The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,663 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,620 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.
Population statistics:
- Rwanda's population is 855 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
- The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of -0.03% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10.1% decline), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).
Palau vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
Rwanda
|
|
| 2100 | 11,146 | 33,113,283 |
| 2099 | 11,210 | 33,008,545 |
| 2098 | 11,275 | 32,927,982 |
| 2097 | 11,346 | 32,853,307 |
| 2096 | 11,411 | 32,768,037 |
| 2095 | 11,479 | 32,635,508 |
| 2094 | 11,543 | 32,550,001 |
| 2093 | 11,610 | 32,416,870 |
| 2092 | 11,676 | 32,294,333 |
| 2091 | 11,747 | 32,191,262 |
| 2090 | 11,823 | 32,088,747 |
| 2089 | 11,901 | 31,892,591 |
| 2088 | 11,962 | 31,746,789 |
| 2087 | 12,034 | 31,553,150 |
| 2086 | 12,103 | 31,399,004 |
| 2085 | 12,165 | 31,254,597 |
| 2084 | 12,245 | 31,112,448 |
| 2083 | 12,310 | 30,937,106 |
| 2082 | 12,376 | 30,752,861 |
| 2081 | 12,451 | 30,576,992 |
| 2080 | 12,531 | 30,386,351 |
| 2079 | 12,602 | 30,195,560 |
| 2078 | 12,674 | 30,016,688 |
| 2077 | 12,751 | 29,819,259 |
| 2076 | 12,831 | 29,645,610 |
| 2075 | 12,907 | 29,441,964 |
| 2074 | 13,000 | 29,243,980 |
| 2073 | 13,084 | 29,025,977 |
| 2072 | 13,154 | 28,798,822 |
| 2071 | 13,245 | 28,578,302 |
| 2070 | 13,332 | 28,334,300 |
| 2069 | 13,424 | 28,121,174 |
| 2068 | 13,518 | 27,872,383 |
| 2067 | 13,614 | 27,609,059 |
| 2066 | 13,716 | 27,372,823 |
| 2065 | 13,811 | 27,101,698 |
| 2064 | 13,913 | 26,838,144 |
| 2063 | 14,018 | 26,559,838 |
| 2062 | 14,129 | 26,312,631 |
| 2061 | 14,244 | 26,001,660 |
| 2060 | 14,350 | 25,729,037 |
| 2059 | 14,471 | 25,453,407 |
| 2058 | 14,581 | 25,121,995 |
| 2057 | 14,710 | 24,853,512 |
| 2056 | 14,830 | 24,582,198 |
| 2055 | 14,954 | 24,281,895 |
| 2054 | 15,077 | 23,991,958 |
| 2053 | 15,198 | 23,705,290 |
| 2052 | 15,324 | 23,421,032 |
| 2051 | 15,445 | 23,113,700 |
| 2050 | 15,554 | 22,814,556 |
| 2049 | 15,674 | 22,498,806 |
| 2048 | 15,789 | 22,171,841 |
| 2047 | 15,904 | 21,848,486 |
| 2046 | 16,015 | 21,554,082 |
| 2045 | 16,123 | 21,228,573 |
| 2044 | 16,237 | 20,915,810 |
| 2043 | 16,331 | 20,548,490 |
| 2042 | 16,437 | 20,214,283 |
| 2041 | 16,541 | 19,845,021 |
| 2040 | 16,623 | 19,475,227 |
| 2039 | 16,719 | 19,108,842 |
| 2038 | 16,797 | 18,773,398 |
| 2037 | 16,886 | 18,433,422 |
| 2036 | 16,955 | 18,128,058 |
| 2035 | 17,033 | 17,765,049 |
| 2034 | 17,109 | 17,432,165 |
| 2033 | 17,181 | 17,100,072 |
| 2032 | 17,241 | 16,822,053 |
| 2031 | 17,321 | 16,495,903 |
| 2030 | 17,389 | 16,178,061 |
| 2029 | 17,448 | 15,868,812 |
| 2028 | 17,518 | 15,554,713 |
| 2027 | 17,567 | 15,217,275 |
| 2026 | 17,620 | 14,898,118 |
| 2025 | 17,663 | 14,569,341 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 14,256,567 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 13,954,471 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 13,651,030 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 13,355,260 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 13,065,837 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 12,776,103 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 12,487,996 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 12,202,060 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 11,919,183 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 11,640,022 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 11,364,757 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 11,093,340 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 10,829,901 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 10,573,733 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 10,317,553 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 10,060,432 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 9,804,269 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 9,549,933 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 9,299,246 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 9,054,528 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 8,816,844 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 8,586,875 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 8,400,180 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 8,287,094 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 8,213,931 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 8,147,912 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 8,081,681 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 7,755,238 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 6,708,764 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 5,674,118 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 6,792,352 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 7,981,132 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 7,683,266 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 7,526,966 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 7,375,307 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 7,184,706 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 6,968,071 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 6,749,493 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 6,531,881 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 6,317,228 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 6,107,627 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 5,905,311 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 5,711,549 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 5,527,230 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 5,353,259 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 5,189,541 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 5,035,171 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 4,888,240 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 4,745,954 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 4,607,728 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 4,474,228 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 4,345,047 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 4,220,335 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 4,100,044 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 3,980,669 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 3,861,271 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 3,744,010 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 3,629,577 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 3,521,626 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 3,423,210 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 3,334,834 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 3,258,890 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 3,186,025 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 3,106,779 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 3,022,294 |
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/palau/rwanda | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 177 people (a 0.99% decline), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Palau's population will shrink by 11.7% to 15,554 people with a rank change from 194th to 195th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.
Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M 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
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Rwanda
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | 0.32% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | 0.24% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | 0.23% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | 0.26% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.41% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.26% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | 0.41% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.38% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.32% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 0.32% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.62% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.46% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 0.61% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.49% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.46% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 0.46% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 0.57% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 0.6% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 0.58% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 0.63% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.63% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.6% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.66% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 0.59% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 0.69% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.68% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 0.75% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 0.79% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 0.77% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 0.86% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 0.76% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 0.89% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 0.86% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 1% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 0.98% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 1.05% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 0.94% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 1.2% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 1.06% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 1.08% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 1.32% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 1.08% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 1.1% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 1.24% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 1.21% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 1.21% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 1.21% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 1.33% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 1.4% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 1.47% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 1.48% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 1.37% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 1.53% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 1.79% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 1.65% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 1.86% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 1.9% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 1.92% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 1.79% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 1.84% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | 1.68% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 2.04% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 1.91% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 1.94% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 1.65% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | 1.98% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | 1.96% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | 1.95% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 2.02% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 2.22% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 2.14% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 2.26% |
| 2025 | -0.18% | 2.19% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 2.16% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 2.22% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 2.21% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | 2.22% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 2.27% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 2.31% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 2.34% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 2.37% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 2.4% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 2.42% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 2.45% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 2.43% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 2.42% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 2.48% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 2.56% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 2.61% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 2.66% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 2.7% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 2.7% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 2.7% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 2.68% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 2.22% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 1.36% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 0.89% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 0.81% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 0.82% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 4.21% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 15.6% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 18.2% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | -16.5% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | -14.9% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 3.88% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 2.08% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 2.06% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 2.65% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 3.11% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 3.24% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 3.33% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 3.4% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 3.43% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 3.43% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 3.39% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 3.33% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 3.25% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 3.15% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 3.07% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 3.01% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 3% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 3% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 2.98% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 2.97% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 2.96% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 2.93% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 3% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 3.09% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 3.13% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 3.15% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 3.07% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 2.87% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 2.65% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 2.33% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 2.29% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 2.55% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 2.8% |
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/palau/rwanda | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
Rwanda
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17620
|
15062056
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 77/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.18% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
1.69 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.93 days
|
1.31 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.76 days
|
6.25 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +857 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +312,774 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +2.19% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 40/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
1.4 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | +6,282 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 48/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 513,316 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 80/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 3.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 109/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Rwanda
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | 6,282 |
| 2024 | -18 | -14 | 316,025 | -15,582 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | 312,762 | -9,001 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | 312,145 | -9,001 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | 309,895 | -21,492 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 312,692 | -22,251 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 313,525 | -24,492 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 312,512 | -25,323 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 310,323 | -25,634 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 305,549 | -24,474 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 299,114 | -21,862 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 292,779 | -19,505 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 286,331 | -16,779 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 282,584 | -25,260 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 282,922 | -27,915 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 286,848 | -29,501 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 287,034 | -30,128 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 287,334 | -31,913 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 285,791 | -32,537 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 282,149 | -34,008 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 275,121 | -33,830 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 265,273 | -31,214 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 251,243 | -25,355 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 239,036 | -91,518 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 230,845 | -152,197 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 221,276 | -153,588 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 210,518 | -146,162 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 197,185 | -129,089 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 174,687 | 410,106 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 140,455 | 1,367,700 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 121,137 | 439,995 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | -719,479 | -2,078,111 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 183,926 | 236,110 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 188,025 | -12,334 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 196,431 | -59,519 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 207,895 | -41,483 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 217,632 | -2,826 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 223,759 | -5,285 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 225,744 | -7,062 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 225,526 | -8,982 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 223,794 | -11,031 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 219,337 | -12,899 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 212,750 | -14,560 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 205,147 | -15,818 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 195,769 | -16,453 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 184,988 | -16,359 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 174,477 | -15,669 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 163,779 | -13,838 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 155,011 | -11,084 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 147,665 | -7,027 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 140,596 | -4,791 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 135,743 | -4,535 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 131,021 | -3,862 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 126,403 | -4,156 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 122,567 | -4,230 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 119,273 | 1,149 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 115,394 | 2,983 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 111,422 | 4,728 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 108,053 | 4,655 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 105,128 | -1,930 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 103,422 | -9,774 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 102,562 | -19,458 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 94,296 | -25,524 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 102,548 | -25,594 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 102,051 | -20,508 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 100,627 | -13,198 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/rwanda | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 42.5% of the population change in Palau is from natural causes (a gain of 173 people) and 57.5% is from migration (a loss of 234 people). In Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and Rwanda
|
Palau
|
Rwanda
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 68.5 years |
| Average age | 38.7 years | 25.1 years |
| Median age | 39.5 years | 21 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.8:46.2 | 48.8:51.2 |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 births per woman | 3.65 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.2 ppl/mi² | 1,564 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/palau/rwanda | 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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