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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,695 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,629 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 849 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 +0.02% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10% decline), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Palau vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Palau
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Palau Rwanda
2100 11,152 33,092,520
2099 11,216 32,987,847
2098 11,281 32,907,335
2097 11,352 32,832,706
2096 11,417 32,747,490
2095 11,485 32,615,044
2094 11,549 32,529,590
2093 11,616 32,396,544
2092 11,682 32,274,083
2091 11,753 32,171,077
2090 11,829 32,068,626
2089 11,907 31,872,593
2088 11,968 31,726,882
2087 12,040 31,533,364
2086 12,109 31,379,315
2085 12,171 31,235,000
2084 12,251 31,092,940
2083 12,316 30,917,707
2082 12,382 30,733,578
2081 12,457 30,557,819
2080 12,537 30,367,298
2079 12,608 30,176,627
2078 12,681 29,997,866
2077 12,758 29,800,561
2076 12,838 29,627,021
2075 12,914 29,423,503
2074 13,007 29,225,643
2073 13,091 29,007,777
2072 13,161 28,780,763
2071 13,252 28,560,382
2070 13,338 28,316,533
2069 13,430 28,103,541
2068 13,525 27,854,906
2067 13,621 27,591,747
2066 13,723 27,355,659
2065 13,818 27,084,704
2064 13,920 26,821,315
2063 14,025 26,543,184
2062 14,136 26,296,132
2061 14,251 25,985,356
2060 14,358 25,712,904
2059 14,479 25,437,446
2058 14,589 25,106,242
2057 14,718 24,837,928
2056 14,837 24,566,784
2055 14,961 24,266,669
2054 15,084 23,976,914
2053 15,206 23,690,426
2052 15,332 23,406,346
2051 15,453 23,099,207
2050 15,562 22,800,250
2049 15,682 22,484,698
2048 15,797 22,157,938
2047 15,912 21,834,786
2046 16,024 21,540,566
2045 16,132 21,215,262
2044 16,245 20,902,695
2043 16,339 20,535,605
2042 16,445 20,201,608
2041 16,549 19,832,577
2040 16,631 19,463,015
2039 16,727 19,096,860
2038 16,805 18,761,626
2037 16,895 18,421,864
2036 16,964 18,116,691
2035 17,042 17,753,910
2034 17,118 17,421,234
2033 17,190 17,089,349
2032 17,250 16,811,505
2031 17,330 16,485,559
2030 17,398 16,167,916
2029 17,457 15,858,862
2028 17,527 15,544,959
2027 17,576 15,207,733
2026 17,629 14,888,776
2025 17,672 14,560,205
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 168 people (a 0.94% decline), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% 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 15,562 people with a rank change from 194th to 195th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 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 11.2K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Palau
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
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 -0.13% 2.13%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Palau Rwanda
Current population
17629
14975051
Population rank 194/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.0002% 0.18%
One net population change
1.63 weeks
1.74 minutes
One birth every
1.89 days
1.33 minutes
One death every
1.8 days
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +0 +828
Annual growth/decline -32 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate -0.18% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 175/197 45/197
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

Palau
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Palau Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -16 - 6,282
2024 - -14 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/palau/rwanda | 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). In Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 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

Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/palau/rwanda | 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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