Skip to content

Population in Brunei compared to Palau: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Brunei was 466,330 in 2025 vs 17,663 people in Palau in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Brunei's population is 471,596 people compared to 17,620 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Brunei's population is 26.8 times bigger than Palau's.
  • Brunei is ranked the 170th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
  • The countries together account for 0.006% of the world: 0.006% for Brunei vs 0.0002% for Palau.
  • For the last 10 years, Brunei has had an average growth rate of +1.03% per year vs -0.03% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Brunei has increased from 365K people to 472K (29.3% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10.1% decline).

Brunei vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Brunei
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Brunei Palau
2100 467,305 11,146
2099 468,844 11,210
2098 470,362 11,275
2097 471,774 11,346
2096 473,274 11,411
2095 474,709 11,479
2094 476,211 11,543
2093 477,690 11,610
2092 479,206 11,676
2091 480,680 11,747
2090 482,205 11,823
2089 483,829 11,901
2088 485,465 11,962
2087 487,012 12,034
2086 488,509 12,103
2085 490,142 12,165
2084 491,731 12,245
2083 493,405 12,310
2082 495,083 12,376
2081 496,722 12,451
2080 498,316 12,531
2079 499,888 12,602
2078 501,377 12,674
2077 502,966 12,751
2076 504,477 12,831
2075 506,274 12,907
2074 507,959 13,000
2073 509,492 13,084
2072 510,925 13,154
2071 512,139 13,245
2070 513,323 13,332
2069 514,593 13,424
2068 515,914 13,518
2067 517,235 13,614
2066 518,340 13,716
2065 519,319 13,811
2064 520,157 13,913
2063 520,866 14,018
2062 521,364 14,129
2061 521,880 14,244
2060 522,301 14,350
2059 522,678 14,471
2058 523,011 14,581
2057 523,253 14,710
2056 523,298 14,830
2055 523,308 14,954
2054 523,127 15,077
2053 522,924 15,198
2052 522,555 15,324
2051 521,910 15,445
2050 521,119 15,554
2049 520,183 15,674
2048 519,132 15,789
2047 517,984 15,904
2046 516,748 16,015
2045 515,241 16,123
2044 513,822 16,237
2043 512,299 16,331
2042 510,642 16,437
2041 508,802 16,541
2040 506,973 16,623
2039 504,969 16,719
2038 502,664 16,797
2037 500,520 16,886
2036 498,350 16,955
2035 495,973 17,033
2034 493,539 17,109
2033 491,041 17,181
2032 488,550 17,241
2031 485,750 17,321
2030 482,789 17,389
2029 479,823 17,448
2028 476,642 17,518
2027 473,245 17,567
2026 469,856 17,620
2025 466,330 17,663
2024 462,721 17,695
2023 458,949 17,727
2022 455,370 17,759
2021 451,721 17,783
2020 447,404 17,792
2019 442,680 17,798
2018 437,810 17,814
2017 432,772 17,812
2016 427,564 17,797
2015 422,212 17,770
2014 416,750 17,715
2013 411,202 17,648
2012 405,557 17,765
2011 399,389 18,078
2010 392,332 18,396
2009 384,952 18,709
2008 377,793 19,009
2007 370,873 19,302
2006 364,663 19,593
2005 358,916 19,819
2004 352,911 19,820
2003 346,637 19,659
2002 340,099 19,503
2001 333,345 19,352
2000 326,424 19,178
1999 319,411 18,901
1998 312,385 18,524
1997 305,341 18,108
1996 298,276 17,654
1995 291,195 17,195
1994 284,091 16,770
1993 276,971 16,372
1992 269,839 15,989
1991 262,596 15,614
1990 255,292 15,259
1989 248,064 14,945
1988 240,913 14,645
1987 233,860 14,334
1986 226,495 14,024
1985 218,919 13,688
1984 211,661 13,337
1983 204,741 13,006
1982 198,165 12,694
1981 191,977 12,402
1980 186,111 12,271
1979 180,422 12,337
1978 174,884 12,440
1977 169,277 12,525
1976 163,607 12,598
1975 158,070 12,655
1974 152,656 12,687
1973 147,369 12,552
1972 142,189 12,194
1971 137,921 11,759
1970 135,138 11,368
1969 131,446 11,159
1968 126,222 11,080
1967 121,017 10,988
1966 115,874 10,805
1965 110,838 10,547
1964 105,922 10,292
1963 101,159 10,037
1962 96,719 9,793
1961 92,517 9,555
1960 88,347 9,328

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/brunei/palau | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Brunei increased by 62,901 people (a 17.2% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Brunei gained 44,032 people (a 10.3% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 177 people (a 0.99% decline).

Brunei was ranked 169th most populous country in 2006 and is 170th in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Brunei's population will grow by 10.5% to 521,119 people with a rank change from 170th to 171st. The population of Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,554 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.

Brunei is projected to reach its peak in 2055 at 523K people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.1K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Brunei
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Brunei Palau
2100 -0.33% -0.57%
2099 -0.32% -0.58%
2098 -0.3% -0.62%
2097 -0.32% -0.57%
2096 -0.3% -0.59%
2095 -0.32% -0.55%
2094 -0.31% -0.58%
2093 -0.32% -0.56%
2092 -0.31% -0.6%
2091 -0.32% -0.65%
2090 -0.34% -0.65%
2089 -0.34% -0.51%
2088 -0.32% -0.6%
2087 -0.31% -0.57%
2086 -0.33% -0.51%
2085 -0.32% -0.65%
2084 -0.34% -0.53%
2083 -0.34% -0.53%
2082 -0.33% -0.6%
2081 -0.32% -0.64%
2080 -0.31% -0.56%
2079 -0.3% -0.58%
2078 -0.32% -0.6%
2077 -0.3% -0.62%
2076 -0.35% -0.59%
2075 -0.33% -0.71%
2074 -0.3% -0.64%
2073 -0.28% -0.53%
2072 -0.24% -0.69%
2071 -0.23% -0.65%
2070 -0.25% -0.68%
2069 -0.26% -0.7%
2068 -0.26% -0.7%
2067 -0.21% -0.74%
2066 -0.19% -0.69%
2065 -0.16% -0.73%
2064 -0.14% -0.75%
2063 -0.1% -0.78%
2062 -0.1% -0.81%
2061 -0.08% -0.74%
2060 -0.07% -0.84%
2059 -0.06% -0.75%
2058 -0.05% -0.88%
2057 -0.009% -0.81%
2056 -0.002% -0.83%
2055 0.03% -0.81%
2054 0.04% -0.8%
2053 0.07% -0.82%
2052 0.12% -0.78%
2051 0.15% -0.7%
2050 0.18% -0.76%
2049 0.2% -0.73%
2048 0.22% -0.72%
2047 0.24% -0.7%
2046 0.29% -0.67%
2045 0.28% -0.7%
2044 0.3% -0.57%
2043 0.32% -0.64%
2042 0.36% -0.63%
2041 0.36% -0.49%
2040 0.4% -0.57%
2039 0.46% -0.46%
2038 0.43% -0.53%
2037 0.44% -0.41%
2036 0.48% -0.46%
2035 0.49% -0.44%
2034 0.51% -0.42%
2033 0.51% -0.35%
2032 0.58% -0.46%
2031 0.61% -0.39%
2030 0.62% -0.34%
2029 0.67% -0.4%
2028 0.72% -0.28%
2027 0.72% -0.3%
2026 0.76% -0.24%
2025 0.78% -0.18%
2024 0.82% -0.18%
2023 0.79% -0.18%
2022 0.81% -0.13%
2021 0.96% -0.05%
2020 1.07% -0.03%
2019 1.11% -0.09%
2018 1.16% 0.01%
2017 1.22% 0.08%
2016 1.27% 0.15%
2015 1.31% 0.31%
2014 1.35% 0.38%
2013 1.39% -0.66%
2012 1.54% -1.73%
2011 1.8% -1.73%
2010 1.92% -1.67%
2009 1.89% -1.58%
2008 1.87% -1.52%
2007 1.7% -1.49%
2006 1.6% -1.14%
2005 1.7% -0.005%
2004 1.81% 0.82%
2003 1.92% 0.8%
2002 2.03% 0.78%
2001 2.12% 0.91%
2000 2.2% 1.47%
1999 2.25% 2.04%
1998 2.31% 2.3%
1997 2.37% 2.57%
1996 2.43% 2.67%
1995 2.5% 2.53%
1994 2.57% 2.43%
1993 2.64% 2.4%
1992 2.76% 2.4%
1991 2.86% 2.33%
1990 2.91% 2.1%
1989 2.97% 2.05%
1988 3.02% 2.17%
1987 3.25% 2.21%
1986 3.46% 2.45%
1985 3.43% 2.63%
1984 3.38% 2.54%
1983 3.32% 2.46%
1982 3.22% 2.35%
1981 3.15% 1.07%
1980 3.15% -0.53%
1979 3.17% -0.83%
1978 3.31% -0.68%
1977 3.47% -0.58%
1976 3.5% -0.45%
1975 3.55% -0.25%
1974 3.59% 1.08%
1973 3.64% 2.94%
1972 3.09% 3.7%
1971 2.06% 3.44%
1970 2.81% 1.87%
1969 4.14% 0.71%
1968 4.3% 0.84%
1967 4.44% 1.69%
1966 4.54% 2.45%
1965 4.64% 2.48%
1964 4.71% 2.54%
1963 4.59% 2.49%
1962 4.54% 2.49%
1961 4.72% 2.43%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/brunei/palau | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Brunei grew by 0.78%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Brunei Palau
Current population
471596
17620
Population rank 170/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.006% 0.0002%
One net population change
2.43 hours
1.63 weeks
One birth every
1.42 hours
1.93 days
One death every
3.55 hours
1.76 days
Daily growth/decline +10 +0
Annual growth/decline +3,609 -32
Annual growth/decline rate +0.78% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 113/197 175/197
One migration net change every
1.08 years
3.27 weeks
Annual migration change +0 -16
Net migration rank 77/196 78/196
Foreign-born residents 119,933 5,212
Foreign-born residents rank 124/195 184/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.9% 29.5%
Foreign-born share rank 21/195 19/195

Natural population change vs migration

Brunei
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Brunei Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 0 - -16
2024 3,699 0 -18 -14
2023 3,837 0 -10 -19
2022 3,319 0 -7 -20
2021 3,985 0 -3 -21
2020 4,188 462 8 0
2019 4,335 456 23 -46
2018 4,502 450 29 -35
2017 4,685 440 43 -33
2016 4,876 415 53 -35
2015 5,060 356 55 -11
2014 5,206 303 73 -7
2013 5,302 285 88 -28
2012 5,349 346 86 -387
2011 5,242 1,399 83 -405
2010 5,003 2,479 81 -392
2009 4,789 2,489 81 -382
2008 4,624 2,409 79 -378
2007 4,521 2,291 80 -372
2006 4,590 1,030 79 -365
2005 4,703 1,163 80 -250
2004 4,874 1,261 83 79
2003 5,034 1,383 86 71
2002 5,169 1,499 88 67
2001 5,275 1,569 88 65
2000 5,331 1,660 85 120
1999 5,388 1,639 100 243
1998 5,466 1,566 116 280
1997 5,518 1,533 140 297
1996 5,606 1,464 166 312
1995 5,750 1,348 186 258
1994 5,907 1,206 195 211
1993 6,045 1,082 196 193
1992 6,169 969 183 193
1991 6,259 1,087 175 193
1990 6,265 992 181 156
1989 6,202 1,002 185 113
1988 6,135 962 183 126
1987 6,017 994 182 125
1986 5,826 1,897 182 135
1985 5,620 1,808 181 179
1984 5,373 1,722 181 157
1983 5,138 1,602 176 144
1982 4,931 1,475 170 132
1981 4,839 1,124 161 120
1980 4,775 995 165 -179
1979 4,717 899 176 -291
1978 4,668 791 193 -285
1977 4,594 1,157 213 -292
1976 4,518 1,080 236 -296
1975 4,431 1,047 249 -296
1974 4,334 1,011 256 -282
1973 4,216 1,007 268 22
1972 4,085 1,053 280 147
1971 3,880 -476 287 156
1970 3,694 -1,538 286 54
1969 3,618 1,608 283 -209
1968 3,551 1,677 275 -194
1967 3,477 1,703 266 -150
1966 3,403 1,697 268 -18
1965 3,326 1,655 275 -16
1964 3,264 1,595 284 -27
1963 3,195 1,469 291 -41
1962 3,128 1,088 296 -54
1961 3,175 1,014 298 -65
1960 3,168 982 296 -70

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

GeoRank.org/population/brunei/palau | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 94.3% of the population change in Brunei is from natural causes (a gain of 42,486 people) and 5.72% is from migration (a gain of 2,579 people). In Palau 42.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 173 people) and 57.5% is from migration (a loss of 234 people).

As of 2024, 119,933 residents or 25.9% of the population were not native-born in Brunei, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.

Biggest cities by population

Brunei
City Population
Kuala Belait 70K
Bandar Seri Begawan 50K
Seria 2.66K
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/brunei/palau | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.