The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,663 in 2025 vs 335,169 people in Vanuatu in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,620 people compared to 346,488 in Vanuatu.
Population statistics:
- Vanuatu's population is 19.7 times bigger than Palau's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
- The countries together account for 0.004% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of -0.03% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10.1% decline), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 346K (60.5% growth).
Palau vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 11,146 | 883,016 |
| 2099 | 11,210 | 878,369 |
| 2098 | 11,275 | 873,597 |
| 2097 | 11,346 | 868,672 |
| 2096 | 11,411 | 863,700 |
| 2095 | 11,479 | 858,515 |
| 2094 | 11,543 | 853,182 |
| 2093 | 11,610 | 847,713 |
| 2092 | 11,676 | 842,198 |
| 2091 | 11,747 | 836,615 |
| 2090 | 11,823 | 830,915 |
| 2089 | 11,901 | 825,143 |
| 2088 | 11,962 | 819,225 |
| 2087 | 12,034 | 813,199 |
| 2086 | 12,103 | 807,118 |
| 2085 | 12,165 | 800,846 |
| 2084 | 12,245 | 794,459 |
| 2083 | 12,310 | 788,013 |
| 2082 | 12,376 | 781,513 |
| 2081 | 12,451 | 774,913 |
| 2080 | 12,531 | 768,233 |
| 2079 | 12,602 | 761,418 |
| 2078 | 12,674 | 754,464 |
| 2077 | 12,751 | 747,507 |
| 2076 | 12,831 | 740,413 |
| 2075 | 12,907 | 733,236 |
| 2074 | 13,000 | 725,977 |
| 2073 | 13,084 | 718,583 |
| 2072 | 13,154 | 711,096 |
| 2071 | 13,245 | 703,543 |
| 2070 | 13,332 | 695,963 |
| 2069 | 13,424 | 688,347 |
| 2068 | 13,518 | 680,670 |
| 2067 | 13,614 | 672,919 |
| 2066 | 13,716 | 665,095 |
| 2065 | 13,811 | 657,238 |
| 2064 | 13,913 | 649,317 |
| 2063 | 14,018 | 641,384 |
| 2062 | 14,129 | 633,453 |
| 2061 | 14,244 | 625,585 |
| 2060 | 14,350 | 617,652 |
| 2059 | 14,471 | 609,661 |
| 2058 | 14,581 | 601,631 |
| 2057 | 14,710 | 593,578 |
| 2056 | 14,830 | 585,523 |
| 2055 | 14,954 | 577,375 |
| 2054 | 15,077 | 569,204 |
| 2053 | 15,198 | 560,984 |
| 2052 | 15,324 | 552,762 |
| 2051 | 15,445 | 544,521 |
| 2050 | 15,554 | 536,181 |
| 2049 | 15,674 | 527,854 |
| 2048 | 15,789 | 519,491 |
| 2047 | 15,904 | 511,139 |
| 2046 | 16,015 | 502,701 |
| 2045 | 16,123 | 494,279 |
| 2044 | 16,237 | 485,821 |
| 2043 | 16,331 | 477,431 |
| 2042 | 16,437 | 469,034 |
| 2041 | 16,541 | 460,706 |
| 2040 | 16,623 | 452,395 |
| 2039 | 16,719 | 444,129 |
| 2038 | 16,797 | 435,887 |
| 2037 | 16,886 | 427,727 |
| 2036 | 16,955 | 419,648 |
| 2035 | 17,033 | 411,652 |
| 2034 | 17,109 | 403,718 |
| 2033 | 17,181 | 395,853 |
| 2032 | 17,241 | 388,114 |
| 2031 | 17,321 | 380,413 |
| 2030 | 17,389 | 372,755 |
| 2029 | 17,448 | 365,162 |
| 2028 | 17,518 | 357,621 |
| 2027 | 17,567 | 350,124 |
| 2026 | 17,620 | 342,649 |
| 2025 | 17,663 | 335,169 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 327,777 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 320,409 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 313,046 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 305,868 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 298,858 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 291,985 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | 285,259 |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 278,507 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | 272,087 |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 266,101 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 260,240 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 254,482 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 248,883 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 243,474 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 238,248 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 232,731 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 226,896 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 221,276 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 215,923 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 210,760 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 205,711 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 200,746 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 195,863 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 191,031 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 186,281 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | 182,048 |
| 1998 | 18,524 | 178,313 |
| 1997 | 18,108 | 174,626 |
| 1996 | 17,654 | 170,911 |
| 1995 | 17,195 | 167,137 |
| 1994 | 16,770 | 163,314 |
| 1993 | 16,372 | 159,463 |
| 1992 | 15,989 | 155,608 |
| 1991 | 15,614 | 151,793 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 148,063 |
| 1989 | 14,945 | 144,393 |
| 1988 | 14,645 | 140,756 |
| 1987 | 14,334 | 137,187 |
| 1986 | 14,024 | 133,720 |
| 1985 | 13,688 | 130,356 |
| 1984 | 13,337 | 127,109 |
| 1983 | 13,006 | 123,998 |
| 1982 | 12,694 | 121,035 |
| 1981 | 12,402 | 118,249 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 115,660 |
| 1979 | 12,337 | 113,040 |
| 1978 | 12,440 | 109,963 |
| 1977 | 12,525 | 106,618 |
| 1976 | 12,598 | 103,388 |
| 1975 | 12,655 | 100,269 |
| 1974 | 12,687 | 97,260 |
| 1973 | 12,552 | 94,362 |
| 1972 | 12,194 | 91,562 |
| 1971 | 11,759 | 88,862 |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 86,266 |
| 1969 | 11,159 | 83,755 |
| 1968 | 11,080 | 81,314 |
| 1967 | 10,988 | 78,921 |
| 1966 | 10,805 | 76,590 |
| 1965 | 10,547 | 74,358 |
| 1964 | 10,292 | 72,219 |
| 1963 | 10,037 | 70,159 |
| 1962 | 9,793 | 68,174 |
| 1961 | 9,555 | 66,264 |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 64,431 |
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/vanuatu | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 177 people (a 0.99% decline), while Vanuatu's population increased by 74,401 people (a 27.3% growth).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 54.7% to 536,181 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.
Vanuatu is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 883K 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
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.6% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.63% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | 0.65% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.65% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.67% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 0.69% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.7% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.72% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 0.74% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.75% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.78% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 0.8% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 0.82% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 0.83% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 0.85% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 0.87% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.9% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.92% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.93% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 0.96% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 0.98% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 1% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 1.03% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 1.05% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 1.07% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 1.09% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 1.11% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 1.13% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 1.15% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 1.18% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 1.2% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 1.22% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 1.24% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 1.25% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 1.26% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 1.28% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 1.31% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 1.33% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 1.36% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 1.38% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 1.41% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 1.44% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 1.47% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 1.49% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 1.51% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 1.56% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 1.58% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 1.61% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 1.63% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 1.68% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 1.7% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 1.74% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 1.76% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 1.79% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 1.81% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 1.84% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 1.86% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 1.89% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 1.91% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | 1.93% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 1.94% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 1.97% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 1.99% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 1.99% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | 2.02% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | 2.05% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | 2.08% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 2.11% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 2.14% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 2.18% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 2.23% |
| 2025 | -0.18% | 2.26% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | 2.3% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | 2.35% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | 2.35% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | 2.35% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | 2.35% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 2.36% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 2.25% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 2.25% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 2.26% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 2.25% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 2.22% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 2.19% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 2.37% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 2.57% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 2.54% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | 2.48% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 2.45% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 2.47% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 2.49% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 2.53% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 2.55% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | 2.33% |
| 1999 | 2.04% | 2.09% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | 2.11% |
| 1997 | 2.57% | 2.17% |
| 1996 | 2.67% | 2.26% |
| 1995 | 2.53% | 2.34% |
| 1994 | 2.43% | 2.41% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | 2.48% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | 2.51% |
| 1991 | 2.33% | 2.52% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | 2.54% |
| 1989 | 2.05% | 2.58% |
| 1988 | 2.17% | 2.6% |
| 1987 | 2.21% | 2.59% |
| 1986 | 2.45% | 2.58% |
| 1985 | 2.63% | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 2.54% | 2.51% |
| 1983 | 2.46% | 2.45% |
| 1982 | 2.35% | 2.36% |
| 1981 | 1.07% | 2.24% |
| 1980 | -0.53% | 2.32% |
| 1979 | -0.83% | 2.8% |
| 1978 | -0.68% | 3.14% |
| 1977 | -0.58% | 3.12% |
| 1976 | -0.45% | 3.11% |
| 1975 | -0.25% | 3.09% |
| 1974 | 1.08% | 3.07% |
| 1973 | 2.94% | 3.06% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | 3.04% |
| 1971 | 3.44% | 3.01% |
| 1970 | 1.87% | 3% |
| 1969 | 0.71% | 3% |
| 1968 | 0.84% | 3.03% |
| 1967 | 1.69% | 3.04% |
| 1966 | 2.45% | 3% |
| 1965 | 2.48% | 2.96% |
| 1964 | 2.54% | 2.94% |
| 1963 | 2.49% | 2.91% |
| 1962 | 2.49% | 2.88% |
| 1961 | 2.43% | 2.84% |
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/vanuatu | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.26%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17620
|
346488
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 174/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.004% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
1.19 hours
|
| One birth every |
1.93 days
|
58 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.76 days
|
5.33 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +20 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +7,392 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +2.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 36/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
1.01 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | -16 | -52 |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | 80/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | 3,315 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | 188/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | 1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 | 155/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Vanuatu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | -52 |
| 2024 | -18 | -14 | 7,419 | -43 |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | 7,359 | 0 |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | 7,358 | 0 |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | 7,199 | -201 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 7,233 | -201 |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | 7,364 | -652 |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | 7,379 | -638 |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | 7,371 | -610 |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | 7,315 | -1,235 |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | 7,220 | -1,324 |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | 7,143 | -1,320 |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | 7,036 | -1,343 |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | 6,877 | -1,369 |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | 6,715 | -1,395 |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | 6,548 | -1,413 |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | 6,362 | -467 |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | 6,138 | -372 |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | 5,842 | -374 |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | 5,606 | -364 |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | 5,454 | -364 |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | 5,353 | -349 |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | 5,258 | -342 |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | 5,181 | -329 |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | 5,144 | -328 |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | 5,026 | -339 |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | 4,871 | -1,090 |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | 4,866 | -1,178 |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | 4,854 | -1,166 |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | 4,897 | -1,154 |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | 4,945 | -1,140 |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | 4,973 | -1,132 |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | 4,973 | -1,115 |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | 4,941 | -1,095 |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | 4,859 | -1,078 |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | 4,762 | -1,072 |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | 4,656 | -1,006 |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | 4,577 | -959 |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | 4,427 | -907 |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | 4,360 | -938 |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | 4,219 | -916 |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | 4,088 | -907 |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | 3,944 | -899 |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | 3,778 | -897 |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | 3,592 | -896 |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | 3,383 | -896 |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | 3,590 | -845 |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | 3,428 | -15 |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | 3,285 | -3 |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | 3,174 | 3 |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | 3,074 | -15 |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | 2,968 | -17 |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | 2,876 | -22 |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | 2,775 | -28 |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | 2,685 | -40 |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | 2,597 | -46 |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | 2,529 | -53 |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | 2,470 | -68 |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | 2,384 | 0 |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | 2,278 | 0 |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | 2,180 | 0 |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | 2,098 | 0 |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | 2,025 | 0 |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | 1,947 | 0 |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | 1,872 | 0 |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | 1,796 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 93.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 73,217 people) and 6.28% is from migration (a loss of 4,904 people).
As of 2024, 5,212 residents or 29.5% of the population were not native-born in Palau, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and Vanuatu
|
Palau
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 72 years |
| Average age | 38.7 years | 25.7 years |
| Median age | 39.5 years | 21.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.8:46.2 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 births per woman | 3.57 births per woman |
| Population density | 99.2 ppl/mi² | 72.8 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/vanuatu | 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)
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