The current population of Palau is 17,629 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 17,695 in 2024.
- Since 2006, population has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (-10% decline in 20 years).
- For the last 20 years, Palau has had an average decline rate of -0.5% per year.
- Palau is ranked 194/197 by population and was ranked 194th in 2006.
- Palau's population peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and has been in decline since.
- The UN estimates that Palau's population is going to decline by -11.7% to 15.6K people by 2050.
- Palau accounts for 0.0002% of the world's population.
Palau population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 11,152 | -0.57% |
| 2099 | 11,216 | -0.58% |
| 2098 | 11,281 | -0.62% |
| 2097 | 11,352 | -0.57% |
| 2096 | 11,417 | -0.59% |
| 2095 | 11,485 | -0.55% |
| 2094 | 11,549 | -0.58% |
| 2093 | 11,616 | -0.56% |
| 2092 | 11,682 | -0.6% |
| 2091 | 11,753 | -0.65% |
| 2090 | 11,829 | -0.65% |
| 2089 | 11,907 | -0.51% |
| 2088 | 11,968 | -0.6% |
| 2087 | 12,040 | -0.57% |
| 2086 | 12,109 | -0.51% |
| 2085 | 12,171 | -0.65% |
| 2084 | 12,251 | -0.53% |
| 2083 | 12,316 | -0.53% |
| 2082 | 12,382 | -0.6% |
| 2081 | 12,457 | -0.64% |
| 2080 | 12,537 | -0.56% |
| 2079 | 12,608 | -0.58% |
| 2078 | 12,681 | -0.6% |
| 2077 | 12,758 | -0.62% |
| 2076 | 12,838 | -0.59% |
| 2075 | 12,914 | -0.71% |
| 2074 | 13,007 | -0.64% |
| 2073 | 13,091 | -0.53% |
| 2072 | 13,161 | -0.69% |
| 2071 | 13,252 | -0.65% |
| 2070 | 13,338 | -0.68% |
| 2069 | 13,430 | -0.7% |
| 2068 | 13,525 | -0.7% |
| 2067 | 13,621 | -0.74% |
| 2066 | 13,723 | -0.69% |
| 2065 | 13,818 | -0.73% |
| 2064 | 13,920 | -0.75% |
| 2063 | 14,025 | -0.78% |
| 2062 | 14,136 | -0.81% |
| 2061 | 14,251 | -0.74% |
| 2060 | 14,358 | -0.84% |
| 2059 | 14,479 | -0.75% |
| 2058 | 14,589 | -0.88% |
| 2057 | 14,718 | -0.81% |
| 2056 | 14,837 | -0.83% |
| 2055 | 14,961 | -0.81% |
| 2054 | 15,084 | -0.8% |
| 2053 | 15,206 | -0.82% |
| 2052 | 15,332 | -0.78% |
| 2051 | 15,453 | -0.7% |
| 2050 | 15,562 | -0.76% |
| 2049 | 15,682 | -0.73% |
| 2048 | 15,797 | -0.72% |
| 2047 | 15,912 | -0.7% |
| 2046 | 16,024 | -0.67% |
| 2045 | 16,132 | -0.7% |
| 2044 | 16,245 | -0.57% |
| 2043 | 16,339 | -0.64% |
| 2042 | 16,445 | -0.63% |
| 2041 | 16,549 | -0.49% |
| 2040 | 16,631 | -0.57% |
| 2039 | 16,727 | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 16,805 | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 16,895 | -0.41% |
| 2036 | 16,964 | -0.46% |
| 2035 | 17,042 | -0.44% |
| 2034 | 17,118 | -0.42% |
| 2033 | 17,190 | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 17,250 | -0.46% |
| 2031 | 17,330 | -0.39% |
| 2030 | 17,398 | -0.34% |
| 2029 | 17,457 | -0.4% |
| 2028 | 17,527 | -0.28% |
| 2027 | 17,576 | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 17,629 | -0.24% |
| 2025 | 17,672 | -0.13% |
| 2024 | 17,695 | -0.18% |
| 2023 | 17,727 | -0.18% |
| 2022 | 17,759 | -0.13% |
| 2021 | 17,783 | -0.05% |
| 2020 | 17,792 | -0.03% |
| 2019 | 17,798 | -0.09% |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 0.08% |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 0.15% |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 0.31% |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 0.38% |
| 2013 | 17,648 | -0.66% |
| 2012 | 17,765 | -1.73% |
| 2011 | 18,078 | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 18,396 | -1.67% |
| 2009 | 18,709 | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 19,009 | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 19,302 | -1.49% |
| 2006 | 19,593 | -1.14% |
| 2005 | 19,819 | -0.005% |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 0.82% |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 0.8% |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 0.78% |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 0.91% |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 1.47% |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 2.04% |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 2.3% |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 2.57% |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 2.67% |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 2.53% |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 2.43% |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 2.4% |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 2.4% |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 2.33% |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 2.1% |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 2.17% |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 2.21% |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 2.45% |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 2.54% |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 2.46% |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 2.35% |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 12,271 | -0.53% |
| 1979 | 12,337 | -0.83% |
| 1978 | 12,440 | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 12,525 | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 12,598 | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 12,655 | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 1.08% |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 3.7% |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 3.44% |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 1.87% |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 0.71% |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 0.84% |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 1.69% |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 2.48% |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 2.49% |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 2.43% |
| 1960 | 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/palau | CC BY 
Palau has a population of 17.6K as of 2026, compared to 17.8K in 2016, 19.6K in 2006, and 17.7K in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to decrease by an average of 0.09% per year. Palau is ranked 166th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Palau will have 16,024 people (-9.1% decline) and still will be ranked 194th.
By the year 2100, Palau's population is projected to decline by 36.7% from its current level to 11.2K people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -16 |
| 2024 | - | - | -14 |
| 2023 | -29 | -10 | -19 |
| 2022 | -27 | -7 | -20 |
| 2021 | -24 | -3 | -21 |
| 2020 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | -23 | 23 | -46 |
| 2018 | -6 | 29 | -35 |
| 2017 | 10 | 43 | -33 |
| 2016 | 18 | 53 | -35 |
| 2015 | 44 | 55 | -11 |
| 2014 | 66 | 73 | -7 |
| 2013 | 60 | 88 | -28 |
| 2012 | -301 | 86 | -387 |
| 2011 | -322 | 83 | -405 |
| 2010 | -311 | 81 | -392 |
| 2009 | -301 | 81 | -382 |
| 2008 | -299 | 79 | -378 |
| 2007 | -292 | 80 | -372 |
| 2006 | -286 | 79 | -365 |
| 2005 | -170 | 80 | -250 |
| 2004 | 162 | 83 | 79 |
| 2003 | 157 | 86 | 71 |
| 2002 | 155 | 88 | 67 |
| 2001 | 153 | 88 | 65 |
| 2000 | 205 | 85 | 120 |
| 1999 | 343 | 100 | 243 |
| 1998 | 396 | 116 | 280 |
| 1997 | 437 | 140 | 297 |
| 1996 | 478 | 166 | 312 |
| 1995 | 444 | 186 | 258 |
| 1994 | 406 | 195 | 211 |
| 1993 | 389 | 196 | 193 |
| 1992 | 376 | 183 | 193 |
| 1991 | 368 | 175 | 193 |
| 1990 | 337 | 181 | 156 |
| 1989 | 298 | 185 | 113 |
| 1988 | 309 | 183 | 126 |
| 1987 | 307 | 182 | 125 |
| 1986 | 317 | 182 | 135 |
| 1985 | 360 | 181 | 179 |
| 1984 | 338 | 181 | 157 |
| 1983 | 320 | 176 | 144 |
| 1982 | 302 | 170 | 132 |
| 1981 | 281 | 161 | 120 |
| 1980 | -14 | 165 | -179 |
| 1979 | -115 | 176 | -291 |
| 1978 | -92 | 193 | -285 |
| 1977 | -79 | 213 | -292 |
| 1976 | -60 | 236 | -296 |
| 1975 | -47 | 249 | -296 |
| 1974 | -26 | 256 | -282 |
| 1973 | 290 | 268 | 22 |
| 1972 | 427 | 280 | 147 |
| 1971 | 443 | 287 | 156 |
| 1970 | 340 | 286 | 54 |
| 1969 | 74 | 283 | -209 |
| 1968 | 81 | 275 | -194 |
| 1967 | 116 | 266 | -150 |
| 1966 | 250 | 268 | -18 |
| 1965 | 259 | 275 | -16 |
| 1964 | 257 | 284 | -27 |
| 1963 | 250 | 291 | -41 |
| 1962 | 242 | 296 | -54 |
| 1961 | 233 | 298 | -65 |
| 1960 | 226 | 296 | -70 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palau | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 53.8% of the population change in Palau is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 5,490 and 29.8% in 2010.
Palau population clock
Palau
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17629
|
194/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 194/197 |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
165/197 |
| One birth every |
1.89 days
|
195/196 |
| One death every |
1.8 days
|
194/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | 165/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | 165/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | 175/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
78/196 |
| Annual migration change | -16 | 78/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 184/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 19/195 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Palau population statistics
|
Palau
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 38.4 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 39.2 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.9:46.1 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.3 ppl/mi² | 144 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/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:
- 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)
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.