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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Namibia was 3,030,131 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Namibia's population is 3,173,089 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Namibia's population is 180 times bigger than Palau's.
  • Namibia is ranked the 134th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
  • The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.04% for Namibia vs 0.0002% for Palau.
  • For the last 10 years, Namibia has had an average growth rate of +2.73% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Namibia has increased from 1.99M people to 3.17M (59.3% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).

Namibia vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Namibia Palau
2100 5,958,153 11,152
2099 5,952,623 11,216
2098 5,947,142 11,281
2097 5,942,285 11,352
2096 5,938,162 11,417
2095 5,930,395 11,485
2094 5,922,248 11,549
2093 5,911,235 11,616
2092 5,899,026 11,682
2091 5,886,490 11,753
2090 5,871,938 11,829
2089 5,858,234 11,907
2088 5,842,720 11,968
2087 5,825,856 12,040
2086 5,806,643 12,109
2085 5,789,246 12,171
2084 5,771,050 12,251
2083 5,751,610 12,316
2082 5,730,648 12,382
2081 5,707,476 12,457
2080 5,682,842 12,537
2079 5,659,698 12,608
2078 5,634,313 12,681
2077 5,608,096 12,758
2076 5,580,829 12,838
2075 5,551,107 12,914
2074 5,522,025 13,007
2073 5,494,180 13,091
2072 5,464,749 13,161
2071 5,434,461 13,252
2070 5,403,822 13,338
2069 5,371,517 13,430
2068 5,336,950 13,525
2067 5,300,707 13,621
2066 5,263,191 13,723
2065 5,227,346 13,818
2064 5,190,323 13,920
2063 5,150,579 14,025
2062 5,109,760 14,136
2061 5,068,478 14,251
2060 5,023,587 14,358
2059 4,979,591 14,479
2058 4,933,964 14,589
2057 4,887,985 14,718
2056 4,840,537 14,837
2055 4,790,848 14,961
2054 4,741,942 15,084
2053 4,691,180 15,206
2052 4,639,835 15,332
2051 4,587,353 15,453
2050 4,533,502 15,562
2049 4,482,650 15,682
2048 4,430,309 15,797
2047 4,373,597 15,912
2046 4,318,050 16,024
2045 4,259,166 16,132
2044 4,202,338 16,245
2043 4,144,892 16,339
2042 4,088,713 16,445
2041 4,032,347 16,549
2040 3,976,987 16,631
2039 3,920,720 16,727
2038 3,862,015 16,805
2037 3,804,482 16,895
2036 3,747,072 16,964
2035 3,689,163 17,042
2034 3,631,737 17,118
2033 3,575,000 17,190
2032 3,516,310 17,250
2031 3,456,265 17,330
2030 3,395,964 17,398
2029 3,336,698 17,457
2028 3,277,428 17,527
2027 3,216,917 17,576
2026 3,156,839 17,629
2025 3,094,769 17,672
2024 3,030,131 17,695
2023 2,963,095 17,727
2022 2,889,662 17,759
2021 2,810,548 17,783
2020 2,728,762 17,792
2019 2,650,494 17,798
2018 2,577,327 17,814
2017 2,506,853 17,812
2016 2,439,213 17,797
2015 2,374,300 17,770
2014 2,312,139 17,715
2013 2,252,508 17,648
2012 2,194,654 17,765
2011 2,146,325 18,078
2010 2,109,811 18,396
2009 2,077,394 18,709
2008 2,047,056 19,009
2007 2,018,600 19,302
2006 1,991,888 19,593
2005 1,966,582 19,819
2004 1,942,082 19,820
2003 1,917,464 19,659
2002 1,889,970 19,503
2001 1,857,048 19,352
2000 1,818,647 19,178
1999 1,776,368 18,901
1998 1,732,745 18,524
1997 1,689,264 18,108
1996 1,646,103 17,654
1995 1,602,170 17,195
1994 1,556,304 16,770
1993 1,508,697 16,372
1992 1,461,322 15,989
1991 1,415,684 15,614
1990 1,369,303 15,259
1989 1,288,947 14,945
1988 1,209,696 14,645
1987 1,167,889 14,334
1986 1,131,081 14,024
1985 1,096,890 13,688
1984 1,065,989 13,337
1983 1,037,511 13,006
1982 1,010,308 12,694
1981 992,500 12,402
1980 981,434 12,271
1979 962,825 12,337
1978 947,269 12,440
1977 931,104 12,525
1976 906,566 12,598
1975 881,032 12,655
1974 854,320 12,687
1973 828,928 12,552
1972 804,399 12,194
1971 780,584 11,759
1970 757,868 11,368
1969 736,120 11,159
1968 715,542 11,080
1967 696,045 10,988
1966 677,655 10,805
1965 660,558 10,547
1964 644,530 10,292
1963 629,589 10,037
1962 615,759 9,793
1961 603,067 9,555
1960 591,465 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/namibia/palau | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Namibia increased by 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Namibia gained 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).

Namibia was ranked 143rd most populous country in 2006 and is 134th 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) Namibia's population will grow by 42.9% to 4,533,502 people with a rank change from 134th to 131st. The population of Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.

Namibia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.96M 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

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Namibia Palau
2100 0.09% -0.57%
2099 0.09% -0.58%
2098 0.08% -0.62%
2097 0.07% -0.57%
2096 0.13% -0.59%
2095 0.14% -0.55%
2094 0.19% -0.58%
2093 0.21% -0.56%
2092 0.21% -0.6%
2091 0.25% -0.65%
2090 0.23% -0.65%
2089 0.27% -0.51%
2088 0.29% -0.6%
2087 0.33% -0.57%
2086 0.3% -0.51%
2085 0.32% -0.65%
2084 0.34% -0.53%
2083 0.37% -0.53%
2082 0.41% -0.6%
2081 0.43% -0.64%
2080 0.41% -0.56%
2079 0.45% -0.58%
2078 0.47% -0.6%
2077 0.49% -0.62%
2076 0.54% -0.59%
2075 0.53% -0.71%
2074 0.51% -0.64%
2073 0.54% -0.53%
2072 0.56% -0.69%
2071 0.57% -0.65%
2070 0.6% -0.68%
2069 0.65% -0.7%
2068 0.68% -0.7%
2067 0.71% -0.74%
2066 0.69% -0.69%
2065 0.71% -0.73%
2064 0.77% -0.75%
2063 0.8% -0.78%
2062 0.81% -0.81%
2061 0.89% -0.74%
2060 0.88% -0.84%
2059 0.92% -0.75%
2058 0.94% -0.88%
2057 0.98% -0.81%
2056 1.04% -0.83%
2055 1.03% -0.81%
2054 1.08% -0.8%
2053 1.11% -0.82%
2052 1.14% -0.78%
2051 1.19% -0.7%
2050 1.13% -0.76%
2049 1.18% -0.73%
2048 1.3% -0.72%
2047 1.29% -0.7%
2046 1.38% -0.67%
2045 1.35% -0.7%
2044 1.39% -0.57%
2043 1.37% -0.64%
2042 1.4% -0.63%
2041 1.39% -0.49%
2040 1.44% -0.57%
2039 1.52% -0.46%
2038 1.51% -0.53%
2037 1.53% -0.41%
2036 1.57% -0.46%
2035 1.58% -0.44%
2034 1.59% -0.42%
2033 1.67% -0.35%
2032 1.74% -0.46%
2031 1.78% -0.39%
2030 1.78% -0.34%
2029 1.81% -0.4%
2028 1.88% -0.28%
2027 1.9% -0.3%
2026 2.01% -0.24%
2025 2.13% -0.13%
2024 2.26% -0.18%
2023 2.54% -0.18%
2022 2.81% -0.13%
2021 3% -0.05%
2020 2.95% -0.03%
2019 2.84% -0.09%
2018 2.81% 0.01%
2017 2.77% 0.08%
2016 2.73% 0.15%
2015 2.69% 0.31%
2014 2.65% 0.38%
2013 2.64% -0.66%
2012 2.25% -1.73%
2011 1.73% -1.73%
2010 1.56% -1.67%
2009 1.48% -1.58%
2008 1.41% -1.52%
2007 1.34% -1.49%
2006 1.29% -1.14%
2005 1.26% -0.005%
2004 1.28% 0.82%
2003 1.45% 0.8%
2002 1.77% 0.78%
2001 2.11% 0.91%
2000 2.38% 1.47%
1999 2.52% 2.04%
1998 2.57% 2.3%
1997 2.62% 2.57%
1996 2.74% 2.67%
1995 2.95% 2.53%
1994 3.16% 2.43%
1993 3.24% 2.4%
1992 3.22% 2.4%
1991 3.39% 2.33%
1990 6.23% 2.1%
1989 6.55% 2.05%
1988 3.58% 2.17%
1987 3.25% 2.21%
1986 3.12% 2.45%
1985 2.9% 2.63%
1984 2.74% 2.54%
1983 2.69% 2.46%
1982 1.79% 2.35%
1981 1.13% 1.07%
1980 1.93% -0.53%
1979 1.64% -0.83%
1978 1.74% -0.68%
1977 2.71% -0.58%
1976 2.9% -0.45%
1975 3.13% -0.25%
1974 3.06% 1.08%
1973 3.05% 2.94%
1972 3.05% 3.7%
1971 3% 3.44%
1970 2.95% 1.87%
1969 2.88% 0.71%
1968 2.8% 0.84%
1967 2.71% 1.69%
1966 2.59% 2.45%
1965 2.49% 2.48%
1964 2.37% 2.54%
1963 2.25% 2.49%
1962 2.1% 2.49%
1961 1.96% 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/namibia/palau | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Namibia grew by 2.26%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Namibia Palau
Current population
3173089
17629
Population rank 134/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.0002%
One net population change
7.84 minutes
1.63 weeks
One birth every
6.85 minutes
1.89 days
One death every
28.8 minutes
1.8 days
Daily growth/decline +184 +0
Annual growth/decline +67,036 -32
Annual growth/decline rate +2.26% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 41/197 175/197
One migration net change every
4.71 hours
3.27 weeks
Annual migration change +1,866 -16
Net migration rank 57/196 78/196
Foreign-born residents 116,035 5,212
Foreign-born residents rank 127/195 184/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 29.5%
Foreign-born share rank 108/195 19/195

Natural population change vs migration

Namibia
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Namibia Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,866 - -16
2024 - 4,211 - -14
2023 58,435 11,675 -10 -19
2022 54,534 22,212 -7 -20
2021 50,160 31,327 -3 -21
2020 55,034 27,056 8 0
2019 54,769 19,676 23 -46
2018 53,970 17,920 29 -35
2017 52,975 16,080 43 -33
2016 52,228 14,002 53 -35
2015 50,846 12,755 55 -11
2014 49,581 11,134 73 -7
2013 47,801 10,748 88 -28
2012 46,204 10,957 86 -387
2011 43,557 -4,067 83 -405
2010 42,046 -8,518 81 -392
2009 39,942 -8,626 81 -382
2008 38,147 -8,775 79 -378
2007 36,430 -8,905 80 -372
2006 34,690 -8,792 79 -365
2005 32,909 -8,195 80 -250
2004 31,478 -7,192 83 79
2003 31,115 -6,153 86 71
2002 31,947 -1,913 88 67
2001 32,942 2,869 88 65
2000 35,280 5,709 85 120
1999 37,233 6,333 100 243
1998 37,500 6,180 116 280
1997 37,256 6,023 140 297
1996 37,177 5,866 166 312
1995 39,119 5,712 186 258
1994 41,316 5,578 195 211
1993 42,861 5,464 196 193
1992 43,945 2,487 183 193
1991 44,523 309 175 193
1990 43,956 3,969 181 156
1989 37,715 75,072 185 113
1988 34,798 10,916 183 126
1987 33,340 4,559 182 125
1986 31,764 3,953 182 135
1985 30,575 2,090 181 179
1984 29,395 -267 181 157
1983 28,307 -481 176 144
1982 27,474 -889 170 132
1981 27,938 -18,901 161 120
1980 28,142 -15,041 165 -179
1979 28,930 -4,818 176 -291
1978 29,821 -22,827 193 -285
1977 29,241 -3,907 213 -292
1976 28,785 -5,048 236 -296
1975 27,882 -553 249 -296
1974 26,844 -744 256 -282
1973 25,754 -1,066 268 22
1972 24,606 -236 280 147
1971 23,467 -208 287 156
1970 22,414 -244 286 54
1969 21,387 -57 283 -209
1968 20,470 -636 275 -194
1967 19,498 -339 266 -150
1966 18,635 -1,023 268 -18
1965 17,902 -1,327 275 -16
1964 17,134 -1,660 284 -27
1963 16,430 -2,016 291 -41
1962 15,656 -2,403 296 -54
1961 14,936 -2,807 298 -65
1960 14,307 -3,227 296 -70

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 74.3% of the population change in Namibia is from natural causes (a gain of 532,532 people) and 25.7% is from migration (a gain of 183,837 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, 116,035 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Namibia, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.

Biggest cities by population

Namibia
City Population
Windhoek 431K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Oshikango 12.4K
Omaruru 10.8K
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, 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/namibia/palau | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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