The latest officially reported population of the Cayman Islands was 74,457 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cayman Islands' population is 77,619 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.
Population statistics:
- The Cayman Islands' population is 4.4 times bigger than Palau's.
- The Cayman Islands is ranked the 187th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
- The countries together account for 0.001% of the world: 0.0009% for the Cayman Islands vs 0.0002% for Palau.
- For the last 10 years, the Cayman Islands has had an average growth rate of +2.19% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
- Since 2006, the population of the Cayman Islands has increased from 48.2K people to 77.6K (60.9% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).
Cayman Islands vs Palau: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Cayman Islands
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | 119,196 | 11,152 |
| 2099 | 119,224 | 11,216 |
| 2098 | 119,264 | 11,281 |
| 2097 | 119,234 | 11,352 |
| 2096 | 119,198 | 11,417 |
| 2095 | 119,140 | 11,485 |
| 2094 | 119,058 | 11,549 |
| 2093 | 118,975 | 11,616 |
| 2092 | 118,865 | 11,682 |
| 2091 | 118,691 | 11,753 |
| 2090 | 118,534 | 11,829 |
| 2089 | 118,436 | 11,907 |
| 2088 | 118,344 | 11,968 |
| 2087 | 118,213 | 12,040 |
| 2086 | 118,090 | 12,109 |
| 2085 | 117,945 | 12,171 |
| 2084 | 117,785 | 12,251 |
| 2083 | 117,632 | 12,316 |
| 2082 | 117,476 | 12,382 |
| 2081 | 117,333 | 12,457 |
| 2080 | 117,205 | 12,537 |
| 2079 | 117,045 | 12,608 |
| 2078 | 116,922 | 12,681 |
| 2077 | 116,701 | 12,758 |
| 2076 | 116,525 | 12,838 |
| 2075 | 116,353 | 12,914 |
| 2074 | 116,124 | 13,007 |
| 2073 | 115,941 | 13,091 |
| 2072 | 115,650 | 13,161 |
| 2071 | 115,401 | 13,252 |
| 2070 | 115,097 | 13,338 |
| 2069 | 114,802 | 13,430 |
| 2068 | 114,464 | 13,525 |
| 2067 | 114,149 | 13,621 |
| 2066 | 113,854 | 13,723 |
| 2065 | 113,563 | 13,818 |
| 2064 | 113,231 | 13,920 |
| 2063 | 112,858 | 14,025 |
| 2062 | 112,446 | 14,136 |
| 2061 | 112,029 | 14,251 |
| 2060 | 111,556 | 14,358 |
| 2059 | 111,031 | 14,479 |
| 2058 | 110,457 | 14,589 |
| 2057 | 109,895 | 14,718 |
| 2056 | 109,181 | 14,837 |
| 2055 | 108,478 | 14,961 |
| 2054 | 107,769 | 15,084 |
| 2053 | 107,027 | 15,206 |
| 2052 | 106,277 | 15,332 |
| 2051 | 105,401 | 15,453 |
| 2050 | 104,491 | 15,562 |
| 2049 | 103,646 | 15,682 |
| 2048 | 102,692 | 15,797 |
| 2047 | 101,771 | 15,912 |
| 2046 | 100,823 | 16,024 |
| 2045 | 99,829 | 16,132 |
| 2044 | 98,826 | 16,245 |
| 2043 | 97,759 | 16,339 |
| 2042 | 96,675 | 16,445 |
| 2041 | 95,579 | 16,549 |
| 2040 | 94,441 | 16,631 |
| 2039 | 93,319 | 16,727 |
| 2038 | 92,184 | 16,805 |
| 2037 | 91,038 | 16,895 |
| 2036 | 89,880 | 16,964 |
| 2035 | 88,740 | 17,042 |
| 2034 | 87,573 | 17,118 |
| 2033 | 86,339 | 17,190 |
| 2032 | 85,116 | 17,250 |
| 2031 | 83,837 | 17,330 |
| 2030 | 82,558 | 17,398 |
| 2029 | 81,274 | 17,457 |
| 2028 | 79,953 | 17,527 |
| 2027 | 78,604 | 17,576 |
| 2026 | 77,255 | 17,629 |
| 2025 | 75,873 | 17,672 |
| 2024 | 74,457 | 17,695 |
| 2023 | 73,038 | 17,727 |
| 2022 | 71,591 | 17,759 |
| 2021 | 70,108 | 17,783 |
| 2020 | 68,684 | 17,792 |
| 2019 | 67,327 | 17,798 |
| 2018 | 65,941 | 17,814 |
| 2017 | 64,535 | 17,812 |
| 2016 | 63,100 | 17,797 |
| 2015 | 61,642 | 17,770 |
| 2014 | 60,160 | 17,715 |
| 2013 | 58,655 | 17,648 |
| 2012 | 57,136 | 17,765 |
| 2011 | 55,606 | 18,078 |
| 2010 | 54,099 | 18,396 |
| 2009 | 52,618 | 18,709 |
| 2008 | 51,151 | 19,009 |
| 2007 | 49,687 | 19,302 |
| 2006 | 48,232 | 19,593 |
| 2005 | 46,788 | 19,819 |
| 2004 | 45,352 | 19,820 |
| 2003 | 43,934 | 19,659 |
| 2002 | 42,514 | 19,503 |
| 2001 | 41,089 | 19,352 |
| 2000 | 39,674 | 19,178 |
| 1999 | 38,284 | 18,901 |
| 1998 | 36,922 | 18,524 |
| 1997 | 35,543 | 18,108 |
| 1996 | 34,143 | 17,654 |
| 1995 | 32,743 | 17,195 |
| 1994 | 31,352 | 16,770 |
| 1993 | 29,976 | 16,372 |
| 1992 | 28,621 | 15,989 |
| 1991 | 27,294 | 15,614 |
| 1990 | 25,999 | 15,259 |
| 1989 | 24,874 | 14,945 |
| 1988 | 23,951 | 14,645 |
| 1987 | 23,073 | 14,334 |
| 1986 | 22,197 | 14,024 |
| 1985 | 21,324 | 13,688 |
| 1984 | 20,454 | 13,337 |
| 1983 | 19,598 | 13,006 |
| 1982 | 18,750 | 12,694 |
| 1981 | 17,905 | 12,402 |
| 1980 | 17,079 | 12,271 |
| 1979 | 16,351 | 12,337 |
| 1978 | 15,727 | 12,440 |
| 1977 | 15,105 | 12,525 |
| 1976 | 14,454 | 12,598 |
| 1975 | 13,788 | 12,655 |
| 1974 | 13,114 | 12,687 |
| 1973 | 12,438 | 12,552 |
| 1972 | 11,764 | 12,194 |
| 1971 | 11,098 | 11,759 |
| 1970 | 10,517 | 11,368 |
| 1969 | 10,165 | 11,159 |
| 1968 | 9,971 | 11,080 |
| 1967 | 9,769 | 10,988 |
| 1966 | 9,560 | 10,805 |
| 1965 | 9,361 | 10,547 |
| 1964 | 9,166 | 10,292 |
| 1963 | 8,970 | 10,037 |
| 1962 | 8,781 | 9,793 |
| 1961 | 8,601 | 9,555 |
| 1960 | 8,428 | 9,328 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/cayman-islands/palau | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Cayman Islands increased by 14,868 people (a 30.8% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Cayman Islands gained 14,519 people (a 23% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).
The Cayman Islands was ranked 189th most populous country in 2006 and is 187th 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) the Cayman Islands' population will grow by 34.6% to 104,491 people with a rank change from 187th to 184th. The population of Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.
The Cayman Islands is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 119K people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.2K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Cayman Islands
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | -0.02% | -0.57% |
| 2099 | -0.03% | -0.58% |
| 2098 | 0.03% | -0.62% |
| 2097 | 0.03% | -0.57% |
| 2096 | 0.05% | -0.59% |
| 2095 | 0.07% | -0.55% |
| 2094 | 0.07% | -0.58% |
| 2093 | 0.09% | -0.56% |
| 2092 | 0.15% | -0.6% |
| 2091 | 0.13% | -0.65% |
| 2090 | 0.08% | -0.65% |
| 2089 | 0.08% | -0.51% |
| 2088 | 0.11% | -0.6% |
| 2087 | 0.1% | -0.57% |
| 2086 | 0.12% | -0.51% |
| 2085 | 0.14% | -0.65% |
| 2084 | 0.13% | -0.53% |
| 2083 | 0.13% | -0.53% |
| 2082 | 0.12% | -0.6% |
| 2081 | 0.11% | -0.64% |
| 2080 | 0.14% | -0.56% |
| 2079 | 0.11% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | 0.19% | -0.6% |
| 2077 | 0.15% | -0.62% |
| 2076 | 0.15% | -0.59% |
| 2075 | 0.2% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | 0.16% | -0.64% |
| 2073 | 0.25% | -0.53% |
| 2072 | 0.22% | -0.69% |
| 2071 | 0.26% | -0.65% |
| 2070 | 0.26% | -0.68% |
| 2069 | 0.3% | -0.7% |
| 2068 | 0.28% | -0.7% |
| 2067 | 0.26% | -0.74% |
| 2066 | 0.26% | -0.69% |
| 2065 | 0.29% | -0.73% |
| 2064 | 0.33% | -0.75% |
| 2063 | 0.37% | -0.78% |
| 2062 | 0.37% | -0.81% |
| 2061 | 0.42% | -0.74% |
| 2060 | 0.47% | -0.84% |
| 2059 | 0.52% | -0.75% |
| 2058 | 0.51% | -0.88% |
| 2057 | 0.65% | -0.81% |
| 2056 | 0.65% | -0.83% |
| 2055 | 0.66% | -0.81% |
| 2054 | 0.69% | -0.8% |
| 2053 | 0.71% | -0.82% |
| 2052 | 0.83% | -0.78% |
| 2051 | 0.87% | -0.7% |
| 2050 | 0.82% | -0.76% |
| 2049 | 0.93% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | 0.91% | -0.72% |
| 2047 | 0.94% | -0.7% |
| 2046 | 1% | -0.67% |
| 2045 | 1.02% | -0.7% |
| 2044 | 1.09% | -0.57% |
| 2043 | 1.12% | -0.64% |
| 2042 | 1.15% | -0.63% |
| 2041 | 1.21% | -0.49% |
| 2040 | 1.2% | -0.57% |
| 2039 | 1.23% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 1.26% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 1.29% | -0.41% |
| 2036 | 1.28% | -0.46% |
| 2035 | 1.33% | -0.44% |
| 2034 | 1.43% | -0.42% |
| 2033 | 1.44% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 1.53% | -0.46% |
| 2031 | 1.55% | -0.39% |
| 2030 | 1.58% | -0.34% |
| 2029 | 1.65% | -0.4% |
| 2028 | 1.72% | -0.28% |
| 2027 | 1.75% | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 1.82% | -0.24% |
| 2025 | 1.9% | -0.13% |
| 2024 | 1.94% | -0.18% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | -0.18% |
| 2022 | 2.12% | -0.13% |
| 2021 | 2.07% | -0.05% |
| 2020 | 2.02% | -0.03% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | -0.09% |
| 2018 | 2.18% | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 2.27% | 0.08% |
| 2016 | 2.37% | 0.15% |
| 2015 | 2.46% | 0.31% |
| 2014 | 2.57% | 0.38% |
| 2013 | 2.66% | -0.66% |
| 2012 | 2.75% | -1.73% |
| 2011 | 2.79% | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 2.81% | -1.67% |
| 2009 | 2.87% | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 2.95% | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 3.02% | -1.49% |
| 2006 | 3.09% | -1.14% |
| 2005 | 3.17% | -0.005% |
| 2004 | 3.23% | 0.82% |
| 2003 | 3.34% | 0.8% |
| 2002 | 3.47% | 0.78% |
| 2001 | 3.57% | 0.91% |
| 2000 | 3.63% | 1.47% |
| 1999 | 3.69% | 2.04% |
| 1998 | 3.88% | 2.3% |
| 1997 | 4.1% | 2.57% |
| 1996 | 4.28% | 2.67% |
| 1995 | 4.44% | 2.53% |
| 1994 | 4.59% | 2.43% |
| 1993 | 4.73% | 2.4% |
| 1992 | 4.86% | 2.4% |
| 1991 | 4.98% | 2.33% |
| 1990 | 4.52% | 2.1% |
| 1989 | 3.85% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 3.81% | 2.17% |
| 1987 | 3.95% | 2.21% |
| 1986 | 4.09% | 2.45% |
| 1985 | 4.25% | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 4.37% | 2.54% |
| 1983 | 4.52% | 2.46% |
| 1982 | 4.72% | 2.35% |
| 1981 | 4.84% | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 4.45% | -0.53% |
| 1979 | 3.97% | -0.83% |
| 1978 | 4.12% | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 4.5% | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 4.83% | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 5.14% | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 5.43% | 1.08% |
| 1973 | 5.73% | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 6% | 3.7% |
| 1971 | 5.52% | 3.44% |
| 1970 | 3.46% | 1.87% |
| 1969 | 1.95% | 0.71% |
| 1968 | 2.07% | 0.84% |
| 1967 | 2.19% | 1.69% |
| 1966 | 2.13% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 2.13% | 2.48% |
| 1964 | 2.19% | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 2.15% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 2.09% | 2.49% |
| 1961 | 2.05% | 2.43% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/cayman-islands/palau | CC BY
In 2024, the population of the Cayman Islands grew by 1.94%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.
Live population counters
|
Cayman Islands
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
77619
|
17629
|
| Population rank | 187/197 | 194/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0009% | 0.0002% |
| One net population change |
6.17 hours
|
1.63 weeks
|
| One birth every |
10.1 hours
|
1.89 days
|
| One death every |
1.04 days
|
1.8 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +4 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,419 | -32 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.94% | -0.18% |
| Population growth rate rank | 54/197 | 175/197 |
| One migration net change every |
9.89 hours
|
3.27 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | +888 | -16 |
| Net migration rank | 65/196 | 78/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 31,935 | 5,212 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 162/195 | 184/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 42.9% | 29.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 13/195 | 19/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cayman Islands
|
Palau
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 888 | - | -16 |
| 2024 | - | 896 | - | -14 |
| 2023 | 514 | 921 | -10 | -19 |
| 2022 | 527 | 942 | -7 | -20 |
| 2021 | 533 | 965 | -3 | -21 |
| 2020 | 539 | 810 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 514 | 859 | 23 | -46 |
| 2018 | 383 | 1,011 | 29 | -35 |
| 2017 | 351 | 1,065 | 43 | -33 |
| 2016 | 351 | 1,094 | 53 | -35 |
| 2015 | 364 | 1,107 | 55 | -11 |
| 2014 | 392 | 1,105 | 73 | -7 |
| 2013 | 439 | 1,077 | 88 | -28 |
| 2012 | 468 | 1,060 | 86 | -387 |
| 2011 | 503 | 1,024 | 83 | -405 |
| 2010 | 515 | 978 | 81 | -392 |
| 2009 | 513 | 951 | 81 | -382 |
| 2008 | 490 | 975 | 79 | -378 |
| 2007 | 468 | 990 | 80 | -372 |
| 2006 | 451 | 997 | 79 | -365 |
| 2005 | 439 | 1,002 | 80 | -250 |
| 2004 | 426 | 1,004 | 83 | 79 |
| 2003 | 416 | 1,003 | 86 | 71 |
| 2002 | 407 | 1,019 | 88 | 67 |
| 2001 | 400 | 1,026 | 88 | 65 |
| 2000 | 392 | 1,021 | 85 | 120 |
| 1999 | 394 | 960 | 100 | 243 |
| 1998 | 392 | 974 | 116 | 280 |
| 1997 | 387 | 1,004 | 140 | 297 |
| 1996 | 377 | 1,026 | 166 | 312 |
| 1995 | 362 | 1,039 | 186 | 258 |
| 1994 | 343 | 1,042 | 195 | 211 |
| 1993 | 325 | 1,040 | 196 | 193 |
| 1992 | 320 | 1,020 | 183 | 193 |
| 1991 | 327 | 982 | 175 | 193 |
| 1990 | 284 | 998 | 181 | 156 |
| 1989 | 269 | 700 | 185 | 113 |
| 1988 | 233 | 646 | 183 | 126 |
| 1987 | 214 | 663 | 182 | 125 |
| 1986 | 227 | 649 | 182 | 135 |
| 1985 | 225 | 646 | 181 | 179 |
| 1984 | 216 | 649 | 181 | 157 |
| 1983 | 206 | 648 | 176 | 144 |
| 1982 | 217 | 629 | 170 | 132 |
| 1981 | 255 | 578 | 161 | 120 |
| 1980 | 232 | 588 | 165 | -179 |
| 1979 | 210 | 425 | 176 | -291 |
| 1978 | 195 | 413 | 193 | -285 |
| 1977 | 184 | 456 | 213 | -292 |
| 1976 | 180 | 484 | 236 | -296 |
| 1975 | 181 | 492 | 249 | -296 |
| 1974 | 184 | 493 | 256 | -282 |
| 1973 | 216 | 460 | 268 | 22 |
| 1972 | 292 | 375 | 280 | 147 |
| 1971 | 158 | 500 | 287 | 156 |
| 1970 | 219 | 294 | 286 | 54 |
| 1969 | 139 | 43 | 283 | -209 |
| 1968 | 167 | 39 | 275 | -194 |
| 1967 | 168 | 41 | 266 | -150 |
| 1966 | 167 | 37 | 268 | -18 |
| 1965 | 168 | 28 | 275 | -16 |
| 1964 | 179 | 16 | 284 | -27 |
| 1963 | 191 | 1 | 291 | -41 |
| 1962 | 192 | -6 | 296 | -54 |
| 1961 | 188 | -7 | 298 | -65 |
| 1960 | 180 | -24 | 296 | -70 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/cayman-islands/palau | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 31.1% of the population change in the Cayman Islands is from natural causes (a gain of 4,468 people) and 68.9% is from migration (a gain of 9,879 people). In Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 people).
As of 2024, 31,935 residents or 42.9% of the population were not native-born in the Cayman Islands, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.
Biggest cities by population
|
Cayman Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| George Town | 40.2K |
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between the Cayman Islands and Palau
|
Cayman Islands
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 80.9 years | 69.6 years |
| Average age | 38.4 years | 38.4 years |
| Median age | 39.3 years | 39.2 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.2:49.8 | 53.9:46.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 births per woman | 1.91 births per woman |
| Population density | 834 ppl/mi² | 99.3 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/cayman-islands/palau | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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