The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,663 in 2025 vs 219,306 people in Samoa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,620 people compared to 221,158 in Samoa.
Population statistics:
- Samoa's population is 12.6 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while Samoa is the 177th.
- The countries together account for 0.003% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.003% for Samoa.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of -0.03% per year vs +0.84% in Samoa.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10.1% decline), while Samoa has grown from 188K to 221K (17.8% growth).
Palau vs Samoa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
Samoa
|
|
| 2100 | 11,146 | 384,035 |
| 2099 | 11,210 | 382,728 |
| 2098 | 11,275 | 381,414 |
| 2097 | 11,346 | 380,066 |
| 2096 | 11,411 | 378,599 |
| 2095 | 11,479 | 377,074 |
| 2094 | 11,543 | 375,519 |
| 2093 | 11,610 | 373,888 |
| 2092 | 11,676 | 372,169 |
| 2091 | 11,747 | 370,373 |
| 2090 | 11,823 | 368,608 |
| 2089 | 11,901 | 366,755 |
| 2088 | 11,962 | 364,803 |
| 2087 | 12,034 | 362,850 |
| 2086 | 12,103 | 360,862 |
| 2085 | 12,165 | 358,840 |
| 2084 | 12,245 | 356,781 |
| 2083 | 12,310 | 354,649 |
| 2082 | 12,376 | 352,438 |
| 2081 | 12,451 | 350,145 |
| 2080 | 12,531 | 347,866 |
| 2079 | 12,602 | 345,496 |
| 2078 | 12,674 | 343,017 |
| 2077 | 12,751 | 340,475 |
| 2076 | 12,831 | 337,881 |
| 2075 | 12,907 | 335,254 |
| 2074 | 13,000 | 332,652 |
| 2073 | 13,084 | 329,962 |
| 2072 | 13,154 | 327,203 |
| 2071 | 13,245 | 324,322 |
| 2070 | 13,332 | 321,610 |
| 2069 | 13,424 | 318,855 |
| 2068 | 13,518 | 316,041 |
| 2067 | 13,614 | 313,344 |
| 2066 | 13,716 | 310,581 |
| 2065 | 13,811 | 307,946 |
| 2064 | 13,913 | 305,328 |
| 2063 | 14,018 | 302,731 |
| 2062 | 14,129 | 300,188 |
| 2061 | 14,244 | 297,795 |
| 2060 | 14,350 | 295,379 |
| 2059 | 14,471 | 292,975 |
| 2058 | 14,581 | 290,541 |
| 2057 | 14,710 | 288,249 |
| 2056 | 14,830 | 286,049 |
| 2055 | 14,954 | 283,835 |
| 2054 | 15,077 | 281,645 |
| 2053 | 15,198 | 279,406 |
| 2052 | 15,324 | 277,095 |
| 2051 | 15,445 | 274,684 |
| 2050 | 15,554 | 272,285 |
| 2049 | 15,674 | 269,817 |
| 2048 | 15,789 | 267,350 |
| 2047 | 15,904 | 264,875 |
| 2046 | 16,015 | 262,303 |
| 2045 | 16,123 | 259,670 |
| 2044 | 16,237 | 256,996 |
| 2043 | 16,331 | 254,462 |
| 2042 | 16,437 | 251,813 |
| 2041 | 16,541 | 249,169 |
| 2040 | 16,623 | 246,598 |
| 2039 | 16,719 | 244,088 |
| 2038 | 16,797 | 241,568 |
| 2037 | 16,886 | 239,227 |
| 2036 | 16,955 | 236,940 |
| 2035 | 17,033 | 234,725 |
| 2034 | 17,109 | 232,695 |
| 2033 | 17,181 | 230,809 |
| 2032 | 17,241 | 229,073 |
| 2031 | 17,321 | 227,359 |
| 2030 | 17,389 | 225,842 |
| 2029 | 17,448 | 224,425 |
| 2028 | 17,518 | 223,027 |
| 2027 | 17,567 | 221,755 |
| 2026 | 17,620 | 220,528 |
| 2025 | 17,663 | 219,306 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 218,019 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 216,663 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 215,261 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 213,779 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 211,944 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 209,780 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 207,582 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 205,415 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 203,499 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 201,782 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 200,037 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 198,268 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 196,498 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 194,713 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 193,023 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 191,513 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 190,107 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 188,753 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 187,709 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 186,978 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 186,249 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 185,430 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 184,471 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 183,166 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 181,685 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 180,275 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 178,905 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 177,547 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 176,071 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 174,571 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 173,159 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 171,774 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 170,331 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 169,368 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 169,042 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 168,768 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 168,346 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 167,661 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 167,061 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 166,849 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 166,796 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 166,714 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 166,484 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 165,678 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 164,322 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 162,882 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 161,375 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 159,753 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 157,113 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 153,344 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 149,431 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 146,516 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 144,538 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 142,503 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 140,400 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 138,233 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 136,020 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 133,764 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 131,073 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 127,978 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 124,894 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 121,764 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 118,597 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 115,496 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 112,490 |
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/samoa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while Samoa gained 15,790 people (a 8.41% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 177 people (a 0.99% decline), while Samoa's population increased by 17,659 people (a 8.68% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. Samoa was ranked 176th in 2006 and ranked 177th 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 Samoa will increase by 23.1% to 272,285 people and rank change from 177th to 176th.
Samoa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 384K 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
|
Samoa
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | 0.34% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | 0.34% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | 0.35% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | 0.39% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.4% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.41% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | 0.44% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.46% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.48% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 0.48% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.51% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.54% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 0.54% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.55% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.56% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 0.58% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 0.6% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 0.63% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 0.65% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 0.66% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.69% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.72% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.75% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 0.77% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 0.78% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.78% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 0.82% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 0.84% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 0.89% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 0.84% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 0.86% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 0.89% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 0.86% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 0.89% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 0.86% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 0.86% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 0.86% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 0.85% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 0.8% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 0.82% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 0.82% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 0.84% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 0.8% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 0.77% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 0.78% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 0.78% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 0.8% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 0.83% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 0.88% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 0.88% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 0.91% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 0.92% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 0.93% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 0.98% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 1.01% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 1.04% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 1% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 1.05% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 1.06% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 1.04% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 1.03% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 1.04% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 0.98% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | 0.96% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 0.94% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 0.87% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 0.82% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 0.76% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | 0.75% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | 0.67% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | 0.63% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 0.63% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 0.57% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 0.56% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 0.56% |
| 2025 | -0.18% | 0.59% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 0.63% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 0.65% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 0.69% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | 0.87% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 1.03% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 1.06% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 1.05% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 0.94% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 0.85% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 0.87% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 0.89% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 0.9% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 0.92% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 0.88% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 0.79% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 0.74% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 0.72% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 0.56% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 0.39% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 0.39% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 0.44% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 0.52% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 0.71% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 0.82% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 0.78% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 0.77% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 0.76% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 0.84% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 0.86% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 0.82% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 0.81% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 0.85% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 0.57% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 0.19% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 0.16% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 0.25% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 0.41% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 0.36% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 0.13% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 0.03% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 0.05% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 0.14% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 0.49% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 0.83% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 0.88% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 0.93% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 1.02% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 1.68% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 2.46% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 2.62% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 1.99% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 1.37% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 1.43% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 1.5% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 1.57% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 1.63% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 1.69% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 2.05% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 2.42% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 2.47% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 2.57% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 2.67% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 2.68% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 2.67% |
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/samoa | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while Samoa's population grew by 0.59%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
Samoa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17620
|
221158
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 177/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
6.83 hours
|
| One birth every |
1.93 days
|
1.61 hours
|
| One death every |
1.76 days
|
6.53 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +4 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +1,287 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +0.59% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 123/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
3.12 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | -2,815 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 105/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 3,843 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 186/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 1.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 137/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Samoa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | -2,815 |
| 2024 | -18 | -14 | 4,101 | -2,754 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | 4,170 | -2,810 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | 4,288 | -2,837 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | 4,379 | -2,860 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 4,442 | -2,299 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 4,495 | -2,313 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 4,637 | -2,425 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 4,661 | -2,539 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 4,720 | -3,008 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 4,795 | -3,074 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 4,849 | -3,081 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 4,875 | -3,107 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 4,863 | -3,089 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 4,860 | -3,056 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 4,779 | -3,197 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 4,525 | -3,093 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 4,581 | -3,194 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 4,480 | -3,152 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 4,473 | -3,714 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 4,503 | -3,805 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 4,554 | -3,796 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 4,622 | -3,748 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 4,672 | -3,624 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 4,759 | -3,198 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 4,855 | -3,453 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 4,937 | -3,517 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 5,022 | -3,702 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 5,053 | -3,658 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 5,038 | -3,476 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 4,976 | -3,532 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 4,880 | -3,505 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 4,769 | -3,373 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 4,652 | -3,161 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 4,655 | -4,227 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 4,759 | -4,533 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 4,845 | -4,527 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 4,889 | -4,366 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 4,909 | -4,056 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 4,983 | -4,637 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 4,998 | -4,920 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 4,979 | -4,944 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 4,914 | -4,789 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 4,808 | -4,479 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 4,720 | -3,440 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 4,672 | -3,240 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 4,624 | -3,177 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 4,587 | -3,022 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 4,555 | -2,866 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 4,519 | -929 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 4,465 | -522 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 4,411 | -526 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 4,446 | -2,501 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 4,487 | -2,483 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 4,534 | -2,463 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 4,567 | -2,429 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 4,592 | -2,399 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 4,605 | -2,370 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 4,621 | -2,333 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 4,593 | -1,503 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 4,605 | -1,512 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 4,326 | -1,252 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 4,544 | -1,365 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 4,498 | -1,341 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 4,399 | -1,349 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 4,298 | -1,333 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/samoa | 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 Samoa 62.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 44,688 people) and 37.6% is from migration (a loss of 26,919 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 3,843 people or 1.8% in Samoa.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and Samoa
|
Palau
|
Samoa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 72.1 years |
| Average age | 38.7 years | 27 years |
| Median age | 39.5 years | 20.9 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.8:46.2 | 50.4:49.6 |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 births per woman | 3.8 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.2 ppl/mi² | 205.5 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/samoa | 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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