The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,695 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,629 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.
Population statistics:
- Sierra Leone's population is 513 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
- The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of +0.02% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10% decline), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).
Palau vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
| 2100 | 11,152 | 16,111,324 |
| 2099 | 11,216 | 16,126,181 |
| 2098 | 11,281 | 16,139,280 |
| 2097 | 11,352 | 16,154,153 |
| 2096 | 11,417 | 16,164,923 |
| 2095 | 11,485 | 16,173,557 |
| 2094 | 11,549 | 16,173,155 |
| 2093 | 11,616 | 16,177,864 |
| 2092 | 11,682 | 16,175,032 |
| 2091 | 11,753 | 16,168,153 |
| 2090 | 11,829 | 16,158,415 |
| 2089 | 11,907 | 16,146,773 |
| 2088 | 11,968 | 16,133,018 |
| 2087 | 12,040 | 16,116,823 |
| 2086 | 12,109 | 16,089,780 |
| 2085 | 12,171 | 16,068,438 |
| 2084 | 12,251 | 16,044,782 |
| 2083 | 12,316 | 16,011,134 |
| 2082 | 12,382 | 15,975,073 |
| 2081 | 12,457 | 15,935,071 |
| 2080 | 12,537 | 15,896,846 |
| 2079 | 12,608 | 15,854,898 |
| 2078 | 12,681 | 15,805,607 |
| 2077 | 12,758 | 15,754,551 |
| 2076 | 12,838 | 15,699,439 |
| 2075 | 12,914 | 15,639,458 |
| 2074 | 13,007 | 15,584,377 |
| 2073 | 13,091 | 15,516,736 |
| 2072 | 13,161 | 15,446,543 |
| 2071 | 13,252 | 15,374,790 |
| 2070 | 13,338 | 15,297,449 |
| 2069 | 13,430 | 15,216,666 |
| 2068 | 13,525 | 15,128,048 |
| 2067 | 13,621 | 15,032,144 |
| 2066 | 13,723 | 14,935,222 |
| 2065 | 13,818 | 14,837,697 |
| 2064 | 13,920 | 14,740,749 |
| 2063 | 14,025 | 14,642,031 |
| 2062 | 14,136 | 14,529,557 |
| 2061 | 14,251 | 14,423,861 |
| 2060 | 14,358 | 14,311,215 |
| 2059 | 14,479 | 14,198,706 |
| 2058 | 14,589 | 14,080,827 |
| 2057 | 14,718 | 13,960,869 |
| 2056 | 14,837 | 13,836,132 |
| 2055 | 14,961 | 13,706,113 |
| 2054 | 15,084 | 13,579,802 |
| 2053 | 15,206 | 13,444,465 |
| 2052 | 15,332 | 13,303,409 |
| 2051 | 15,453 | 13,156,370 |
| 2050 | 15,562 | 13,010,109 |
| 2049 | 15,682 | 12,867,021 |
| 2048 | 15,797 | 12,716,015 |
| 2047 | 15,912 | 12,570,250 |
| 2046 | 16,024 | 12,414,307 |
| 2045 | 16,132 | 12,257,874 |
| 2044 | 16,245 | 12,092,075 |
| 2043 | 16,339 | 11,931,531 |
| 2042 | 16,445 | 11,770,467 |
| 2041 | 16,549 | 11,602,993 |
| 2040 | 16,631 | 11,431,337 |
| 2039 | 16,727 | 11,262,807 |
| 2038 | 16,805 | 11,100,099 |
| 2037 | 16,895 | 10,931,629 |
| 2036 | 16,964 | 10,760,758 |
| 2035 | 17,042 | 10,585,702 |
| 2034 | 17,118 | 10,413,826 |
| 2033 | 17,190 | 10,241,196 |
| 2032 | 17,250 | 10,062,575 |
| 2031 | 17,330 | 9,883,708 |
| 2030 | 17,398 | 9,708,038 |
| 2029 | 17,457 | 9,532,000 |
| 2028 | 17,527 | 9,360,873 |
| 2027 | 17,576 | 9,179,702 |
| 2026 | 17,629 | 9,001,269 |
| 2025 | 17,672 | 8,822,114 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 8,642,022 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 8,460,512 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 8,276,807 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 8,094,602 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 7,912,558 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 7,731,991 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 7,554,563 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 7,379,299 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 7,205,328 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 7,037,655 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 6,876,385 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 6,714,051 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 6,551,080 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 6,387,251 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 6,222,714 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 6,055,646 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 5,894,722 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 5,749,352 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 5,624,466 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 5,501,712 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 5,355,717 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 5,177,687 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 4,971,435 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 4,692,716 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 4,423,611 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 4,318,043 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 4,295,785 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 4,253,716 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 4,199,210 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 4,179,179 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 4,173,105 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 4,157,130 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 4,166,366 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 4,246,267 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 4,196,828 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 4,034,037 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 3,934,517 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 3,829,718 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 3,728,380 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 3,638,438 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 3,558,758 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 3,481,646 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 3,408,183 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 3,338,940 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 3,272,089 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 3,207,499 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 3,145,517 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 3,085,354 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 3,028,820 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 2,974,657 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 2,920,459 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 2,866,955 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 2,814,388 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 2,763,222 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 2,712,286 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 2,661,365 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 2,611,532 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 2,562,384 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 2,514,638 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 2,468,666 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 2,424,390 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 2,382,258 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 2,342,242 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 2,304,227 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 2,268,356 |
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/sierra-leone | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 168 people (a 0.94% decline), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.
Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M 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
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | -0.09% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | -0.08% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | -0.09% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | -0.07% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | -0.05% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.002% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | -0.03% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.02% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.04% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 0.06% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.07% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.09% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 0.1% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.17% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.13% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 0.15% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 0.21% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 0.23% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 0.25% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 0.24% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.26% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.32% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 0.35% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 0.38% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.35% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 0.44% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 0.45% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 0.47% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 0.51% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 0.53% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 0.59% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 0.64% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 0.65% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 0.66% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 0.66% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 0.67% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 0.77% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 0.73% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 0.79% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 0.79% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 0.84% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 0.86% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 0.9% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 0.95% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 0.93% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 1.01% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 1.06% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 1.12% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 1.12% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 1.11% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 1.19% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 1.16% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 1.26% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 1.28% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 1.37% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 1.35% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 1.37% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 1.44% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 1.5% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 1.5% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 1.47% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 1.54% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | 1.59% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 1.65% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 1.65% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 1.69% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 1.78% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | 1.81% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | 1.81% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | 1.85% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 1.83% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 1.97% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 1.98% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 2.03% |
| 2025 | -0.13% | 2.08% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 2.15% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 2.22% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 2.25% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | 2.3% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 2.34% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 2.35% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 2.38% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 2.41% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 2.38% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 2.35% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 2.42% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 2.49% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 2.56% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 2.64% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 2.76% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 2.73% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 2.53% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 2.22% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 2.23% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 2.73% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 3.44% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 4.15% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 5.94% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 6.08% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 2.44% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 0.52% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 0.99% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 1.3% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 0.48% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 0.15% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 0.38% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | -0.22% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | -1.88% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 1.18% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 4.04% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.53% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 2.74% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 2.72% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 2.47% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 2.24% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 2.21% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 2.16% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 2.07% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 2.04% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 2.01% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 1.97% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 1.95% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 1.87% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 1.82% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 1.86% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 1.87% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 1.87% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 1.85% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 1.88% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 1.91% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 1.91% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 1.92% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 1.9% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 1.86% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 1.83% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 1.77% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 1.71% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 1.65% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 1.58% |
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/sierra-leone | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17629
|
9049533
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 101/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.11% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
2.9 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.89 days
|
2.03 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.8 days
|
7.5 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +497 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +181,510 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +2.15% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 47/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
46.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | -11,309 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 136/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 49,997 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 151/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 0.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 174/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Sierra Leone
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | -11,309 |
| 2024 | - | -14 | - | -11,000 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | 188,788 | -4,000 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | 186,625 | -4,000 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | 183,326 | -1,544 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 181,015 | 1,292 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 181,068 | -2,238 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 178,772 | -2,741 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 173,259 | 1,234 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 168,784 | 4,657 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 162,275 | -356 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 160,137 | 485 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 161,265 | 2,773 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 160,915 | 988 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 158,858 | 6,895 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 155,338 | 7,983 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 152,669 | 18,145 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 149,855 | 1,182 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 145,740 | -6,042 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 144,127 | -34,052 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 137,234 | -1,805 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 132,661 | 23,897 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 130,312 | 69,185 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 126,429 | 86,578 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 116,647 | 227,791 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 110,754 | 83,013 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 102,295 | -84,926 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 103,906 | -76,766 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 105,433 | -48,437 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 104,140 | -52,110 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 100,885 | -112,857 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 101,486 | -77,371 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 103,317 | -95,476 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 103,251 | -129,565 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 105,477 | -238,965 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 100,778 | 131,587 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 98,298 | -5,079 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 96,344 | 9,470 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 94,235 | 9,558 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 90,902 | 7,992 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 88,869 | -7,873 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 87,072 | -8,708 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 84,628 | -8,783 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 82,457 | -11,379 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 80,111 | -12,699 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 77,932 | -11,641 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 75,992 | -13,095 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 74,130 | -13,073 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 71,663 | -12,399 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 69,506 | -15,686 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 67,560 | -13,058 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 65,357 | -11,473 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 62,443 | -9,322 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 60,279 | -8,267 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 58,484 | -8,162 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 56,513 | -4,957 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 54,768 | -4,485 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 53,126 | -3,743 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 51,734 | -2,819 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 49,486 | -2,911 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 47,223 | -1,851 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 45,487 | -2,308 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 43,569 | -2,480 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 41,603 | -2,658 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 40,022 | -2,947 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 38,192 | -3,528 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.
Biggest cities by population
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Freetown | 951K |
| Bo | 234K |
| Kenema | 188K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and Sierra Leone
|
Palau
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 62.3 years |
| Average age | 38.4 years | 24.4 years |
| Median age | 39.2 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.9:46.1 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 births per woman | 3.79 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.3 ppl/mi² | 323 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/sierra-leone | 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.