The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,695 in 2024 vs 819,198 people in the Solomon Islands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,629 people compared to 863,951 in the Solomon Islands.
Population statistics:
- The Solomon Islands' population is 49 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while the Solomon Islands is the 161st.
- The countries together account for 0.01% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.01% for the Solomon Islands.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of +0.02% per year vs +2.95% in the Solomon Islands.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10% decline), while the Solomon Islands has grown from 492K to 864K (75.7% growth).
Palau vs Solomon Islands: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
Solomon Islands
|
|
| 2100 | 11,152 | 1,869,358 |
| 2099 | 11,216 | 1,865,277 |
| 2098 | 11,281 | 1,861,047 |
| 2097 | 11,352 | 1,856,421 |
| 2096 | 11,417 | 1,851,585 |
| 2095 | 11,485 | 1,846,229 |
| 2094 | 11,549 | 1,840,799 |
| 2093 | 11,616 | 1,834,881 |
| 2092 | 11,682 | 1,828,545 |
| 2091 | 11,753 | 1,822,001 |
| 2090 | 11,829 | 1,815,153 |
| 2089 | 11,907 | 1,808,103 |
| 2088 | 11,968 | 1,800,741 |
| 2087 | 12,040 | 1,793,136 |
| 2086 | 12,109 | 1,785,209 |
| 2085 | 12,171 | 1,777,013 |
| 2084 | 12,251 | 1,768,444 |
| 2083 | 12,316 | 1,759,601 |
| 2082 | 12,382 | 1,750,433 |
| 2081 | 12,457 | 1,740,952 |
| 2080 | 12,537 | 1,731,110 |
| 2079 | 12,608 | 1,721,146 |
| 2078 | 12,681 | 1,710,785 |
| 2077 | 12,758 | 1,700,043 |
| 2076 | 12,838 | 1,688,876 |
| 2075 | 12,914 | 1,677,587 |
| 2074 | 13,007 | 1,666,185 |
| 2073 | 13,091 | 1,654,264 |
| 2072 | 13,161 | 1,642,044 |
| 2071 | 13,252 | 1,629,467 |
| 2070 | 13,338 | 1,616,736 |
| 2069 | 13,430 | 1,603,679 |
| 2068 | 13,525 | 1,590,304 |
| 2067 | 13,621 | 1,576,716 |
| 2066 | 13,723 | 1,563,005 |
| 2065 | 13,818 | 1,549,060 |
| 2064 | 13,920 | 1,534,862 |
| 2063 | 14,025 | 1,520,351 |
| 2062 | 14,136 | 1,505,792 |
| 2061 | 14,251 | 1,490,935 |
| 2060 | 14,358 | 1,476,028 |
| 2059 | 14,479 | 1,460,816 |
| 2058 | 14,589 | 1,445,385 |
| 2057 | 14,718 | 1,429,967 |
| 2056 | 14,837 | 1,414,320 |
| 2055 | 14,961 | 1,398,440 |
| 2054 | 15,084 | 1,382,426 |
| 2053 | 15,206 | 1,366,190 |
| 2052 | 15,332 | 1,349,703 |
| 2051 | 15,453 | 1,333,136 |
| 2050 | 15,562 | 1,316,322 |
| 2049 | 15,682 | 1,299,367 |
| 2048 | 15,797 | 1,282,258 |
| 2047 | 15,912 | 1,265,007 |
| 2046 | 16,024 | 1,247,608 |
| 2045 | 16,132 | 1,230,002 |
| 2044 | 16,245 | 1,212,277 |
| 2043 | 16,339 | 1,194,351 |
| 2042 | 16,445 | 1,176,271 |
| 2041 | 16,549 | 1,158,172 |
| 2040 | 16,631 | 1,139,832 |
| 2039 | 16,727 | 1,121,014 |
| 2038 | 16,805 | 1,101,787 |
| 2037 | 16,895 | 1,082,148 |
| 2036 | 16,964 | 1,062,197 |
| 2035 | 17,042 | 1,041,925 |
| 2034 | 17,118 | 1,021,492 |
| 2033 | 17,190 | 1,000,997 |
| 2032 | 17,250 | 980,329 |
| 2031 | 17,330 | 959,788 |
| 2030 | 17,398 | 939,300 |
| 2029 | 17,457 | 918,921 |
| 2028 | 17,527 | 898,660 |
| 2027 | 17,576 | 878,499 |
| 2026 | 17,629 | 858,557 |
| 2025 | 17,672 | 838,746 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 819,198 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 800,005 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 781,066 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 762,591 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 744,498 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 728,147 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 709,101 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 685,672 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 662,379 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 639,415 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 616,908 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 594,945 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 573,606 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 552,945 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 532,968 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 518,141 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 508,790 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 500,156 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 491,594 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 483,080 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 474,611 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 466,154 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 457,671 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 449,125 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 440,469 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 430,500 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 419,071 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 407,474 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 396,009 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 384,733 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 373,675 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 362,839 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 352,205 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 341,738 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 331,435 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 321,282 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 311,265 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 301,414 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 291,842 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 282,455 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 273,163 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 264,068 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 255,200 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 246,555 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 238,135 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 229,953 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 222,029 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 214,418 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 207,194 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 200,744 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 195,041 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 189,774 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 184,994 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 180,637 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 176,579 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 172,476 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 168,282 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 164,245 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 160,393 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 156,686 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 153,085 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 149,589 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 146,201 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 142,912 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 139,688 |
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/solomon-islands | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while the Solomon Islands gained 170,785 people (a 34.7% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 168 people (a 0.94% decline), while the Solomon Islands' population increased by 201,572 people (a 30.4% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. The Solomon Islands was ranked 165th in 2006 and ranked 161st 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 the Solomon Islands will increase by 52.4% to 1,316,322 people and rank change from 161st to 156th.
The Solomon Islands is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 1.87M 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
|
Solomon Islands
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | 0.23% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | 0.25% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | 0.26% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.29% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.29% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | 0.32% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.35% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.36% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 0.38% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.39% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.41% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 0.42% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.44% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.46% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 0.48% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 0.5% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 0.52% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 0.54% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 0.57% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.58% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.61% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.63% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 0.66% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 0.67% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.68% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 0.72% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 0.74% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 0.77% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 0.79% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 0.81% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 0.84% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 0.86% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 0.88% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 0.9% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 0.93% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 0.95% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 0.97% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 1% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 1.01% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 1.04% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 1.07% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 1.08% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 1.11% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 1.14% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 1.16% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 1.19% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 1.22% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 1.24% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 1.28% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 1.3% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 1.33% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 1.36% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 1.39% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 1.43% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 1.46% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 1.5% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 1.54% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 1.56% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 1.61% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 1.68% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 1.75% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 1.81% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | 1.88% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 1.95% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 2% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 2.05% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 2.11% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | 2.14% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | 2.18% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | 2.22% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 2.25% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 2.3% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 2.32% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 2.36% |
| 2025 | -0.13% | 2.39% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 2.4% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 2.42% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 2.42% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | 2.43% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 2.25% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 2.69% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 3.42% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 3.52% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 3.59% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 3.65% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 3.69% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 3.72% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 3.74% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 3.75% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 2.86% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 1.84% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 1.73% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 1.74% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 1.76% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 1.78% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 1.81% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 1.85% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 1.9% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 1.97% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 2.32% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 2.73% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 2.85% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 2.9% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 2.93% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 2.96% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 2.99% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 3.02% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 3.06% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 3.11% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 3.16% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 3.22% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 3.27% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 3.28% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 3.32% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 3.4% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 3.44% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 3.47% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 3.51% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 3.54% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 3.56% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 3.57% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 3.55% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 3.49% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 3.21% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 2.92% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 2.78% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 2.58% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 2.41% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 2.3% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 2.38% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 2.49% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 2.46% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 2.4% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 2.37% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 2.35% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 2.34% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 2.32% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 2.3% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 2.31% |
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/solomon-islands | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while the Solomon Islands' population grew by 2.4%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
Solomon Islands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17629
|
863951
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 161/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.01% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
27.4 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.89 days
|
24.4 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.8 days
|
2.13 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +53 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +19,193 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +2.4% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 33/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
5.39 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | +1,631 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 59/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 2,469 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 192/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 0.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 184/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Solomon Islands
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | 1,631 |
| 2024 | - | -14 | - | 1,610 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | 17,436 | 1,636 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | 17,253 | 1,567 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | 16,626 | 1,499 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 16,488 | 1,556 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 16,649 | -1,990 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 16,790 | 6,653 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 16,897 | 6,513 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 17,027 | 6,146 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 16,909 | 5,853 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 16,652 | 5,598 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 16,038 | 5,631 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 15,585 | 5,420 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 15,095 | 5,219 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 14,604 | 5,040 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 14,381 | -4,360 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 14,225 | -5,538 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 13,963 | -5,383 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 13,799 | -5,262 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 13,568 | -5,082 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 13,444 | -4,985 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 13,344 | -4,881 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 13,195 | -4,691 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 13,061 | -4,474 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 12,938 | -4,219 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 12,809 | -1,588 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 12,658 | -1,019 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 12,478 | -931 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 12,328 | -947 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 12,124 | -952 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 11,771 | -828 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 11,396 | -665 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 11,029 | -482 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 10,789 | -410 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 10,561 | -335 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 10,354 | -270 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 10,142 | -197 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 9,943 | -179 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 9,656 | -269 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 9,534 | -150 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 9,299 | -102 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 9,011 | -30 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 8,720 | 40 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 8,436 | 99 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 8,156 | 151 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 7,874 | 188 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 7,598 | 174 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 7,290 | 159 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 7,058 | -48 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 6,635 | -760 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 6,612 | -1,084 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 6,343 | -1,329 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 6,074 | -1,520 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 5,814 | -1,646 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 5,575 | -1,632 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 5,444 | -1,187 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 5,285 | -1,154 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 5,151 | -1,213 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 5,028 | -1,256 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 4,885 | -1,237 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 4,747 | -1,200 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 4,571 | -1,129 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 4,408 | -1,073 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 4,257 | -1,016 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 4,119 | -917 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/solomon-islands | 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 the Solomon Islands 82.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 168,727 people) and 17.2% is from migration (a gain of 35,031 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 2,469 people or 0.3% in the Solomon Islands.
Biggest cities by population
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
|
Solomon Islands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Honiara | 84.5K |
| Auki | 6.81K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and the Solomon Islands
|
Palau
|
Solomon Islands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 71 years |
| Average age | 38.4 years | 25.5 years |
| Median age | 39.2 years | 21.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.9:46.1 | 51.1:48.9 |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 births per woman | 3.56 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.3 ppl/mi² | 79.4 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/solomon-islands | 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)
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