The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,695 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,629 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.
Population statistics:
- Spain's population is 2,769 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
- The countries together account for 0.59% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.59% for Spain.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of +0.02% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10% decline), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).
Palau vs Spain: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
Spain
|
|
| 2100 | 11,152 | 33,862,981 |
| 2099 | 11,216 | 34,039,965 |
| 2098 | 11,281 | 34,215,187 |
| 2097 | 11,352 | 34,387,116 |
| 2096 | 11,417 | 34,552,002 |
| 2095 | 11,485 | 34,719,411 |
| 2094 | 11,549 | 34,882,039 |
| 2093 | 11,616 | 35,044,043 |
| 2092 | 11,682 | 35,204,657 |
| 2091 | 11,753 | 35,366,895 |
| 2090 | 11,829 | 35,535,838 |
| 2089 | 11,907 | 35,707,942 |
| 2088 | 11,968 | 35,877,681 |
| 2087 | 12,040 | 36,043,209 |
| 2086 | 12,109 | 36,210,710 |
| 2085 | 12,171 | 36,386,207 |
| 2084 | 12,251 | 36,564,622 |
| 2083 | 12,316 | 36,749,680 |
| 2082 | 12,382 | 36,936,644 |
| 2081 | 12,457 | 37,133,976 |
| 2080 | 12,537 | 37,337,517 |
| 2079 | 12,608 | 37,551,557 |
| 2078 | 12,681 | 37,771,135 |
| 2077 | 12,758 | 38,002,963 |
| 2076 | 12,838 | 38,249,247 |
| 2075 | 12,914 | 38,506,040 |
| 2074 | 13,007 | 38,777,715 |
| 2073 | 13,091 | 39,056,249 |
| 2072 | 13,161 | 39,348,447 |
| 2071 | 13,252 | 39,642,346 |
| 2070 | 13,338 | 39,949,413 |
| 2069 | 13,430 | 40,256,590 |
| 2068 | 13,525 | 40,575,543 |
| 2067 | 13,621 | 40,893,798 |
| 2066 | 13,723 | 41,218,263 |
| 2065 | 13,818 | 41,543,254 |
| 2064 | 13,920 | 41,878,338 |
| 2063 | 14,025 | 42,208,320 |
| 2062 | 14,136 | 42,542,893 |
| 2061 | 14,251 | 42,874,096 |
| 2060 | 14,358 | 43,191,452 |
| 2059 | 14,479 | 43,506,737 |
| 2058 | 14,589 | 43,809,907 |
| 2057 | 14,718 | 44,112,668 |
| 2056 | 14,837 | 44,415,689 |
| 2055 | 14,961 | 44,691,749 |
| 2054 | 15,084 | 44,958,971 |
| 2053 | 15,206 | 45,223,225 |
| 2052 | 15,332 | 45,470,541 |
| 2051 | 15,453 | 45,695,307 |
| 2050 | 15,562 | 45,911,520 |
| 2049 | 15,682 | 46,127,777 |
| 2048 | 15,797 | 46,322,244 |
| 2047 | 15,912 | 46,510,152 |
| 2046 | 16,024 | 46,687,914 |
| 2045 | 16,132 | 46,858,778 |
| 2044 | 16,245 | 47,016,278 |
| 2043 | 16,339 | 47,158,325 |
| 2042 | 16,445 | 47,301,091 |
| 2041 | 16,549 | 47,434,593 |
| 2040 | 16,631 | 47,563,236 |
| 2039 | 16,727 | 47,685,343 |
| 2038 | 16,805 | 47,798,797 |
| 2037 | 16,895 | 47,910,899 |
| 2036 | 16,964 | 48,020,350 |
| 2035 | 17,042 | 48,124,430 |
| 2034 | 17,118 | 48,220,051 |
| 2033 | 17,190 | 48,311,842 |
| 2032 | 17,250 | 48,402,470 |
| 2031 | 17,330 | 48,495,278 |
| 2030 | 17,398 | 48,579,920 |
| 2029 | 17,457 | 48,648,699 |
| 2028 | 17,527 | 48,707,969 |
| 2027 | 17,576 | 48,758,200 |
| 2026 | 17,629 | 48,806,901 |
| 2025 | 17,672 | 48,838,057 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 48,848,840 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 48,352,528 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 47,786,102 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 47,443,821 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 47,359,424 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 47,118,501 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 46,782,011 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 46,571,232 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 46,458,139 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 46,422,303 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 46,460,733 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 46,604,197 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 46,773,055 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 46,742,697 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 46,576,897 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 46,362,946 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 45,954,106 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 45,226,803 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 44,397,319 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 43,653,155 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 42,921,895 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 42,187,645 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 41,431,558 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 40,850,412 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 40,567,864 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 40,386,875 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 40,223,509 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 40,057,389 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 39,889,852 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 39,724,050 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 39,549,108 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 39,361,262 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 39,157,685 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 38,966,376 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 38,867,322 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 38,827,764 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 38,766,939 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 38,684,815 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 38,584,624 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 38,469,512 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 38,330,364 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 38,171,525 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 37,986,012 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 37,758,631 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 37,491,165 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 37,191,330 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 36,864,898 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 36,511,638 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 36,137,812 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 35,757,900 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 35,373,335 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 34,988,947 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 34,604,469 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 34,224,490 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 33,814,531 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 33,441,054 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 33,113,134 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 32,682,947 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 32,283,194 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 31,954,292 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 31,609,195 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 31,296,651 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 31,023,366 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 30,739,250 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 30,455,000 |
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/spain | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 168 people (a 0.94% decline), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.
Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 27.2% of the population in Palau and 21.6% in Spain.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Spain
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | -0.52% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | -0.51% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | -0.5% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | -0.48% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | -0.48% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | -0.47% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | -0.46% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | -0.46% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | -0.46% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | -0.48% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | -0.48% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | -0.47% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | -0.46% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | -0.46% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | -0.48% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | -0.49% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | -0.5% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | -0.51% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | -0.53% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | -0.55% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | -0.57% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | -0.61% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | -0.64% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | -0.67% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | -0.7% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | -0.71% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | -0.74% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | -0.74% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | -0.77% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | -0.76% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | -0.79% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | -0.78% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | -0.79% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | -0.78% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | -0.8% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | -0.78% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | -0.79% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | -0.77% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | -0.73% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | -0.72% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | -0.69% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | -0.69% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | -0.68% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | -0.62% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | -0.59% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | -0.58% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | -0.54% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | -0.49% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | -0.47% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | -0.47% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | -0.42% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | -0.4% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | -0.38% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | -0.36% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | -0.33% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | -0.3% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | -0.3% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | -0.28% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | -0.27% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | -0.26% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | -0.24% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | -0.23% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | -0.23% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | -0.22% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | -0.2% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | -0.19% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | -0.19% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | -0.19% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | -0.17% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | -0.14% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | -0.12% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | -0.1% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | -0.1% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | -0.06% |
| 2025 | -0.13% | -0.02% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 1.03% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 1.19% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 0.72% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | 0.18% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 0.51% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 0.72% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 0.45% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 0.24% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 0.08% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | -0.08% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | -0.31% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | -0.36% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 0.06% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 0.46% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 0.89% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 1.61% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 1.87% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 1.7% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 1.7% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 1.74% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 1.82% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 1.42% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 0.7% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 0.45% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 0.41% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 0.41% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 0.42% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 0.42% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 0.44% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 0.48% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 0.52% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 0.49% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 0.25% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 0.1% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 0.16% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 0.21% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 0.26% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 0.3% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 0.36% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 0.42% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 0.49% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 0.6% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 0.71% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 0.81% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 0.89% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 0.97% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 1.03% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 1.06% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 1.09% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 1.1% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 1.11% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 1.11% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 1.21% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 1.12% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 0.99% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 1.32% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 1.24% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 1.03% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 1.09% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 1% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 0.88% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 0.92% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 0.93% |
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/spain | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
Spain
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17629
|
48806901
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 32/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.59% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
1.06 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.89 days
|
1.62 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.8 days
|
1.21 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +1,360 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +496,312 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +1.03% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 100/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
5.45 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | +96,630 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 17/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 8,870,527 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 6/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 18.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 32/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Spain
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | 96,630 |
| 2024 | - | -14 | - | 111,674 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | -111,211 | 119,099 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | -133,801 | 299,779 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | -113,865 | 144,385 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | -151,551 | 236,854 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | -56,542 | 464,783 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | -56,139 | 337,467 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | -32,600 | 201,135 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 0 | 106,474 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | -4,642 | -1,979 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 32,522 | -97,870 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 37,284 | -250,741 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 51,450 | -153,486 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 84,137 | 60,761 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 102,469 | 69,406 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 106,635 | 129,557 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 133,267 | 434,135 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 108,545 | 772,317 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 110,994 | 659,720 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 78,576 | 629,803 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 85,844 | 661,158 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 54,844 | 658,428 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 53,861 | 737,880 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 44,936 | 181,307 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 36,512 | 176,269 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 8,077 | 178,559 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 4,022 | 182,926 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 20,028 | 165,345 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 11,967 | 162,704 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 15,889 | 162,434 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 31,639 | 160,407 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 47,234 | 160,907 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 62,652 | 177,544 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 58,450 | 122,841 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 66,075 | -30,684 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 81,538 | -25,892 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 100,794 | -17,663 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 116,054 | -12,681 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 131,188 | -13,540 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 146,184 | -589 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 172,487 | 2,754 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 183,223 | 1,241 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 231,714 | -7,384 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 237,879 | 2,563 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 281,184 | 20,166 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 312,407 | -5,929 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 339,157 | -2,504 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 361,465 | -1,332 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 375,834 | 2,804 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 371,882 | -218 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 396,182 | 105,838 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 374,381 | 8,624 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 391,030 | 7,935 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 369,625 | 7,363 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 378,723 | -60,580 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 367,851 | -49,956 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 387,423 | -46,088 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 402,001 | -42,344 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 397,084 | -41,467 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 405,819 | -42,476 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 429,885 | -41,461 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 394,338 | -44,446 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 384,690 | -45,211 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 396,537 | -46,517 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 398,960 | -154,869 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Palau and Spain
|
Palau
|
Spain
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 84.1 years |
| Average age | 38.4 years | 44.7 years |
| Median age | 39.2 years | 46.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.9:46.1 | 49.1:50.9 |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 births per woman | 1.12 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.3 ppl/mi² | 253 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/spain | 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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