The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,663 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,620 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- Sao Tome and Principe's population is 14 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 0.003% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of -0.03% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10.1% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).
Palau vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 11,146 | 538,656 |
| 2099 | 11,210 | 537,257 |
| 2098 | 11,275 | 535,715 |
| 2097 | 11,346 | 534,052 |
| 2096 | 11,411 | 532,281 |
| 2095 | 11,479 | 530,505 |
| 2094 | 11,543 | 528,585 |
| 2093 | 11,610 | 526,572 |
| 2092 | 11,676 | 524,436 |
| 2091 | 11,747 | 522,255 |
| 2090 | 11,823 | 519,929 |
| 2089 | 11,901 | 517,542 |
| 2088 | 11,962 | 515,028 |
| 2087 | 12,034 | 512,499 |
| 2086 | 12,103 | 509,949 |
| 2085 | 12,165 | 507,271 |
| 2084 | 12,245 | 504,516 |
| 2083 | 12,310 | 501,611 |
| 2082 | 12,376 | 498,655 |
| 2081 | 12,451 | 495,622 |
| 2080 | 12,531 | 492,416 |
| 2079 | 12,602 | 489,178 |
| 2078 | 12,674 | 485,864 |
| 2077 | 12,751 | 482,385 |
| 2076 | 12,831 | 478,877 |
| 2075 | 12,907 | 475,315 |
| 2074 | 13,000 | 471,700 |
| 2073 | 13,084 | 468,051 |
| 2072 | 13,154 | 464,286 |
| 2071 | 13,245 | 460,447 |
| 2070 | 13,332 | 456,490 |
| 2069 | 13,424 | 452,388 |
| 2068 | 13,518 | 448,306 |
| 2067 | 13,614 | 444,092 |
| 2066 | 13,716 | 439,773 |
| 2065 | 13,811 | 435,502 |
| 2064 | 13,913 | 431,068 |
| 2063 | 14,018 | 426,645 |
| 2062 | 14,129 | 422,127 |
| 2061 | 14,244 | 417,629 |
| 2060 | 14,350 | 413,061 |
| 2059 | 14,471 | 408,522 |
| 2058 | 14,581 | 403,970 |
| 2057 | 14,710 | 399,359 |
| 2056 | 14,830 | 394,790 |
| 2055 | 14,954 | 390,100 |
| 2054 | 15,077 | 385,416 |
| 2053 | 15,198 | 380,685 |
| 2052 | 15,324 | 375,964 |
| 2051 | 15,445 | 371,143 |
| 2050 | 15,554 | 366,347 |
| 2049 | 15,674 | 361,542 |
| 2048 | 15,789 | 356,694 |
| 2047 | 15,904 | 351,813 |
| 2046 | 16,015 | 346,841 |
| 2045 | 16,123 | 341,791 |
| 2044 | 16,237 | 336,747 |
| 2043 | 16,331 | 331,669 |
| 2042 | 16,437 | 326,608 |
| 2041 | 16,541 | 321,551 |
| 2040 | 16,623 | 316,415 |
| 2039 | 16,719 | 311,237 |
| 2038 | 16,797 | 306,029 |
| 2037 | 16,886 | 300,834 |
| 2036 | 16,955 | 295,584 |
| 2035 | 17,033 | 290,361 |
| 2034 | 17,109 | 285,145 |
| 2033 | 17,181 | 279,952 |
| 2032 | 17,241 | 274,798 |
| 2031 | 17,321 | 269,704 |
| 2030 | 17,389 | 264,687 |
| 2029 | 17,448 | 259,670 |
| 2028 | 17,518 | 254,717 |
| 2027 | 17,567 | 249,827 |
| 2026 | 17,620 | 245,033 |
| 2025 | 17,663 | 240,254 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 68,012 |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 177 people (a 0.99% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th 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 Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K 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
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | -0.18% | 2% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 1.02% |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17620
|
247495
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
1.86 hours
|
| One birth every |
1.93 days
|
1.32 hours
|
| One death every |
1.76 days
|
6.73 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +4,718 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +2% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 50/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | -18 | -14 | 5,315 | -604 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe 81.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,756 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 11,424 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and Sao Tome and Principe
|
Palau
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 38.7 years | 25.2 years |
| Median age | 39.5 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.8:46.2 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.2 ppl/mi² | 661 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/sao-tome-and-principe | 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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