The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,663 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,620 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 3,736 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.79% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of -0.03% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10.1% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).
Palau vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 11,146 | 94,734,082 |
| 2099 | 11,210 | 94,523,360 |
| 2098 | 11,275 | 94,316,049 |
| 2097 | 11,346 | 94,125,043 |
| 2096 | 11,411 | 93,927,246 |
| 2095 | 11,479 | 93,719,451 |
| 2094 | 11,543 | 93,494,697 |
| 2093 | 11,610 | 93,267,274 |
| 2092 | 11,676 | 93,041,793 |
| 2091 | 11,747 | 92,793,249 |
| 2090 | 11,823 | 92,561,159 |
| 2089 | 11,901 | 92,322,396 |
| 2088 | 11,962 | 92,080,212 |
| 2087 | 12,034 | 91,833,409 |
| 2086 | 12,103 | 91,581,639 |
| 2085 | 12,165 | 91,352,906 |
| 2084 | 12,245 | 91,106,961 |
| 2083 | 12,310 | 90,845,161 |
| 2082 | 12,376 | 90,583,188 |
| 2081 | 12,451 | 90,313,417 |
| 2080 | 12,531 | 90,039,857 |
| 2079 | 12,602 | 89,770,116 |
| 2078 | 12,674 | 89,494,440 |
| 2077 | 12,751 | 89,217,520 |
| 2076 | 12,831 | 88,954,522 |
| 2075 | 12,907 | 88,681,719 |
| 2074 | 13,000 | 88,397,221 |
| 2073 | 13,084 | 88,118,589 |
| 2072 | 13,154 | 87,835,051 |
| 2071 | 13,245 | 87,509,098 |
| 2070 | 13,332 | 87,178,463 |
| 2069 | 13,424 | 86,870,660 |
| 2068 | 13,518 | 86,558,000 |
| 2067 | 13,614 | 86,237,764 |
| 2066 | 13,716 | 85,904,801 |
| 2065 | 13,811 | 85,573,984 |
| 2064 | 13,913 | 85,214,686 |
| 2063 | 14,018 | 84,845,370 |
| 2062 | 14,129 | 84,473,236 |
| 2061 | 14,244 | 84,103,016 |
| 2060 | 14,350 | 83,719,266 |
| 2059 | 14,471 | 83,325,330 |
| 2058 | 14,581 | 82,918,226 |
| 2057 | 14,710 | 82,508,742 |
| 2056 | 14,830 | 82,098,320 |
| 2055 | 14,954 | 81,669,191 |
| 2054 | 15,077 | 81,227,019 |
| 2053 | 15,198 | 80,789,939 |
| 2052 | 15,324 | 80,338,877 |
| 2051 | 15,445 | 79,858,310 |
| 2050 | 15,554 | 79,383,784 |
| 2049 | 15,674 | 78,897,472 |
| 2048 | 15,789 | 78,409,829 |
| 2047 | 15,904 | 77,894,547 |
| 2046 | 16,015 | 77,369,819 |
| 2045 | 16,123 | 76,852,544 |
| 2044 | 16,237 | 76,330,046 |
| 2043 | 16,331 | 75,800,788 |
| 2042 | 16,437 | 75,264,885 |
| 2041 | 16,541 | 74,721,871 |
| 2040 | 16,623 | 74,179,185 |
| 2039 | 16,719 | 73,636,894 |
| 2038 | 16,797 | 73,079,976 |
| 2037 | 16,886 | 72,506,991 |
| 2036 | 16,955 | 71,930,701 |
| 2035 | 17,033 | 71,337,219 |
| 2034 | 17,109 | 70,737,692 |
| 2033 | 17,181 | 70,128,299 |
| 2032 | 17,241 | 69,502,726 |
| 2031 | 17,321 | 68,865,544 |
| 2030 | 17,389 | 68,221,143 |
| 2029 | 17,448 | 67,549,189 |
| 2028 | 17,518 | 66,860,631 |
| 2027 | 17,567 | 66,166,759 |
| 2026 | 17,620 | 65,473,024 |
| 2025 | 17,663 | 64,747,319 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 16,440,172 |
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/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 177 people (a 0.99% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.7M 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
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | -0.18% | 1.16% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 1% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 2.85% |
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/south-africa | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17620
|
65829368
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
42.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
1.93 days
|
26.7 seconds
|
| One death every |
1.76 days
|
53.3 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +2,028 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +740,132 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +1.16% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 91/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | -18 | -14 | 591,618 | 166,972 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Johannesburg | 4.8M |
| Cape Town | 3.78M |
| Soweto | 1.27M |
| Pretoria | 742K |
| Pietermaritzburg | 619K |
| Durban | 595K |
| Rustenburg | 550K |
| Randburg | 337K |
| Port Elizabeth | 312K |
| East London | 267K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and South Africa
|
Palau
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 38.7 years | 31.3 years |
| Median age | 39.5 years | 29.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.8:46.2 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 births per woman | 2.21 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.2 ppl/mi² | 139.8 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/south-africa | 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)
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.