Palau has a population of 17.7K (ranked 194/197), compared with 328K in Vanuatu (ranked 174/197). Palau's land area is 177.6 sq mi versus 4,707 sq mi for Vanuatu (ranked 180th vs. 157th).
By GDP, Palau ranks 194/197 ($277M) and Vanuatu ranks 188/197 ($1.12B). By GDP per capita, Palau ranks 67/197 ($15,611), while Vanuatu ranks 137/197 ($3,411).
Main facts and rankings
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
17618
|
342645
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 174/197 |
| GDP |
$277M
2023 |
$1.12B
2024 |
| GDP rank | 194/197 | 188/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$15,611
2023 |
$3,411
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank | 67/197 | 137/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$18,230
2023 |
$3,606
2024 |
| Government debt | n/a |
$499M
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio | n/a |
51.9%
2026 |
| Government debt per person | n/a |
$1,521
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank | n/a | 128/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$8,654
2026 |
$2,778
2026 |
| Land area |
177.6 sq mi
2026 |
4,707 sq mi
2026 |
| Population density |
99.6 ppl/mi²
2024 |
69.6 ppl/mi²
2024 |
| Fertility rate |
1.91
2023 |
3.6
2023 |
| Median age |
39.2 years
2024 |
21.3 years
2024 |
| Life expectancy |
69.6 years
2026 |
72 years
2026 |
Palau and Vanuatu: Comparison Charts
Palau and Vanuatu economies compared
| 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 | $119,258,835 |
| 1980 | $29,728,054 | $121,185,498 |
| 1981 | $32,726,594 | $113,781,796 |
| 1982 | $36,027,583 | $114,501,913 |
| 1983 | $39,661,530 | $117,389,554 |
| 1984 | $44,814,259 | $144,482,515 |
| 1985 | $51,030,637 | $131,856,421 |
| 1986 | $58,109,314 | $126,498,935 |
| 1987 | $66,169,905 | $139,464,174 |
| 1988 | $75,348,615 | $158,351,368 |
| 1989 | $85,800,543 | $154,013,202 |
| 1990 | $97,702,303 | $168,879,207 |
| 1991 | $106,555,300 | $201,334,169 |
| 1992 | $104,771,300 | $209,088,825 |
| 1993 | $96,455,700 | $200,491,853 |
| 1994 | $106,138,500 | $233,701,301 |
| 1995 | $121,018,500 | $249,333,250 |
| 1996 | $137,494,600 | $261,370,044 |
| 1997 | $143,860,800 | $272,771,209 |
| 1998 | $149,079,600 | $262,293,411 |
| 1999 | $144,206,500 | $268,006,973 |
| 2000 | $149,551,483 | $272,014,628 |
| 2001 | $159,446,228 | $257,926,882 |
| 2002 | $162,658,722 | $262,596,536 |
| 2003 | $154,566,788 | $314,471,413 |
| 2004 | $166,363,739 | $364,996,869 |
| 2005 | $190,961,685 | $394,962,433 |
| 2006 | $193,611,359 | $439,358,587 |
| 2007 | $200,789,764 | $516,392,923 |
| 2008 | $201,067,734 | $590,748,429 |
| 2009 | $189,854,706 | $592,622,319 |
| 2010 | $188,042,374 | $670,712,980 |
| 2011 | $198,742,371 | $770,153,588 |
| 2012 | $215,616,882 | $747,839,698 |
| 2013 | $224,110,611 | $758,304,466 |
| 2014 | $245,591,095 | $773,717,011 |
| 2015 | $287,057,526 | $759,690,181 |
| 2016 | $305,227,020 | $804,323,577 |
| 2017 | $292,148,590 | $880,043,284 |
| 2018 | $287,998,352 | $914,727,908 |
| 2019 | $282,041,290 | $936,526,268 |
| 2020 | $261,688,507 | $909,421,044 |
| 2021 | $231,343,460 | $950,394,007 |
| 2022 | $243,826,813 | $1,055,031,361 |
| 2023 | $276,733,063 | $1,115,861,056 |
| 2024 | - | $1,117,972,034 |
Palau and Vanuatu economies compared
| 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 | $1,055 |
| 1980 | $2,423 | $1,048 |
| 1981 | $2,639 | $962 |
| 1982 | $2,838 | $946 |
| 1983 | $3,049 | $947 |
| 1984 | $3,360 | $1,137 |
| 1985 | $3,728 | $1,012 |
| 1986 | $4,144 | $946 |
| 1987 | $4,616 | $1,017 |
| 1988 | $5,145 | $1,125 |
| 1989 | $5,741 | $1,067 |
| 1990 | $6,403 | $1,141 |
| 1991 | $6,824 | $1,326 |
| 1992 | $6,553 | $1,344 |
| 1993 | $5,892 | $1,257 |
| 1994 | $6,329 | $1,431 |
| 1995 | $7,038 | $1,492 |
| 1996 | $7,788 | $1,529 |
| 1997 | $7,945 | $1,562 |
| 1998 | $8,048 | $1,471 |
| 1999 | $7,630 | $1,472 |
| 2000 | $7,798 | $1,460 |
| 2001 | $8,239 | $1,350 |
| 2002 | $8,340 | $1,341 |
| 2003 | $7,862 | $1,567 |
| 2004 | $8,394 | $1,774 |
| 2005 | $9,635 | $1,874 |
| 2006 | $9,882 | $2,035 |
| 2007 | $10,403 | $2,334 |
| 2008 | $10,578 | $2,604 |
| 2009 | $10,148 | $2,546 |
| 2010 | $10,222 | $2,815 |
| 2011 | $10,994 | $3,163 |
| 2012 | $12,137 | $3,005 |
| 2013 | $12,699 | $2,980 |
| 2014 | $13,863 | $2,973 |
| 2015 | $16,154 | $2,855 |
| 2016 | $17,150 | $2,956 |
| 2017 | $16,402 | $3,160 |
| 2018 | $16,167 | $3,207 |
| 2019 | $15,847 | $3,207 |
| 2020 | $14,708 | $3,043 |
| 2021 | $13,009 | $3,107 |
| 2022 | $13,730 | $3,370 |
| 2023 | $15,611 | $3,483 |
| 2024 | - | $3,411 |
Palau vs. Vanuatu life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1950 | 52.7 | 43.9 |
| 1951 | 52.9 | 42.2 |
| 1952 | 53.1 | 45.3 |
| 1953 | 53.3 | 45.8 |
| 1954 | 53.5 | 46.5 |
| 1955 | 53.7 | 47.1 |
| 1956 | 53.9 | 47.7 |
| 1957 | 54.1 | 48.2 |
| 1958 | 54.4 | 48.7 |
| 1959 | 54.6 | 49.3 |
| 1960 | 54.9 | 49.8 |
| 1961 | 55.1 | 50.4 |
| 1962 | 55.4 | 50.9 |
| 1963 | 55.6 | 51.5 |
| 1964 | 55.8 | 52 |
| 1965 | 55.9 | 52.5 |
| 1966 | 56.2 | 53.1 |
| 1967 | 56.5 | 53.7 |
| 1968 | 56.9 | 54.2 |
| 1969 | 57.3 | 54.8 |
| 1970 | 57.7 | 55.3 |
| 1971 | 58.1 | 55.9 |
| 1972 | 58.6 | 56.4 |
| 1973 | 59 | 57 |
| 1974 | 59.5 | 57.6 |
| 1975 | 60 | 58.1 |
| 1976 | 60.5 | 58.7 |
| 1977 | 60.9 | 59.2 |
| 1978 | 61.3 | 59.9 |
| 1979 | 61.6 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 61.9 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 62.1 | 61.9 |
| 1982 | 62.3 | 62.5 |
| 1983 | 62.5 | 63.1 |
| 1984 | 62.6 | 63.5 |
| 1985 | 62.7 | 63.9 |
| 1986 | 62.8 | 64.6 |
| 1987 | 62.8 | 64.4 |
| 1988 | 62.8 | 65.7 |
| 1989 | 62.8 | 66 |
| 1990 | 62.8 | 66.7 |
| 1991 | 62.8 | 67.1 |
| 1992 | 62.9 | 67.4 |
| 1993 | 63 | 67.7 |
| 1994 | 63.1 | 68 |
| 1995 | 63.3 | 68.1 |
| 1996 | 63.5 | 68.2 |
| 1997 | 63.7 | 68.3 |
| 1998 | 64 | 68.4 |
| 1999 | 64.2 | 67.9 |
| 2000 | 64.5 | 68.6 |
| 2001 | 64.8 | 68.7 |
| 2002 | 65.1 | 68.8 |
| 2003 | 65.4 | 68.9 |
| 2004 | 65.8 | 69 |
| 2005 | 66.2 | 69.2 |
| 2006 | 66.6 | 69.1 |
| 2007 | 67.1 | 69.1 |
| 2008 | 67.6 | 69.3 |
| 2009 | 68 | 69.4 |
| 2010 | 68.3 | 69.6 |
| 2011 | 68.6 | 69.7 |
| 2012 | 68.9 | 69.9 |
| 2013 | 69 | 70 |
| 2014 | 69.1 | 70 |
| 2015 | 69.1 | 70.2 |
| 2016 | 69 | 70.4 |
| 2017 | 69 | 70.5 |
| 2018 | 69 | 70.6 |
| 2019 | 69 | 70.8 |
| 2020 | 68.7 | 70.4 |
| 2021 | 68.6 | 70 |
| 2022 | 68.9 | 71.3 |
| 2023 | 69.3 | 71.5 |
| 2024 | 69.4 | 71.7 |
| 2025 | 69.5 | 71.8 |
| 2026 | 69.6 | 72 |
Palau and Vanuatu population clocks and comparison
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 9,328 | 64,431 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 66,264 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 68,174 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 70,159 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 72,219 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 74,358 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 76,590 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 78,921 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 81,314 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 83,755 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 86,266 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 88,862 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 91,562 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 94,362 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 97,260 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 100,269 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 103,388 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 106,618 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 109,963 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 113,040 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 115,660 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 118,249 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 121,035 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 123,998 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 127,109 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 130,356 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 133,720 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 137,187 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 140,756 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 144,393 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 148,063 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 151,793 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 155,608 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 159,463 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 163,314 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 167,137 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 170,911 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 174,626 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 178,313 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 182,048 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 186,281 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 191,031 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 195,863 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 200,746 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 205,711 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 210,760 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 215,923 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 221,276 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 226,896 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 232,731 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 238,248 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 243,474 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 248,883 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 254,482 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 260,240 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 266,101 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 272,087 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 278,507 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 285,259 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 291,985 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 298,858 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 305,868 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 313,046 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 320,409 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 327,777 |
Fertility rates in Palau and Vanuatu
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 7.19 | 6.78 |
| 1961 | 7.17 | 6.73 |
| 1962 | 7.15 | 6.67 |
| 1963 | 7.12 | 6.62 |
| 1964 | 7.08 | 6.57 |
| 1965 | 7.01 | 6.52 |
| 1966 | 6.93 | 6.51 |
| 1967 | 6.84 | 6.51 |
| 1968 | 6.71 | 6.46 |
| 1969 | 6.58 | 6.41 |
| 1970 | 6.39 | 6.35 |
| 1971 | 6.16 | 6.29 |
| 1972 | 5.9 | 6.23 |
| 1973 | 5.59 | 6.15 |
| 1974 | 5.26 | 6.06 |
| 1975 | 4.9 | 5.98 |
| 1976 | 4.53 | 5.89 |
| 1977 | 4.09 | 5.81 |
| 1978 | 3.74 | 5.77 |
| 1979 | 3.49 | 5.73 |
| 1980 | 3.35 | 5.69 |
| 1981 | 3.28 | 5.65 |
| 1982 | 3.22 | 5.6 |
| 1983 | 3.14 | 5.55 |
| 1984 | 3.08 | 5.49 |
| 1985 | 3.01 | 5.43 |
| 1986 | 2.98 | 5.38 |
| 1987 | 2.93 | 5.33 |
| 1988 | 2.91 | 5.27 |
| 1989 | 2.92 | 5.21 |
| 1990 | 2.88 | 5.17 |
| 1991 | 2.74 | 5.13 |
| 1992 | 2.71 | 5.09 |
| 1993 | 2.73 | 5.02 |
| 1994 | 2.66 | 4.94 |
| 1995 | 2.55 | 4.85 |
| 1996 | 2.39 | 4.75 |
| 1997 | 2.19 | 4.66 |
| 1998 | 2.01 | 4.6 |
| 1999 | 1.91 | 4.56 |
| 2000 | 1.82 | 4.54 |
| 2001 | 1.87 | 4.5 |
| 2002 | 1.92 | 4.38 |
| 2003 | 1.96 | 4.29 |
| 2004 | 1.99 | 4.21 |
| 2005 | 2.02 | 4.13 |
| 2006 | 2 | 4.1 |
| 2007 | 1.97 | 4.12 |
| 2008 | 1.95 | 4.16 |
| 2009 | 1.94 | 4.16 |
| 2010 | 1.94 | 4.13 |
| 2011 | 1.97 | 4.09 |
| 2012 | 2.01 | 4.06 |
| 2013 | 2.05 | 4.04 |
| 2014 | 2.03 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 | 3.95 |
| 2016 | 2.06 | 3.92 |
| 2017 | 2.02 | 3.88 |
| 2018 | 1.97 | 3.83 |
| 2019 | 1.98 | 3.79 |
| 2020 | 1.97 | 3.74 |
| 2021 | 1.95 | 3.7 |
| 2022 | 1.93 | 3.65 |
| 2023 | 1.91 | 3.6 |
Palau and Vanuatu demographics compared
| Year | Median age, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1960 | 16.7 | 17.7 |
| 1961 | 16.1 | 17.6 |
| 1962 | 15.5 | 17.5 |
| 1963 | 15.1 | 17.4 |
| 1964 | 15 | 17.3 |
| 1965 | 14.9 | 17.2 |
| 1966 | 14.9 | 17.1 |
| 1967 | 15.2 | 17.1 |
| 1968 | 15.7 | 17 |
| 1969 | 16.1 | 17 |
| 1970 | 16.5 | 17 |
| 1971 | 16.6 | 17 |
| 1972 | 16.6 | 17 |
| 1973 | 16.8 | 17 |
| 1974 | 17.1 | 17.1 |
| 1975 | 17.4 | 17.1 |
| 1976 | 17.8 | 17.1 |
| 1977 | 18.1 | 17.2 |
| 1978 | 18.3 | 17.3 |
| 1979 | 18.6 | 17.5 |
| 1980 | 18.9 | 17.6 |
| 1981 | 19.3 | 17.7 |
| 1982 | 19.9 | 17.7 |
| 1983 | 20.5 | 17.7 |
| 1984 | 21.1 | 17.7 |
| 1985 | 21.6 | 17.7 |
| 1986 | 22.2 | 17.8 |
| 1987 | 23.1 | 17.8 |
| 1988 | 24 | 17.8 |
| 1989 | 24.9 | 17.8 |
| 1990 | 25.6 | 17.8 |
| 1991 | 26 | 17.9 |
| 1992 | 26.4 | 17.8 |
| 1993 | 26.9 | 17.7 |
| 1994 | 27.4 | 17.7 |
| 1995 | 27.8 | 17.8 |
| 1996 | 28.3 | 18 |
| 1997 | 28.8 | 18 |
| 1998 | 29.4 | 18 |
| 1999 | 30.2 | 18 |
| 2000 | 30.8 | 18.2 |
| 2001 | 31.2 | 18.5 |
| 2002 | 31.5 | 18.7 |
| 2003 | 31.8 | 18.9 |
| 2004 | 32 | 19.2 |
| 2005 | 32.3 | 19.4 |
| 2006 | 32.7 | 19.6 |
| 2007 | 33.1 | 19.9 |
| 2008 | 33.5 | 20.1 |
| 2009 | 33.9 | 20.3 |
| 2010 | 34.2 | 20.5 |
| 2011 | 34.6 | 20.6 |
| 2012 | 35 | 20.8 |
| 2013 | 35.3 | 20.9 |
| 2014 | 35.6 | 21 |
| 2015 | 36 | 21.1 |
| 2016 | 36.3 | 21.1 |
| 2017 | 36.7 | 21.2 |
| 2018 | 37 | 21.2 |
| 2019 | 37.4 | 21.2 |
| 2020 | 37.8 | 21.2 |
| 2021 | 38.1 | 21.2 |
| 2022 | 38.5 | 21.2 |
| 2023 | 38.8 | 21.2 |
| 2024 | 39.2 | 21.3 |
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Palau and Vanuatu.
GDP per capita
GDP
Life expectancy
Population
Population density
Fertility rate
Median age
Land area
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$262M
2023 |
$1.28B
2024 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
53.1%
2026 |
37.8%
2026 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
3.53%
2023 |
7.58%
2023 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+2.11%
2026 |
-5.32%
2026 |
| Unemployment rate |
0.77%
2020 |
4.05%
2020 |
| Services, % of GDP |
74.8%
2023 |
59.1%
2022 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
10.1%
2023 |
7.37%
2022 |
| Economic freedom index |
62
2025 |
61.8
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% | n/a |
24.7%
2019 |
| Income share by poorest 10% | n/a |
3%
2019 |
| Total reserves including gold | n/a |
$615M
2024 |
| Personal remittances received |
$1.95M
2024 |
$145M
2024 |
| International tourist arrivals |
18,399
2020 |
82,400
2020 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
93.5%
2017 |
50.4%
2020 |
Energy
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
4,814 kg
1990 |
158.2 kg
2007 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$2
1990 |
$16.3
2007 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
1.47 megatons
2024 |
0.29 megatons
2024 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
82.8 tons
2024 |
0.87 tons
2024 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
0%
1990 |
0%
2007 |
| Renewable energy use share |
0.9%
2022 |
25%
2022 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
4.6%
2021 |
25.2%
2021 |
| Hydroelectric share |
0%
2021 |
10.7%
2021 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
0%
2021 |
| Electricity access |
100%
2023 |
61.6%
2023 |
Society
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.0002%
2024 |
0.004%
2024 |
| Annual migration change |
-14
2024 |
-43
2024 |
| Urban population |
79.2%
2024 |
22.3%
2024 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50:50
2024 |
50:50
2024 |
| Average male height |
5.6 ft
2025 |
5.52 ft
2025 |
| Average female height |
5.23 ft
2025 |
5.27 ft
2025 |
| Quality of life index |
47.9
2026 |
45.1
2026 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
49
2025 |
50
2024 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
11.2
2018 |
0.32
2020 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
4.78
2013 |
14.9
2019 |
| Visa free countries |
123
2025 |
96
2025 |
| Adult literacy rate |
100%
2020 |
88%
2023 |
| English speaking |
92.5%
2023 |
83.5%
2023 |
| People using the Internet |
27%
2004 |
45.7%
2023 |
Health
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$1,979
2022 |
$135.4
2022 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$328
2022 |
$10.3
2022 |
| Life expectancy |
69.6 years
2026 |
72 years
2026 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
21.3%
2022 |
49.3%
2022 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
1.78
2020 |
0.16
2019 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
89
2023 |
100
2023 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births |
22.3
2023 |
16.8
2023 |
| Obesity rate |
42.1%
2022 |
22.1%
2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
19.3%
2024 |
19.7%
2024 |
| Air quality index |
65
2026 |
96
2026 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
17.3%
2022 |
n/a |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita | n/a |
2.04 liters
2020 |
Territory
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