The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,695 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,629 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.
Population statistics:
- The United States' population is 19,515 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
- The countries together account for 4.15% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 4.15% for the United States.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of +0.02% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10% decline), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).
Palau vs United States: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
United States
|
|
| 2100 | 11,152 | 415,429,771 |
| 2099 | 11,216 | 414,829,167 |
| 2098 | 11,281 | 414,231,720 |
| 2097 | 11,352 | 413,576,381 |
| 2096 | 11,417 | 412,927,393 |
| 2095 | 11,485 | 412,225,379 |
| 2094 | 11,549 | 411,498,749 |
| 2093 | 11,616 | 410,785,729 |
| 2092 | 11,682 | 410,051,921 |
| 2091 | 11,753 | 409,320,183 |
| 2090 | 11,829 | 408,613,732 |
| 2089 | 11,907 | 407,885,645 |
| 2088 | 11,968 | 407,129,733 |
| 2087 | 12,040 | 406,421,298 |
| 2086 | 12,109 | 405,715,343 |
| 2085 | 12,171 | 405,059,379 |
| 2084 | 12,251 | 404,343,130 |
| 2083 | 12,316 | 403,612,785 |
| 2082 | 12,382 | 402,871,293 |
| 2081 | 12,457 | 402,054,554 |
| 2080 | 12,537 | 401,319,194 |
| 2079 | 12,608 | 400,554,914 |
| 2078 | 12,681 | 399,737,968 |
| 2077 | 12,758 | 398,906,565 |
| 2076 | 12,838 | 398,035,750 |
| 2075 | 12,914 | 397,109,170 |
| 2074 | 13,007 | 396,226,412 |
| 2073 | 13,091 | 395,307,725 |
| 2072 | 13,161 | 394,393,561 |
| 2071 | 13,252 | 393,415,363 |
| 2070 | 13,338 | 392,469,727 |
| 2069 | 13,430 | 391,479,981 |
| 2068 | 13,525 | 390,517,695 |
| 2067 | 13,621 | 389,543,856 |
| 2066 | 13,723 | 388,597,719 |
| 2065 | 13,818 | 387,685,327 |
| 2064 | 13,920 | 386,805,026 |
| 2063 | 14,025 | 385,911,917 |
| 2062 | 14,136 | 385,032,627 |
| 2061 | 14,251 | 384,170,837 |
| 2060 | 14,358 | 383,361,269 |
| 2059 | 14,479 | 382,542,030 |
| 2058 | 14,589 | 381,704,804 |
| 2057 | 14,718 | 380,907,023 |
| 2056 | 14,837 | 380,159,777 |
| 2055 | 14,961 | 379,430,756 |
| 2054 | 15,084 | 378,682,851 |
| 2053 | 15,206 | 377,878,421 |
| 2052 | 15,332 | 377,073,303 |
| 2051 | 15,453 | 376,229,840 |
| 2050 | 15,562 | 375,373,155 |
| 2049 | 15,682 | 374,493,150 |
| 2048 | 15,797 | 373,590,762 |
| 2047 | 15,912 | 372,626,259 |
| 2046 | 16,024 | 371,644,809 |
| 2045 | 16,132 | 370,602,914 |
| 2044 | 16,245 | 369,518,897 |
| 2043 | 16,339 | 368,375,680 |
| 2042 | 16,445 | 367,158,772 |
| 2041 | 16,549 | 365,937,822 |
| 2040 | 16,631 | 364,671,837 |
| 2039 | 16,727 | 363,367,337 |
| 2038 | 16,805 | 361,997,023 |
| 2037 | 16,895 | 360,606,236 |
| 2036 | 16,964 | 359,193,245 |
| 2035 | 17,042 | 357,750,686 |
| 2034 | 17,118 | 356,266,726 |
| 2033 | 17,190 | 354,775,032 |
| 2032 | 17,250 | 353,259,037 |
| 2031 | 17,330 | 351,721,511 |
| 2030 | 17,398 | 350,155,042 |
| 2029 | 17,457 | 348,564,667 |
| 2028 | 17,527 | 346,906,294 |
| 2027 | 17,576 | 345,257,605 |
| 2026 | 17,629 | 343,565,426 |
| 2025 | 17,672 | 341,784,857 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 340,110,988 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 334,914,895 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 333,271,411 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 331,893,745 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 331,526,933 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 328,329,953 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 326,838,199 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 325,122,128 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 323,071,755 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 320,738,994 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 318,386,329 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 316,059,947 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 313,877,662 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 311,583,481 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 309,327,143 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 306,771,529 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 304,093,966 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 301,231,207 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 298,379,912 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 295,516,599 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 292,805,298 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 290,107,933 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 287,625,193 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 284,968,955 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 282,162,411 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 279,294,713 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 276,115,288 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 272,911,760 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 269,667,391 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 266,557,091 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 263,435,673 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 260,255,352 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 256,894,189 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 253,492,503 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 250,131,894 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 246,819,222 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 244,499,004 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 242,288,936 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 240,132,831 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 237,923,734 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 235,824,908 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 233,792,014 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 231,664,432 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 229,465,744 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 226,542,250 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 225,055,487 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 222,584,545 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 220,239,425 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 218,035,164 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 215,973,199 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 213,853,928 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 211,908,788 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 209,896,021 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 207,660,677 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 205,052,174 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 202,676,946 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 200,706,052 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 198,712,056 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 196,560,338 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 194,302,963 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 191,888,791 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 189,241,798 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 186,537,737 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 183,691,481 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 180,671,158 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/united-states | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 168 people (a 0.94% decline), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 United States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.
The United States is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 415M 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
|
United States
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | 0.14% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | 0.14% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | 0.16% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | 0.16% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.17% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.18% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | 0.17% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.18% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.18% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 0.17% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.18% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.19% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 0.17% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.17% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.16% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 0.18% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 0.18% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 0.18% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 0.2% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 0.18% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.19% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.2% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.21% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 0.22% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 0.23% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 0.22% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 0.23% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 0.23% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 0.25% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 0.24% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 0.25% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 0.25% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 0.25% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 0.24% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 0.24% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 0.23% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 0.23% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 0.23% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 0.22% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 0.21% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 0.21% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 0.22% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 0.21% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 0.2% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 0.19% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 0.2% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 0.21% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 0.21% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 0.22% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 0.23% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 0.23% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 0.24% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 0.26% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 0.26% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 0.28% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 0.29% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 0.31% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 0.33% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 0.33% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 0.35% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 0.36% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 0.38% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 0.39% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | 0.39% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 0.4% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 0.42% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 0.42% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 0.43% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | 0.44% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | 0.45% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | 0.46% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 0.48% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 0.48% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 0.49% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 0.52% |
| 2025 | -0.13% | 0.49% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 1.55% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 0.49% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 0.42% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | 0.11% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 0.97% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 0.46% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 0.53% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 0.63% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 0.73% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 0.74% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 0.74% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 0.7% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 0.74% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 0.73% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 0.83% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 0.88% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 0.95% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 0.96% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 0.97% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 0.93% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 0.93% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 0.86% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 0.93% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 0.99% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 1.03% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 1.15% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 1.17% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 1.2% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 1.17% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 1.18% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 1.22% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 1.31% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 1.34% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 1.34% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 1.34% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 0.95% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 0.91% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 0.9% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 0.93% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 0.89% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 0.87% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 0.92% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 0.96% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 1.29% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 0.66% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 1.11% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 1.06% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 1.01% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 0.95% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 0.99% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 0.92% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 0.96% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 1.08% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 1.27% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 1.17% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 0.98% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 1% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 1.09% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 1.16% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 1.26% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 1.4% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 1.45% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 1.55% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 1.67% |
| 1960 | - | 1.6% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/united-states | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17629
|
344023146
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 3/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 4.15% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
18.9 seconds
|
| One birth every |
1.89 days
|
8.8 seconds
|
| One death every |
1.8 days
|
10.2 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +4,586 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +1,673,869 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +0.49% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 134/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
25.7 seconds
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | +1,230,663 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 2/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 52,375,047 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 1/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 15.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 41/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
United States
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | 1,230,663 |
| 2024 | - | -14 | - | 1,286,132 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | 502,372 | 1,322,668 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | 399,926 | 1,319,009 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | 199,137 | 674,787 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 208,862 | 329,769 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 887,476 | 1,774,500 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 955,022 | 1,764,961 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 1,028,037 | 1,864,738 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 1,197,627 | 1,889,129 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 1,270,126 | 1,722,127 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 1,357,281 | 1,672,598 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 1,322,711 | 1,663,885 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 1,411,822 | 1,632,007 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 1,441,697 | 1,624,033 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 1,548,182 | 1,594,453 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 1,717,920 | 1,387,306 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 1,794,154 | 1,416,841 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 1,897,757 | 1,371,353 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 1,849,955 | 1,347,750 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 1,684,445 | 1,369,224 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 1,698,271 | 1,313,467 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 1,653,615 | 1,331,376 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 1,581,938 | 1,336,518 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 1,595,826 | 1,312,455 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 1,664,758 | 1,248,392 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 1,564,050 | 1,156,311 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 1,573,857 | 1,225,134 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 1,501,014 | 1,116,922 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 1,510,137 | 1,141,648 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 1,546,031 | 1,173,016 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 1,633,302 | 1,179,309 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 1,717,685 | 1,228,478 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 1,875,328 | 1,304,880 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 1,926,543 | 1,202,426 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 2,026,068 | 1,084,720 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 1,875,826 | 400,998 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 1,735,943 | 460,778 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 1,720,252 | 480,815 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 1,656,917 | 493,082 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 1,689,258 | 598,777 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 1,627,192 | 622,793 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 1,636,544 | 662,840 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 1,714,317 | 600,149 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 1,652,153 | 583,070 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 1,608,450 | 595,916 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 1,597,894 | 503,559 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 1,402,283 | 556,521 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 1,431,556 | 577,060 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 1,264,604 | 635,590 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 1,252,644 | 655,078 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 1,218,968 | 706,978 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 1,165,499 | 783,163 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 1,301,355 | 833,543 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 1,640,519 | 833,549 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 1,824,965 | 744,902 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 1,702,487 | 523,740 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 1,565,507 | 594,514 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 1,669,181 | 585,410 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 1,749,387 | 637,692 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 1,943,030 | 644,902 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 2,245,099 | 618,635 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 2,289,826 | 639,495 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 2,406,337 | 625,617 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 2,571,681 | 580,333 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 2,565,530 | 422,708 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/united-states | 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 United States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.
Biggest cities by population
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| New York | 8.8M |
| Los Angeles | 3.9M |
| Chicago | 2.75M |
| Houston | 2.3M |
| Phoenix | 1.61M |
| Philadelphia | 1.6M |
| San Antonio | 1.43M |
| San Diego | 1.39M |
| Dallas | 1.3M |
| San Jose | 1.01M |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and the United States
|
Palau
|
United States
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 79.8 years |
| Average age | 38.4 years | 40.2 years |
| Median age | 39.2 years | 39.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.9:46.1 | 50.2:49.8 |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 births per woman | 1.62 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.3 ppl/mi² | 97.3 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/united-states | 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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