The latest officially reported population of Curacao was 156,263 in 2025 vs 17,663 people in Palau in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Curacao's population is 156,236 people compared to 17,620 in Palau.
Population statistics:
- Curacao's population is 8.87 times bigger than Palau's.
- Curacao is ranked the 179th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
- The countries together account for 0.002% of the world: 0.002% for Curacao vs 0.0002% for Palau.
- For the last 10 years, Curacao has had an average growth rate of +0.02% per year vs -0.03% in Palau.
- Since 2006, the population of Curacao has increased from 141K people to 156K (10.6% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10.1% decline).
Curacao vs Palau: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Curacao
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | 101,921 | 11,146 |
| 2099 | 102,830 | 11,210 |
| 2098 | 103,765 | 11,275 |
| 2097 | 104,709 | 11,346 |
| 2096 | 105,651 | 11,411 |
| 2095 | 106,631 | 11,479 |
| 2094 | 107,625 | 11,543 |
| 2093 | 108,623 | 11,610 |
| 2092 | 109,622 | 11,676 |
| 2091 | 110,660 | 11,747 |
| 2090 | 111,696 | 11,823 |
| 2089 | 112,755 | 11,901 |
| 2088 | 113,816 | 11,962 |
| 2087 | 114,885 | 12,034 |
| 2086 | 115,958 | 12,103 |
| 2085 | 117,017 | 12,165 |
| 2084 | 118,085 | 12,245 |
| 2083 | 119,113 | 12,310 |
| 2082 | 120,151 | 12,376 |
| 2081 | 121,123 | 12,451 |
| 2080 | 122,130 | 12,531 |
| 2079 | 123,118 | 12,602 |
| 2078 | 124,074 | 12,674 |
| 2077 | 125,003 | 12,751 |
| 2076 | 125,907 | 12,831 |
| 2075 | 126,797 | 12,907 |
| 2074 | 127,699 | 13,000 |
| 2073 | 128,564 | 13,084 |
| 2072 | 129,425 | 13,154 |
| 2071 | 130,254 | 13,245 |
| 2070 | 131,071 | 13,332 |
| 2069 | 131,897 | 13,424 |
| 2068 | 132,692 | 13,518 |
| 2067 | 133,483 | 13,614 |
| 2066 | 134,278 | 13,716 |
| 2065 | 135,062 | 13,811 |
| 2064 | 135,841 | 13,913 |
| 2063 | 136,634 | 14,018 |
| 2062 | 137,416 | 14,129 |
| 2061 | 138,203 | 14,244 |
| 2060 | 138,985 | 14,350 |
| 2059 | 139,775 | 14,471 |
| 2058 | 140,519 | 14,581 |
| 2057 | 141,301 | 14,710 |
| 2056 | 142,099 | 14,830 |
| 2055 | 142,881 | 14,954 |
| 2054 | 143,657 | 15,077 |
| 2053 | 144,401 | 15,198 |
| 2052 | 145,118 | 15,324 |
| 2051 | 145,815 | 15,445 |
| 2050 | 146,484 | 15,554 |
| 2049 | 147,138 | 15,674 |
| 2048 | 147,768 | 15,789 |
| 2047 | 148,407 | 15,904 |
| 2046 | 148,973 | 16,015 |
| 2045 | 149,552 | 16,123 |
| 2044 | 150,129 | 16,237 |
| 2043 | 150,664 | 16,331 |
| 2042 | 151,207 | 16,437 |
| 2041 | 151,711 | 16,541 |
| 2040 | 152,220 | 16,623 |
| 2039 | 152,718 | 16,719 |
| 2038 | 153,143 | 16,797 |
| 2037 | 153,570 | 16,886 |
| 2036 | 154,001 | 16,955 |
| 2035 | 154,356 | 17,033 |
| 2034 | 154,723 | 17,109 |
| 2033 | 155,042 | 17,181 |
| 2032 | 155,321 | 17,241 |
| 2031 | 155,574 | 17,321 |
| 2030 | 155,809 | 17,389 |
| 2029 | 155,988 | 17,448 |
| 2028 | 156,105 | 17,518 |
| 2027 | 156,184 | 17,567 |
| 2026 | 156,236 | 17,620 |
| 2025 | 156,263 | 17,663 |
| 2024 | 155,967 | 17,695 |
| 2023 | 154,654 | 17,727 |
| 2022 | 153,321 | 17,759 |
| 2021 | 153,948 | 17,783 |
| 2020 | 155,482 | 17,792 |
| 2019 | 157,441 | 17,798 |
| 2018 | 159,336 | 17,814 |
| 2017 | 160,175 | 17,812 |
| 2016 | 159,664 | 17,797 |
| 2015 | 157,980 | 17,770 |
| 2014 | 155,909 | 17,715 |
| 2013 | 153,822 | 17,648 |
| 2012 | 152,088 | 17,765 |
| 2011 | 150,831 | 18,078 |
| 2010 | 148,703 | 18,396 |
| 2009 | 146,833 | 18,709 |
| 2008 | 145,880 | 19,009 |
| 2007 | 144,056 | 19,302 |
| 2006 | 141,239 | 19,593 |
| 2005 | 137,658 | 19,819 |
| 2004 | 134,192 | 19,820 |
| 2003 | 131,897 | 19,659 |
| 2002 | 129,205 | 19,503 |
| 2001 | 129,047 | 19,352 |
| 2000 | 133,860 | 19,178 |
| 1999 | 139,428 | 18,901 |
| 1998 | 144,472 | 18,524 |
| 1997 | 146,956 | 18,108 |
| 1996 | 146,306 | 17,654 |
| 1995 | 145,139 | 17,195 |
| 1994 | 144,630 | 16,770 |
| 1993 | 144,299 | 16,372 |
| 1992 | 143,912 | 15,989 |
| 1991 | 144,403 | 15,614 |
| 1990 | 145,400 | 15,259 |
| 1989 | 146,937 | 14,945 |
| 1988 | 149,254 | 14,645 |
| 1987 | 151,456 | 14,334 |
| 1986 | 152,662 | 14,024 |
| 1985 | 152,711 | 13,688 |
| 1984 | 151,940 | 13,337 |
| 1983 | 151,159 | 13,006 |
| 1982 | 150,101 | 12,694 |
| 1981 | 148,629 | 12,402 |
| 1980 | 148,041 | 12,271 |
| 1979 | 147,851 | 12,337 |
| 1978 | 148,341 | 12,440 |
| 1977 | 149,459 | 12,525 |
| 1976 | 149,399 | 12,598 |
| 1975 | 149,129 | 12,655 |
| 1974 | 148,351 | 12,687 |
| 1973 | 146,912 | 12,552 |
| 1972 | 147,710 | 12,194 |
| 1971 | 147,389 | 11,759 |
| 1970 | 144,739 | 11,368 |
| 1969 | 142,581 | 11,159 |
| 1968 | 140,298 | 11,080 |
| 1967 | 138,140 | 10,988 |
| 1966 | 136,682 | 10,805 |
| 1965 | 135,266 | 10,547 |
| 1964 | 133,148 | 10,292 |
| 1963 | 130,860 | 10,037 |
| 1962 | 128,414 | 9,793 |
| 1961 | 126,125 | 9,555 |
| 1960 | 124,826 | 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/curacao/palau | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Curacao increased by 18,425 people (a 13% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Curacao lost 3,428 people (a 2.15% decline), while Palau's population decreased by 177 people (a 0.99% decline).
Curacao was ranked 179th most populous country in 2006 and is still 179th 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) Curacao's population will shrink by 6.24% to 146,484 people with a rank change from 179th to 180th. The population of Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,554 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.
Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 19.4% of the population in Curacao and 27.2% in Palau.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Curacao
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | -0.88% | -0.57% |
| 2099 | -0.9% | -0.58% |
| 2098 | -0.9% | -0.62% |
| 2097 | -0.89% | -0.57% |
| 2096 | -0.92% | -0.59% |
| 2095 | -0.92% | -0.55% |
| 2094 | -0.92% | -0.58% |
| 2093 | -0.91% | -0.56% |
| 2092 | -0.94% | -0.6% |
| 2091 | -0.93% | -0.65% |
| 2090 | -0.94% | -0.65% |
| 2089 | -0.93% | -0.51% |
| 2088 | -0.93% | -0.6% |
| 2087 | -0.93% | -0.57% |
| 2086 | -0.9% | -0.51% |
| 2085 | -0.9% | -0.65% |
| 2084 | -0.86% | -0.53% |
| 2083 | -0.86% | -0.53% |
| 2082 | -0.8% | -0.6% |
| 2081 | -0.82% | -0.64% |
| 2080 | -0.8% | -0.56% |
| 2079 | -0.77% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | -0.74% | -0.6% |
| 2077 | -0.72% | -0.62% |
| 2076 | -0.7% | -0.59% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | -0.67% | -0.64% |
| 2073 | -0.67% | -0.53% |
| 2072 | -0.64% | -0.69% |
| 2071 | -0.62% | -0.65% |
| 2070 | -0.63% | -0.68% |
| 2069 | -0.6% | -0.7% |
| 2068 | -0.59% | -0.7% |
| 2067 | -0.59% | -0.74% |
| 2066 | -0.58% | -0.69% |
| 2065 | -0.57% | -0.73% |
| 2064 | -0.58% | -0.75% |
| 2063 | -0.57% | -0.78% |
| 2062 | -0.57% | -0.81% |
| 2061 | -0.56% | -0.74% |
| 2060 | -0.57% | -0.84% |
| 2059 | -0.53% | -0.75% |
| 2058 | -0.55% | -0.88% |
| 2057 | -0.56% | -0.81% |
| 2056 | -0.55% | -0.83% |
| 2055 | -0.54% | -0.81% |
| 2054 | -0.52% | -0.8% |
| 2053 | -0.49% | -0.82% |
| 2052 | -0.48% | -0.78% |
| 2051 | -0.46% | -0.7% |
| 2050 | -0.44% | -0.76% |
| 2049 | -0.43% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | -0.43% | -0.72% |
| 2047 | -0.38% | -0.7% |
| 2046 | -0.39% | -0.67% |
| 2045 | -0.38% | -0.7% |
| 2044 | -0.36% | -0.57% |
| 2043 | -0.36% | -0.64% |
| 2042 | -0.33% | -0.63% |
| 2041 | -0.33% | -0.49% |
| 2040 | -0.33% | -0.57% |
| 2039 | -0.28% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | -0.28% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | -0.28% | -0.41% |
| 2036 | -0.23% | -0.46% |
| 2035 | -0.24% | -0.44% |
| 2034 | -0.21% | -0.42% |
| 2033 | -0.18% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | -0.16% | -0.46% |
| 2031 | -0.15% | -0.39% |
| 2030 | -0.11% | -0.34% |
| 2029 | -0.08% | -0.4% |
| 2028 | -0.05% | -0.28% |
| 2027 | -0.03% | -0.3% |
| 2026 | -0.02% | -0.24% |
| 2025 | 0.19% | -0.18% |
| 2024 | 0.85% | -0.18% |
| 2023 | 0.87% | -0.18% |
| 2022 | -0.41% | -0.13% |
| 2021 | -0.99% | -0.05% |
| 2020 | -1.24% | -0.03% |
| 2019 | -1.19% | -0.09% |
| 2018 | -0.52% | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 0.32% | 0.08% |
| 2016 | 1.07% | 0.15% |
| 2015 | 1.33% | 0.31% |
| 2014 | 1.36% | 0.38% |
| 2013 | 1.14% | -0.66% |
| 2012 | 0.83% | -1.73% |
| 2011 | 1.43% | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 1.27% | -1.67% |
| 2009 | 0.65% | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 1.27% | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 1.99% | -1.49% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | -1.14% |
| 2005 | 2.58% | -0.005% |
| 2004 | 1.74% | 0.82% |
| 2003 | 2.08% | 0.8% |
| 2002 | 0.12% | 0.78% |
| 2001 | -3.6% | 0.91% |
| 2000 | -3.99% | 1.47% |
| 1999 | -3.49% | 2.04% |
| 1998 | -1.69% | 2.3% |
| 1997 | 0.44% | 2.57% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | 2.67% |
| 1995 | 0.35% | 2.53% |
| 1994 | 0.23% | 2.43% |
| 1993 | 0.27% | 2.4% |
| 1992 | -0.34% | 2.4% |
| 1991 | -0.69% | 2.33% |
| 1990 | -1.05% | 2.1% |
| 1989 | -1.55% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | -1.45% | 2.17% |
| 1987 | -0.79% | 2.21% |
| 1986 | -0.03% | 2.45% |
| 1985 | 0.51% | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 0.52% | 2.54% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | 2.46% |
| 1982 | 0.99% | 2.35% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 0.13% | -0.53% |
| 1979 | -0.33% | -0.83% |
| 1978 | -0.75% | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 0.04% | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 0.18% | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 0.52% | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 0.98% | 1.08% |
| 1973 | -0.54% | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 0.22% | 3.7% |
| 1971 | 1.83% | 3.44% |
| 1970 | 1.51% | 1.87% |
| 1969 | 1.63% | 0.71% |
| 1968 | 1.56% | 0.84% |
| 1967 | 1.07% | 1.69% |
| 1966 | 1.05% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 1.59% | 2.48% |
| 1964 | 1.75% | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 1.9% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 1.81% | 2.49% |
| 1961 | 1.04% | 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/curacao/palau | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Curacao grew by 0.19%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.
Live population counters
|
Curacao
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
156236
|
17620
|
| Population rank | 179/197 | 194/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.002% | 0.0002% |
| One net population change |
1.24 days
|
1.63 weeks
|
| One birth every |
7.81 hours
|
1.93 days
|
| One death every |
5.56 hours
|
1.76 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +1 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +296 | -32 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.19% | -0.18% |
| Population growth rate rank | 151/197 | 175/197 |
| One migration net change every |
18.7 hours
|
3.27 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | +470 | -16 |
| Net migration rank | 68/196 | 78/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 80,020 | 5,212 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 138/195 | 184/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 43.1% | 29.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 12/195 | 19/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curacao
|
Palau
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 470 | - | -16 |
| 2024 | -453 | 513 | -18 | -14 |
| 2023 | -340 | 518 | -10 | -19 |
| 2022 | -353 | 518 | -7 | -20 |
| 2021 | -385 | 503 | -3 | -21 |
| 2020 | -93 | 992 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 205 | -9,595 | 23 | -46 |
| 2018 | 271 | 25,592 | 29 | -35 |
| 2017 | 128 | 537 | 43 | -33 |
| 2016 | 304 | 645 | 53 | -35 |
| 2015 | 489 | 842 | 55 | -11 |
| 2014 | 593 | 1,063 | 73 | -7 |
| 2013 | 708 | 1,283 | 88 | -28 |
| 2012 | 790 | 1,469 | 86 | -387 |
| 2011 | 693 | 1,516 | 83 | -405 |
| 2010 | 773 | 242 | 81 | -392 |
| 2009 | 749 | 484 | 81 | -382 |
| 2008 | 759 | 541 | 79 | -378 |
| 2007 | 792 | 533 | 80 | -372 |
| 2006 | 791 | 489 | 79 | -365 |
| 2005 | 693 | 438 | 80 | -250 |
| 2004 | 742 | 1,006 | 83 | 79 |
| 2003 | 827 | 1,014 | 86 | 71 |
| 2002 | 919 | 1,035 | 88 | 67 |
| 2001 | 1,066 | -982 | 88 | 65 |
| 2000 | 1,136 | -2,995 | 85 | 120 |
| 1999 | 1,207 | -2,963 | 100 | 243 |
| 1998 | 1,358 | -2,931 | 116 | 280 |
| 1997 | 1,517 | -2,900 | 140 | 297 |
| 1996 | 1,628 | -2,872 | 166 | 312 |
| 1995 | 1,715 | -2,847 | 186 | 258 |
| 1994 | 1,805 | -2,829 | 195 | 211 |
| 1993 | 1,894 | -2,776 | 196 | 193 |
| 1992 | 1,980 | -2,574 | 183 | 193 |
| 1991 | 1,989 | -2,428 | 175 | 193 |
| 1990 | 1,985 | -2,419 | 181 | 156 |
| 1989 | 2,013 | -2,405 | 185 | 113 |
| 1988 | 2,085 | -2,391 | 183 | 126 |
| 1987 | 2,143 | -2,381 | 182 | 125 |
| 1986 | 2,186 | -2,364 | 182 | 135 |
| 1985 | 2,206 | -2,351 | 181 | 179 |
| 1984 | 2,193 | -2,327 | 181 | 157 |
| 1983 | 2,175 | -2,295 | 176 | 144 |
| 1982 | 2,142 | -2,248 | 170 | 132 |
| 1981 | 2,102 | -2,116 | 161 | 120 |
| 1980 | 2,079 | -2,026 | 165 | -179 |
| 1979 | 2,077 | -2,001 | 176 | -291 |
| 1978 | 2,112 | -1,972 | 193 | -285 |
| 1977 | 2,171 | -1,949 | 213 | -292 |
| 1976 | 2,220 | -1,928 | 236 | -296 |
| 1975 | 2,279 | -1,901 | 249 | -296 |
| 1974 | 2,331 | -1,870 | 256 | -282 |
| 1973 | 2,355 | -1,841 | 268 | 22 |
| 1972 | 2,421 | -1,553 | 280 | 147 |
| 1971 | 2,558 | -1,401 | 287 | 156 |
| 1970 | 2,679 | -1,392 | 286 | 54 |
| 1969 | 2,792 | -1,384 | 283 | -209 |
| 1968 | 2,904 | -1,405 | 275 | -194 |
| 1967 | 3,015 | -1,446 | 266 | -150 |
| 1966 | 3,109 | -1,460 | 268 | -18 |
| 1965 | 3,202 | -1,477 | 275 | -16 |
| 1964 | 3,240 | -1,454 | 284 | -27 |
| 1963 | 3,271 | -1,431 | 291 | -41 |
| 1962 | 3,286 | -1,381 | 296 | -54 |
| 1961 | 3,305 | -1,306 | 298 | -65 |
| 1960 | 3,336 | -1,530 | 296 | -70 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/curacao/palau | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 1.07% of the population change in Curacao is from natural causes (a loss of 227 people) and 98.9% is from migration (a gain of 21,065 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, 80,020 residents or 43.1% of the population were not native-born in Curacao, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Curacao and Palau
|
Curacao
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 77.3 years | 69.6 years |
| Average age | 41.1 years | 38.7 years |
| Median age | 39.7 years | 39.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 47.6:52.4 | 53.8:46.2 |
| Fertility rate | 1.4 births per woman | 1.88 births per woman |
| Population density | 911 ppl/mi² | 99.2 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/curacao/palau | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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