 59.9
1997 63.7 60.5
1996 63.5 61.1
1995 63.3 61.6
1994 63.1 62.1
1993 63 62.6
1992 62.9 62.8
1991 62.8 63
1990 62.8 62.9
1989 62.8 63
1988 62.8 62.9
1987 62.8 62.7
1986 62.8 62.4
1985 62.7 62.2
1984 62.6 61.8
1983 62.5 61.4
1982 62.3 60.9
1981 62.1 60.4
1980 61.9 60
1979 61.6 59.5
1978 61.3 59
1977 60.9 58.5
1976 60.5 58
1975 60 57.6
1974 59.5 57.1
1973 59 56.7
1972 58.6 56.4
1971 58.1 56
1970 57.7 55.7
1969 57.3 55.4
1968 56.9 55.2
1967 56.5 55
1966 56.2 54.7
1965 55.9 54.4
1964 55.8 54.2
1963 55.6 53.9
1962 55.4 53.6
1961 55.1 53.1
1960 54.9 52.6
1959 54.6 51.9
1958 54.4 51.1
1957 54.1 50.2
1956 53.9 49.2
1955 53.7 48.2
1954 53.5 47.1
1953 53.3 46.1
1952 53.1 45
1951 52.9 44.1
1950 52.7 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau/south-africa | CC BY

Palau and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Palau

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Palau South Africa
2025 17,663 64,747,319
2024 17,695 64,007,187
2023 17,727 63,212,384
2022 17,759 62,378,410
2021 17,783 61,502,603
2020 17,792 60,562,381
2019 17,798 59,587,885
2018 17,814 58,613,001
2017 17,812 57,635,162
2016 17,797 57,259,551
2015 17,770 56,723,537
2014 17,715 55,594,838
2013 17,648 54,678,791
2012 17,765 53,782,567
2011 18,078 52,995,205
2010 18,396 52,344,051
2009 18,709 51,728,516
2008 19,009 51,114,599
2007 19,302 50,528,584
2006 19,593 49,998,277
2005 19,819 49,490,033
2004 19,820 48,991,421
2003 19,659 48,500,348
2002 19,503 48,019,415
2001 19,352 47,566,800
2000 19,178 47,159,719
1999 18,901 46,730,335
1998 18,524 46,223,880
1997 18,108 45,666,838
1996 17,654 45,123,018
1995 17,195 44,541,554
1994 16,770 44,004,139
1993 16,372 43,297,156
1992 15,989 42,443,509
1991 15,614 41,687,898
1990 15,259 40,746,268
1989 14,945 39,628,575
1988 14,645 38,480,649
1987 14,334 37,326,190
1986 14,024 36,180,515
1985 13,688 35,042,093
1984 13,337 33,892,788
1983 13,006 32,739,304
1982 12,694 31,615,339
1981 12,402 30,541,044
1980 12,271 29,518,857
1979 12,337 28,634,162
1978 12,440 27,869,507
1977 12,525 27,118,952
1976 12,598 26,395,450
1975 12,655 25,690,940
1974 12,687 24,989,108
1973 12,552 24,294,263
1972 12,194 23,609,456
1971 11,759 22,942,143
1970 11,368 22,279,984
1969 11,159 21,614,676
1968 11,080 20,957,287
1967 10,988 20,314,066
1966 10,805 19,690,087
1965 10,547 19,089,380
1964 10,292 18,511,361
1963 10,037 17,954,564
1962 9,793 17,418,522
1961 9,555 16,908,035
1960 9,328 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Palau and South Africa

Fertility rate
Palau

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Palau South Africa
2024 1.88 2.21
2023 1.91 2.22
2022 1.93 2.23
2021 1.95 2.25
2020 1.97 2.26
2019 1.98 2.26
2018 1.97 2.27
2017 2.02 2.28
2016 2.06 2.26
2015 2 2.36
2014 2.03 2.42
2013 2.05 2.43
2012 2.01 2.45
2011 1.97 2.44
2010 1.94 2.44
2009 1.94 2.5
2008 1.95 2.68
2007 1.97 2.55
2006 2 2.55
2005 2.02 2.51
2004 1.99 2.44
2003 1.96 2.36
2002 1.92 2.32
2001 1.87 2.37
2000 1.82 2.41
1999 1.91 2.56
1998 2.01 2.63
1997 2.19 2.73
1996 2.39 2.99
1995 2.55 3.17
1994 2.66 3.26
1993 2.73 3.37
1992 2.71 3.48
1991 2.74 3.62
1990 2.88 3.72
1989 2.92 3.98
1988 2.91 4.18
1987 2.93 4.35
1986 2.98 4.41
1985 3.01 4.5
1984 3.08 4.57
1983 3.14 4.63
1982 3.22 4.7
1981 3.28 4.71
1980 3.35 4.78
1979 3.49 4.82
1978 3.74 4.85
1977 4.09 4.94
1976 4.53 5.07
1975 4.9 5.19
1974 5.26 5.3
1973 5.59 5.41
1972 5.9 5.49
1971 6.16 5.57
1970 6.39 5.63
1969 6.58 5.72
1968 6.71 5.78
1967 6.84 5.85
1966 6.93 5.91
1965 7.01 5.89
1964 7.08 5.96
1963 7.12 6.01
1962 7.15 6.05
1961 7.17 6.08
1960 7.19 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau/south-africa | CC BY

Palau and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Palau

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Palau South Africa
2025 39.5 29.7
2024 39.2 29.5
2023 38.8 29.2
2022 38.5 28.9
2021 38.1 28.6
2020 37.8 28.3
2019 37.4 27.9
2018 37 27.5
2017 36.7 27
2016 36.3 26.7
2015 36 26.4
2014 35.6 26
2013 35.3 25.7
2012 35 25.3
2011 34.6 25
2010 34.2 24.6
2009 33.9 24.3
2008 33.5 24
2007 33.1 23.8
2006 32.7 23.5
2005 32.3 23.3
2004 32 23.1
2003 31.8 22.8
2002 31.5 22.4
2001 31.2 22.2
2000 30.8 21.9
1999 30.2 21.6
1998 29.4 21.4
1997 28.8 21.2
1996 28.3 21.2
1995 27.8 21.5
1994 27.4 22
1993 26.9 21.9
1992 26.4 21.5
1991 26 21.5
1990 25.6 21.3
1989 24.9 21.1
1988 24 20.9
1987 23.1 20.7
1986 22.2 20.5
1985 21.6 20.4
1984 21.1 20.2
1983 20.5 20
1982 19.9 19.8
1981 19.3 19.6
1980 18.9 19.4
1979 18.6 19.3
1978 18.3 19.2
1977 18.1 19.1
1976 17.8 19
1975 17.4 18.9
1974 17.1 18.9
1973 16.8 18.8
1972 16.6 18.8
1971 16.6 18.8
1970 16.5 18.8
1969 16.1 18.8
1968 15.7 18.8
1967 15.2 18.8
1966 14.9 18.8
1965 14.9 18.8
1964 15 18.9
1963 15.1 18.9
1962 15.5 18.9
1961 16.1 19
1960 16.7 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/palau/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Palau South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$351M
2025
$406B
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP
52.1%
2025
34.2%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.44%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel n/a
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+1.73%
2025
-5.78%
2025
Unemployment rate
2.09%
2023
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
73.1%
2024
63.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
13%
2024
24.1%
2025
Economic freedom index
62
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
42.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.4%
2022
Number of millionaires n/a
97,000
2026
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.23%
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2026
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2026
Listed domestic companies n/a
212
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.4T
2025
Total reserves including gold n/a
$76B
2025
Personal remittances received
$1.95M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
18,399
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
93.5%
2017
2.89%
2020
Banked people share n/a
81.1%
2024

Energy

Palau South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,814 kg
1990
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$2
1990
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1.47 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
82.8 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
1990
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0.9%
2022
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
4.6%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Palau South Africa
% of world population
0.0002%
2025
0.79%
2025
Annual migration change
-16
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
79.3%
2025
63.8%
2025
Male:Female ratio
53.8:46.2
2025
48.7:51.3
2025
Average male height
5.6 ft
2026
5.56 ft
2026
Average female height
5.23 ft
2026
5.2 ft
2026
Quality of life index
53
2026
37.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
49
2026
41
2025
Higher education index n/a
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
11.2
2018
43.7
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
4.78
2013
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
121
2026
109
2026
Adult literacy rate
99.8%
2020
91.2%
2024
English speaking
92.5%
2026
50.7%
2026
People using the Internet
83.9%
2024
78.4%
2024

Health

Palau South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,684
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$203.8
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
69.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
18.5%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.81
2023
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
89
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
21.4
2024
35.1
2024
Obesity rate
42.1%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
19.3%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
65
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
23%
2024
23.7%
2024
Pure alcohol consumption per capita n/a
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Palau South Africa
% of world land
0.0003%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
10,055 sq mi
2025
7,234 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
16.6 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
160.8 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2026, 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)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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