The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,695 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,629 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.
Population statistics:
- Saudi Arabia's population is 2,084 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
- The countries together account for 0.44% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of +0.02% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10% decline), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).
Palau vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
| 2100 | 11,152 | 74,230,118 |
| 2099 | 11,216 | 73,760,045 |
| 2098 | 11,281 | 73,287,526 |
| 2097 | 11,352 | 72,813,125 |
| 2096 | 11,417 | 72,336,039 |
| 2095 | 11,485 | 71,858,206 |
| 2094 | 11,549 | 71,379,928 |
| 2093 | 11,616 | 70,900,460 |
| 2092 | 11,682 | 70,420,464 |
| 2091 | 11,753 | 69,940,749 |
| 2090 | 11,829 | 69,462,214 |
| 2089 | 11,907 | 68,985,976 |
| 2088 | 11,968 | 68,510,277 |
| 2087 | 12,040 | 68,035,545 |
| 2086 | 12,109 | 67,562,521 |
| 2085 | 12,171 | 67,091,615 |
| 2084 | 12,251 | 66,621,667 |
| 2083 | 12,316 | 66,152,653 |
| 2082 | 12,382 | 65,684,321 |
| 2081 | 12,457 | 65,216,102 |
| 2080 | 12,537 | 64,749,128 |
| 2079 | 12,608 | 64,282,393 |
| 2078 | 12,681 | 63,815,918 |
| 2077 | 12,758 | 63,348,712 |
| 2076 | 12,838 | 62,880,120 |
| 2075 | 12,914 | 62,409,793 |
| 2074 | 13,007 | 61,937,628 |
| 2073 | 13,091 | 61,462,662 |
| 2072 | 13,161 | 60,984,202 |
| 2071 | 13,252 | 60,502,791 |
| 2070 | 13,338 | 60,018,216 |
| 2069 | 13,430 | 59,529,456 |
| 2068 | 13,525 | 59,036,086 |
| 2067 | 13,621 | 58,539,487 |
| 2066 | 13,723 | 58,039,687 |
| 2065 | 13,818 | 57,537,106 |
| 2064 | 13,920 | 57,032,172 |
| 2063 | 14,025 | 56,524,331 |
| 2062 | 14,136 | 56,014,549 |
| 2061 | 14,251 | 55,501,467 |
| 2060 | 14,358 | 54,986,901 |
| 2059 | 14,479 | 54,469,809 |
| 2058 | 14,589 | 53,950,469 |
| 2057 | 14,718 | 53,430,639 |
| 2056 | 14,837 | 52,909,061 |
| 2055 | 14,961 | 52,386,571 |
| 2054 | 15,084 | 51,862,312 |
| 2053 | 15,206 | 51,336,335 |
| 2052 | 15,332 | 50,809,100 |
| 2051 | 15,453 | 50,280,719 |
| 2050 | 15,562 | 49,751,739 |
| 2049 | 15,682 | 49,221,828 |
| 2048 | 15,797 | 48,690,143 |
| 2047 | 15,912 | 48,157,605 |
| 2046 | 16,024 | 47,623,246 |
| 2045 | 16,132 | 47,087,215 |
| 2044 | 16,245 | 46,550,306 |
| 2043 | 16,339 | 46,013,232 |
| 2042 | 16,445 | 45,475,200 |
| 2041 | 16,549 | 44,936,131 |
| 2040 | 16,631 | 44,396,093 |
| 2039 | 16,727 | 43,856,006 |
| 2038 | 16,805 | 43,314,707 |
| 2037 | 16,895 | 42,773,375 |
| 2036 | 16,964 | 42,231,639 |
| 2035 | 17,042 | 41,690,245 |
| 2034 | 17,118 | 41,150,029 |
| 2033 | 17,190 | 40,611,021 |
| 2032 | 17,250 | 40,073,144 |
| 2031 | 17,330 | 39,535,357 |
| 2030 | 17,398 | 38,998,581 |
| 2029 | 17,457 | 38,417,447 |
| 2028 | 17,527 | 37,810,902 |
| 2027 | 17,576 | 37,189,969 |
| 2026 | 17,629 | 36,566,201 |
| 2025 | 17,672 | 35,932,673 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 35,300,280 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 33,702,731 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 32,175,224 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 30,784,383 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 31,552,510 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 30,063,799 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 30,196,281 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 30,977,355 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 30,954,198 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 29,816,382 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 28,309,273 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 27,624,004 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 26,168,861 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 25,091,867 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 23,978,487 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 24,217,654 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 23,287,877 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 22,368,313 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 21,459,144 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 20,559,890 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 19,669,480 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 18,786,767 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 17,910,910 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 17,041,397 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 16,177,722 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 15,472,075 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 14,922,185 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 14,374,943 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 13,831,009 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 13,289,245 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 12,750,040 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 12,215,862 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 11,686,676 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 11,160,744 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 10,640,691 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 10,128,394 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 9,629,165 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 9,130,194 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 8,628,639 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 8,151,779 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 7,697,307 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 7,252,941 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 6,824,486 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 6,420,551 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 6,047,997 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 5,703,698 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 5,381,902 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 5,083,048 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 4,807,933 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 4,556,287 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 4,323,632 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 4,106,344 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 3,905,722 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 3,724,031 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 3,562,470 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 3,417,114 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 3,282,711 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 3,157,242 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 3,039,887 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 2,928,771 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 2,821,968 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 2,719,341 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 2,620,910 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 2,526,347 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 2,435,403 |
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/saudi-arabia | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 168 people (a 0.94% decline), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.
Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M 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
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | 0.64% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | 0.64% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | 0.65% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | 0.66% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.66% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.67% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | 0.68% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.68% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.69% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 0.69% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.69% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.69% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 0.7% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.7% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.7% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 0.71% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 0.71% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 0.71% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 0.72% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 0.72% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.73% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.73% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.74% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 0.75% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.76% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 0.77% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 0.78% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 0.8% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 0.81% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 0.82% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 0.84% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 0.85% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 0.86% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 0.87% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 0.89% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 0.9% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 0.91% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 0.92% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 0.94% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 0.95% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 0.96% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 0.97% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 0.99% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 1% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 1.01% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 1.02% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 1.04% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 1.05% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 1.06% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 1.08% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 1.09% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 1.11% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 1.12% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 1.14% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 1.15% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 1.17% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 1.18% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 1.2% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 1.22% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 1.23% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 1.25% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 1.27% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | 1.28% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 1.3% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 1.31% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 1.33% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 1.34% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | 1.36% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | 1.38% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | 1.51% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 1.6% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 1.67% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 1.71% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 1.76% |
| 2025 | -0.13% | 1.79% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 4.74% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 4.75% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 4.52% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | -2.43% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 4.95% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | -0.44% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | -2.52% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 0.07% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 3.82% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 5.32% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 2.48% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 5.56% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 4.29% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 4.64% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | -0.99% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 3.99% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 4.11% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 4.24% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 4.37% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 4.53% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 4.7% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 4.89% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 5.1% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 5.34% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 4.56% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 3.69% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 3.81% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 3.93% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 4.08% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 4.23% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 4.37% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 4.53% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 4.71% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 4.89% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 5.06% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 5.18% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 5.47% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 5.81% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 5.85% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 5.9% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 6.13% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 6.28% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 6.29% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 6.16% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 6.04% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 5.98% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 5.88% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 5.72% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 5.52% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 5.38% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 5.29% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 5.14% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 4.88% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 4.54% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 4.25% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 4.09% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 3.97% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 3.86% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 3.79% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 3.78% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 3.77% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 3.76% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 3.74% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 3.73% |
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/saudi-arabia | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17629
|
36734925
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 44/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.44% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
19.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
1.89 days
|
57 seconds
|
| One death every |
1.8 days
|
6.66 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +4,377 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +1,597,549 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +4.74% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 4/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
4.4 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | +119,738 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 13/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 13,683,841 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 3/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 40.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 14/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | 119,738 |
| 2024 | - | -14 | - | 122,170 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | 474,366 | 325,691 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | 406,920 | 977,072 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | 409,032 | -106,287 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 447,036 | -74,725 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 474,407 | 191,582 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 528,767 | -988,751 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 546,751 | -920,812 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 537,829 | -26,997 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 511,023 | 465,292 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 493,431 | 469,144 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 475,299 | 485,794 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 465,649 | 479,206 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 443,675 | 491,253 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 418,641 | 504,955 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 438,557 | 496,229 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 433,457 | 491,337 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 425,199 | 489,136 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 399,333 | 504,661 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 375,938 | 518,565 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 362,843 | 523,472 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 364,520 | 514,606 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 372,099 | 500,508 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 382,153 | 484,252 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 392,407 | 468,515 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 390,112 | 160,263 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 389,499 | 159,898 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 385,033 | 160,066 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 382,248 | 160,532 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 380,231 | 160,512 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 377,351 | 160,306 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 372,621 | 158,074 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 366,763 | 160,908 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 361,329 | 162,857 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 355,495 | 160,416 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 349,399 | 159,273 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 342,865 | 146,918 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 333,088 | 175,075 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 322,340 | 172,606 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 310,558 | 148,208 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 296,615 | 153,562 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 280,616 | 157,930 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 264,831 | 153,528 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 249,156 | 140,355 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 234,372 | 121,220 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 220,186 | 112,826 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 205,331 | 105,263 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 191,103 | 96,015 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 178,024 | 85,083 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 166,223 | 73,960 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 155,478 | 69,653 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 145,450 | 63,995 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 136,360 | 55,439 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 127,600 | 43,989 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 120,440 | 31,097 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 113,859 | 25,312 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 108,281 | 21,366 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 103,343 | 17,947 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 98,361 | 15,054 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 93,820 | 15,000 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 89,776 | 15,000 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 85,480 | 15,000 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 81,393 | 15,000 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 77,743 | 15,000 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 74,143 | 15,000 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.
Biggest cities by population
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Riyadh | 7.01M |
| Jeddah | 4.7M |
| Mecca | 2.43M |
| Medina | 1.41M |
| Dammam | 903K |
| Tabuk | 886K |
| Qatif | 625K |
| Jubail | 379K |
| Ha'il | 311K |
| Yanbu | 299K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and Saudi Arabia
|
Palau
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 79.4 years |
| Average age | 38.4 years | 30.2 years |
| Median age | 39.2 years | 30.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.9:46.1 | 60.5:39.5 |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 births per woman | 2.28 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.3 ppl/mi² | 44.1 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/saudi-arabia | CC BY
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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)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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.