The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,695 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,629 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.
Population statistics:
- South Korea's population is 2,930 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
- The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.62% for South Korea.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of +0.02% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).
Palau vs South Korea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 11,152 | 22,012,503 |
| 2099 | 11,216 | 22,335,528 |
| 2098 | 11,281 | 22,668,719 |
| 2097 | 11,352 | 23,009,661 |
| 2096 | 11,417 | 23,360,151 |
| 2095 | 11,485 | 23,722,747 |
| 2094 | 11,549 | 24,093,391 |
| 2093 | 11,616 | 24,473,038 |
| 2092 | 11,682 | 24,860,975 |
| 2091 | 11,753 | 25,255,379 |
| 2090 | 11,829 | 25,655,577 |
| 2089 | 11,907 | 26,060,945 |
| 2088 | 11,968 | 26,470,073 |
| 2087 | 12,040 | 26,884,813 |
| 2086 | 12,109 | 27,301,913 |
| 2085 | 12,171 | 27,723,736 |
| 2084 | 12,251 | 28,147,480 |
| 2083 | 12,316 | 28,578,182 |
| 2082 | 12,382 | 29,012,953 |
| 2081 | 12,457 | 29,456,022 |
| 2080 | 12,537 | 29,901,880 |
| 2079 | 12,608 | 30,352,062 |
| 2078 | 12,681 | 30,809,176 |
| 2077 | 12,758 | 31,273,700 |
| 2076 | 12,838 | 31,744,480 |
| 2075 | 12,914 | 32,221,226 |
| 2074 | 13,007 | 32,706,020 |
| 2073 | 13,091 | 33,196,556 |
| 2072 | 13,161 | 33,696,490 |
| 2071 | 13,252 | 34,203,935 |
| 2070 | 13,338 | 34,719,324 |
| 2069 | 13,430 | 35,241,850 |
| 2068 | 13,525 | 35,762,799 |
| 2067 | 13,621 | 36,292,307 |
| 2066 | 13,723 | 36,826,655 |
| 2065 | 13,818 | 37,368,086 |
| 2064 | 13,920 | 37,916,439 |
| 2063 | 14,025 | 38,469,051 |
| 2062 | 14,136 | 39,028,473 |
| 2061 | 14,251 | 39,584,621 |
| 2060 | 14,358 | 40,149,830 |
| 2059 | 14,479 | 40,712,514 |
| 2058 | 14,589 | 41,277,134 |
| 2057 | 14,718 | 41,833,887 |
| 2056 | 14,837 | 42,377,427 |
| 2055 | 14,961 | 42,909,302 |
| 2054 | 15,084 | 43,427,254 |
| 2053 | 15,206 | 43,938,741 |
| 2052 | 15,332 | 44,441,106 |
| 2051 | 15,453 | 44,923,604 |
| 2050 | 15,562 | 45,385,311 |
| 2049 | 15,682 | 45,832,153 |
| 2048 | 15,797 | 46,258,529 |
| 2047 | 15,912 | 46,668,898 |
| 2046 | 16,024 | 47,056,404 |
| 2045 | 16,132 | 47,433,205 |
| 2044 | 16,245 | 47,797,411 |
| 2043 | 16,339 | 48,144,730 |
| 2042 | 16,445 | 48,478,991 |
| 2041 | 16,549 | 48,806,273 |
| 2040 | 16,631 | 49,115,658 |
| 2039 | 16,727 | 49,412,830 |
| 2038 | 16,805 | 49,694,340 |
| 2037 | 16,895 | 49,957,504 |
| 2036 | 16,964 | 50,200,702 |
| 2035 | 17,042 | 50,426,000 |
| 2034 | 17,118 | 50,632,962 |
| 2033 | 17,190 | 50,821,090 |
| 2032 | 17,250 | 50,987,020 |
| 2031 | 17,330 | 51,134,940 |
| 2030 | 17,398 | 51,267,908 |
| 2029 | 17,457 | 51,385,868 |
| 2028 | 17,527 | 51,486,791 |
| 2027 | 17,576 | 51,576,746 |
| 2026 | 17,629 | 51,649,918 |
| 2025 | 17,672 | 51,710,062 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 51,751,065 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 51,712,619 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 51,672,569 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 51,769,539 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 51,836,239 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 51,764,822 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 51,585,058 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 51,361,911 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 51,217,803 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 51,014,947 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 50,746,659 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 50,428,893 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 50,199,853 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 49,936,638 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 49,554,112 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 49,307,835 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 49,054,708 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 48,683,638 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 48,438,292 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 48,184,561 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 48,082,519 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 47,892,330 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 47,644,736 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 47,370,164 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 47,008,111 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 46,616,677 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 46,286,503 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 45,953,580 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 45,524,681 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 45,092,991 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 44,641,540 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 44,194,628 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 43,747,962 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 43,295,704 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 42,869,283 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 42,449,038 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 42,031,247 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 41,621,690 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 41,213,674 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 40,805,744 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 40,405,956 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 39,910,403 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 39,326,352 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 38,723,248 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 38,123,775 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 37,534,236 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 36,969,185 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 36,411,795 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 35,848,523 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 35,280,725 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 34,692,266 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 34,103,149 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 33,505,406 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 32,882,704 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 32,240,827 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 31,544,266 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 30,838,302 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 30,130,983 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 29,435,571 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 28,704,674 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 27,984,155 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 27,261,747 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 26,513,030 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 25,765,673 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 25,012,374 |
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/south-korea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 168 people (a 0.94% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.
Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 27.2% of the population in Palau and 38.5% in South Korea.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | -1.45% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | -1.47% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | -1.48% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | -1.5% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | -1.53% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | -1.54% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | -1.55% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | -1.56% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | -1.56% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | -1.56% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | -1.56% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | -1.55% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | -1.54% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | -1.53% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | -1.52% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | -1.51% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | -1.51% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | -1.5% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | -1.5% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | -1.49% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | -1.48% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | -1.48% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | -1.49% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | -1.48% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | -1.48% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | -1.48% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | -1.48% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | -1.48% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | -1.48% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | -1.48% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | -1.48% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | -1.46% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | -1.46% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | -1.45% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | -1.45% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | -1.45% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | -1.44% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | -1.43% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | -1.4% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | -1.41% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | -1.38% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | -1.37% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | -1.33% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | -1.28% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | -1.24% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | -1.19% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | -1.16% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | -1.13% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | -1.07% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | -1.02% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | -0.97% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | -0.92% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | -0.88% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | -0.82% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | -0.79% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | -0.76% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | -0.72% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | -0.69% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | -0.67% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | -0.63% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | -0.6% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | -0.57% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | -0.48% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | -0.45% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | -0.41% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | -0.37% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | -0.33% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | -0.29% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | -0.26% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | -0.23% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | -0.2% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | -0.17% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | -0.14% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | -0.12% |
| 2025 | -0.13% | -0.08% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 0.07% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 0.08% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | -0.19% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | -0.13% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 0.14% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 0.35% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 0.43% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 0.28% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 0.4% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 0.53% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 0.63% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 0.46% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 0.53% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 0.77% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 0.5% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 0.52% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 0.76% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 0.51% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 0.53% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 0.21% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 0.4% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 0.52% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 0.58% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 0.77% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 0.84% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 0.71% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 0.72% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 0.96% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 1.01% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 1.01% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 1.02% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 1.04% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 0.99% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 0.99% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 0.99% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 0.98% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 0.99% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 1% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 0.99% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 1.24% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 1.49% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 1.56% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 1.57% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 1.57% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 1.53% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 1.53% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 1.57% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 1.61% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 1.7% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 1.73% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 1.78% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 1.89% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 1.99% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 2.21% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 2.29% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 2.35% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 2.36% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 2.55% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 2.57% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 2.65% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 2.82% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 2.9% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 3.01% |
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/south-korea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17629
|
51649918
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 31/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.62% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
13.7 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.89 days
|
2.26 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.8 days
|
1.69 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +105 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +38,446 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +0.07% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 160/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
8.02 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | +65,731 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 20/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 1,811,507 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 40/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 3.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 111/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
South Korea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | 65,731 |
| 2024 | - | -14 | - | 75,963 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | -77,569 | 87,800 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | -124,014 | 87,800 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | -56,947 | -16,778 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | -31,101 | 112,631 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 10,353 | 128,622 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 30,951 | 118,220 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 71,907 | 104,029 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 122,923 | 91,568 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 163,248 | 276,427 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 167,464 | 308,037 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 166,415 | 301,926 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 215,859 | 281,866 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 214,728 | 269,958 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 213,083 | 52,042 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 197,231 | 5,308 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 215,841 | -19,630 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 248,286 | -42,293 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 203,441 | -28,434 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 187,920 | -47,821 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 225,988 | -42,549 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 244,251 | -31,994 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 247,752 | -18,105 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 312,643 | -28,006 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 390,167 | -84,960 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 368,272 | -107,448 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 393,436 | -98,044 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 422,773 | -109,130 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 446,142 | -115,705 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 468,967 | -208,491 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 473,200 | -208,309 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 477,302 | -222,802 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 494,352 | -265,849 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 467,594 | -270,754 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 411,546 | 79,294 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 403,266 | 186,120 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 399,297 | 192,534 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 378,758 | 198,057 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 395,651 | 189,782 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 416,219 | 97,949 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 436,384 | 101,394 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 514,844 | 102,167 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 605,626 | 48,638 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 631,189 | 18,442 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 583,294 | -148,341 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 623,068 | -139,566 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 499,084 | -85,721 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 578,947 | -90,737 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 530,558 | -92,314 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 603,300 | -52,332 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 673,030 | 27,005 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 699,115 | 35,779 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 740,469 | 25,382 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 789,185 | -6,326 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 747,987 | -27,999 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 694,227 | -21,175 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 684,487 | -16,868 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 692,169 | -16,484 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 623,534 | -16,688 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 641,090 | -146,386 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 655,501 | -102,284 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 685,824 | -80,226 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 712,590 | -94,606 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 730,173 | -93,179 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 728,010 | 47,245 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Seoul | 9.67M |
| Busan | 3.45M |
| Incheon | 3.05M |
| Daegu | 2.38M |
| Daejeon | 1.48M |
| Gwangju | 1.41M |
| Suwon | 1.23M |
| Ulsan | 1.13M |
| Yongin | 1.08M |
| Goyang | 1.06M |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and South Korea
|
Palau
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 84.6 years |
| Average age | 38.4 years | 44.8 years |
| Median age | 39.2 years | 46.1 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.9:46.1 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 births per woman | 0.72 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.3 ppl/mi² | 1,371 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/south-korea | 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.