The latest officially reported population of Palau was 17,695 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palau's population is 17,629 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.
Population statistics:
- Palau's population is 18.8 times bigger than the Vatican's.
- Palau is ranked the 194th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
- The countries together account for 0.0002% of the world: 0.0002% for Palau vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
- For the last 10 years, Palau has had an average growth rate of +0.02% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
- Since 2006, the population of Palau has decreased from 19.6K people to 17.6K (10% decline), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).
Palau vs Vatican: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Palau
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 11,152 | 2,521 |
| 2099 | 11,216 | 2,506 |
| 2098 | 11,281 | 2,497 |
| 2097 | 11,352 | 2,482 |
| 2096 | 11,417 | 2,469 |
| 2095 | 11,485 | 2,452 |
| 2094 | 11,549 | 2,435 |
| 2093 | 11,616 | 2,421 |
| 2092 | 11,682 | 2,400 |
| 2091 | 11,753 | 2,384 |
| 2090 | 11,829 | 2,359 |
| 2089 | 11,907 | 2,337 |
| 2088 | 11,968 | 2,319 |
| 2087 | 12,040 | 2,291 |
| 2086 | 12,109 | 2,269 |
| 2085 | 12,171 | 2,248 |
| 2084 | 12,251 | 2,217 |
| 2083 | 12,316 | 2,183 |
| 2082 | 12,382 | 2,159 |
| 2081 | 12,457 | 2,129 |
| 2080 | 12,537 | 2,105 |
| 2079 | 12,608 | 2,089 |
| 2078 | 12,681 | 2,068 |
| 2077 | 12,758 | 2,050 |
| 2076 | 12,838 | 2,025 |
| 2075 | 12,914 | 2,001 |
| 2074 | 13,007 | 1,970 |
| 2073 | 13,091 | 1,944 |
| 2072 | 13,161 | 1,912 |
| 2071 | 13,252 | 1,866 |
| 2070 | 13,338 | 1,829 |
| 2069 | 13,430 | 1,795 |
| 2068 | 13,525 | 1,777 |
| 2067 | 13,621 | 1,755 |
| 2066 | 13,723 | 1,729 |
| 2065 | 13,818 | 1,701 |
| 2064 | 13,920 | 1,679 |
| 2063 | 14,025 | 1,651 |
| 2062 | 14,136 | 1,623 |
| 2061 | 14,251 | 1,595 |
| 2060 | 14,358 | 1,556 |
| 2059 | 14,479 | 1,530 |
| 2058 | 14,589 | 1,512 |
| 2057 | 14,718 | 1,493 |
| 2056 | 14,837 | 1,469 |
| 2055 | 14,961 | 1,441 |
| 2054 | 15,084 | 1,419 |
| 2053 | 15,206 | 1,382 |
| 2052 | 15,332 | 1,358 |
| 2051 | 15,453 | 1,335 |
| 2050 | 15,562 | 1,311 |
| 2049 | 15,682 | 1,283 |
| 2048 | 15,797 | 1,256 |
| 2047 | 15,912 | 1,237 |
| 2046 | 16,024 | 1,215 |
| 2045 | 16,132 | 1,192 |
| 2044 | 16,245 | 1,174 |
| 2043 | 16,339 | 1,152 |
| 2042 | 16,445 | 1,135 |
| 2041 | 16,549 | 1,105 |
| 2040 | 16,631 | 1,070 |
| 2039 | 16,727 | 1,033 |
| 2038 | 16,805 | 1,001 |
| 2037 | 16,895 | 996 |
| 2036 | 16,964 | 1,001 |
| 2035 | 17,042 | 988 |
| 2034 | 17,118 | 988 |
| 2033 | 17,190 | 974 |
| 2032 | 17,250 | 964 |
| 2031 | 17,330 | 977 |
| 2030 | 17,398 | 979 |
| 2029 | 17,457 | 985 |
| 2028 | 17,527 | 983 |
| 2027 | 17,576 | 946 |
| 2026 | 17,629 | 933 |
| 2025 | 17,672 | 927 |
| 2024 | 17,695 | 910 |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 927 |
| 2022 | 17,759 | 951 |
| 2021 | 17,783 | 972 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 987 |
| 2019 | 17,798 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 17,814 | - |
| 2017 | 17,812 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 17,797 | - |
| 2015 | 17,770 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 17,715 | 842 |
| 2013 | 17,648 | 839 |
| 2012 | 17,765 | 836 |
| 2011 | 18,078 | 832 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 829 |
| 2009 | 18,709 | 826 |
| 2008 | 19,009 | 824 |
| 2007 | 19,302 | 821 |
| 2006 | 19,593 | 932 |
| 2005 | 19,819 | 921 |
| 2004 | 19,820 | 921 |
| 2003 | 19,659 | 911 |
| 2002 | 19,503 | 900 |
| 2001 | 19,352 | 890 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 880 |
| 1999 | 18,901 | - |
| 1998 | 18,524 | - |
| 1997 | 18,108 | - |
| 1996 | 17,654 | - |
| 1995 | 17,195 | - |
| 1994 | 16,770 | - |
| 1993 | 16,372 | - |
| 1992 | 15,989 | - |
| 1991 | 15,614 | - |
| 1990 | 15,259 | - |
| 1989 | 14,945 | - |
| 1988 | 14,645 | - |
| 1987 | 14,334 | - |
| 1986 | 14,024 | - |
| 1985 | 13,688 | - |
| 1984 | 13,337 | - |
| 1983 | 13,006 | - |
| 1982 | 12,694 | - |
| 1981 | 12,402 | - |
| 1980 | 12,271 | - |
| 1979 | 12,337 | - |
| 1978 | 12,440 | - |
| 1977 | 12,525 | - |
| 1976 | 12,598 | - |
| 1975 | 12,655 | - |
| 1974 | 12,687 | - |
| 1973 | 12,552 | - |
| 1972 | 12,194 | - |
| 1971 | 11,759 | - |
| 1970 | 11,368 | - |
| 1969 | 11,159 | - |
| 1968 | 11,080 | - |
| 1967 | 10,988 | - |
| 1966 | 10,805 | - |
| 1965 | 10,547 | - |
| 1964 | 10,292 | - |
| 1963 | 10,037 | - |
| 1962 | 9,793 | - |
| 1961 | 9,555 | - |
| 1960 | 9,328 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/vatican | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palau decreased by 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palau lost 168 people (a 0.94% decline), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).
Palau was ranked 194th most populous country in 2006 and is still 194th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.
The Vatican is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 2.52K 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
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | -0.57% | 0.59% |
| 2099 | -0.58% | 0.37% |
| 2098 | -0.62% | 0.6% |
| 2097 | -0.57% | 0.53% |
| 2096 | -0.59% | 0.68% |
| 2095 | -0.55% | 0.69% |
| 2094 | -0.58% | 0.61% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.85% |
| 2092 | -0.6% | 0.7% |
| 2091 | -0.65% | 1.02% |
| 2090 | -0.65% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | -0.51% | 0.8% |
| 2088 | -0.6% | 1.21% |
| 2087 | -0.57% | 0.98% |
| 2086 | -0.51% | 0.91% |
| 2085 | -0.65% | 1.42% |
| 2084 | -0.53% | 1.53% |
| 2083 | -0.53% | 1.12% |
| 2082 | -0.6% | 1.39% |
| 2081 | -0.64% | 1.15% |
| 2080 | -0.56% | 0.8% |
| 2079 | -0.58% | 0.99% |
| 2078 | -0.6% | 0.9% |
| 2077 | -0.62% | 1.19% |
| 2076 | -0.59% | 1.2% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | 1.6% |
| 2074 | -0.64% | 1.34% |
| 2073 | -0.53% | 1.65% |
| 2072 | -0.69% | 2.49% |
| 2071 | -0.65% | 2.03% |
| 2070 | -0.68% | 1.86% |
| 2069 | -0.7% | 1.04% |
| 2068 | -0.7% | 1.27% |
| 2067 | -0.74% | 1.5% |
| 2066 | -0.69% | 1.64% |
| 2065 | -0.73% | 1.33% |
| 2064 | -0.75% | 1.69% |
| 2063 | -0.78% | 1.71% |
| 2062 | -0.81% | 1.74% |
| 2061 | -0.74% | 2.5% |
| 2060 | -0.84% | 1.7% |
| 2059 | -0.75% | 1.23% |
| 2058 | -0.88% | 1.24% |
| 2057 | -0.81% | 1.64% |
| 2056 | -0.83% | 1.93% |
| 2055 | -0.81% | 1.57% |
| 2054 | -0.8% | 2.68% |
| 2053 | -0.82% | 1.78% |
| 2052 | -0.78% | 1.67% |
| 2051 | -0.7% | 1.84% |
| 2050 | -0.76% | 2.17% |
| 2049 | -0.73% | 2.22% |
| 2048 | -0.72% | 1.5% |
| 2047 | -0.7% | 1.83% |
| 2046 | -0.67% | 1.87% |
| 2045 | -0.7% | 1.58% |
| 2044 | -0.57% | 1.93% |
| 2043 | -0.64% | 1.47% |
| 2042 | -0.63% | 2.68% |
| 2041 | -0.49% | 3.29% |
| 2040 | -0.57% | 3.59% |
| 2039 | -0.46% | 3.15% |
| 2038 | -0.53% | 0.56% |
| 2037 | -0.41% | -0.56% |
| 2036 | -0.46% | 1.31% |
| 2035 | -0.44% | 0% |
| 2034 | -0.42% | 1.52% |
| 2033 | -0.35% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | -0.46% | -1.33% |
| 2031 | -0.39% | -0.19% |
| 2030 | -0.34% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | -0.4% | 0.19% |
| 2028 | -0.28% | 3.92% |
| 2027 | -0.3% | 1.39% |
| 2026 | -0.24% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | -0.13% | 1.83% |
| 2024 | -0.18% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | -0.18% | -2.53% |
| 2022 | -0.13% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | -0.05% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | -0.03% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | -0.09% | 0% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 0% |
| 2017 | 0.08% | 0% |
| 2016 | 0.15% | 0% |
| 2015 | 0.31% | 18.8% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | -0.66% | 0.36% |
| 2012 | -1.73% | 0.48% |
| 2011 | -1.73% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | -1.67% | 0.36% |
| 2009 | -1.58% | 0.24% |
| 2008 | -1.52% | 0.37% |
| 2007 | -1.49% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | -1.14% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | -0.005% | 0% |
| 2004 | 0.82% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | 1.22% |
| 2002 | 0.78% | 1.12% |
| 2001 | 0.91% | 1.14% |
| 2000 | 1.47% | - |
| 1999 | 2.04% | - |
| 1998 | 2.3% | - |
| 1997 | 2.57% | - |
| 1996 | 2.67% | - |
| 1995 | 2.53% | - |
| 1994 | 2.43% | - |
| 1993 | 2.4% | - |
| 1992 | 2.4% | - |
| 1991 | 2.33% | - |
| 1990 | 2.1% | - |
| 1989 | 2.05% | - |
| 1988 | 2.17% | - |
| 1987 | 2.21% | - |
| 1986 | 2.45% | - |
| 1985 | 2.63% | - |
| 1984 | 2.54% | - |
| 1983 | 2.46% | - |
| 1982 | 2.35% | - |
| 1981 | 1.07% | - |
| 1980 | -0.53% | - |
| 1979 | -0.83% | - |
| 1978 | -0.68% | - |
| 1977 | -0.58% | - |
| 1976 | -0.45% | - |
| 1975 | -0.25% | - |
| 1974 | 1.08% | - |
| 1973 | 2.94% | - |
| 1972 | 3.7% | - |
| 1971 | 3.44% | - |
| 1970 | 1.87% | - |
| 1969 | 0.71% | - |
| 1968 | 0.84% | - |
| 1967 | 1.69% | - |
| 1966 | 2.45% | - |
| 1965 | 2.48% | - |
| 1964 | 2.54% | - |
| 1963 | 2.49% | - |
| 1962 | 2.49% | - |
| 1961 | 2.43% | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/vatican | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Palau declined by 0.18%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.
Live population counters
|
Palau
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
17629
|
936
|
| Population rank | 194/197 | 197/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0002% | 0.00001% |
| One net population change |
1.63 weeks
|
1 month
|
| One birth every |
1.89 days
|
n/a |
| One death every |
1.8 days
|
n/a |
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | -32 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.18% | +0% |
| Population growth rate rank | 175/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.27 weeks
|
n/a |
| Annual migration change | -16 | n/a |
| Net migration rank | 78/196 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 5,212 | n/a |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 184/195 | |
| Foreign-born share of population | 29.5% | n/a |
| Foreign-born share rank | 19/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palau
|
Vatican
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -16 | - | - |
| 2024 | - | -14 | - | - |
| 2023 | -10 | -19 | - | - |
| 2022 | -7 | -20 | - | - |
| 2021 | -3 | -21 | - | - |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | - | - |
| 2019 | 23 | -46 | - | - |
| 2018 | 29 | -35 | - | - |
| 2017 | 43 | -33 | - | - |
| 2016 | 53 | -35 | - | - |
| 2015 | 55 | -11 | - | - |
| 2014 | 73 | -7 | - | - |
| 2013 | 88 | -28 | - | - |
| 2012 | 86 | -387 | - | - |
| 2011 | 83 | -405 | - | - |
| 2010 | 81 | -392 | - | - |
| 2009 | 81 | -382 | - | - |
| 2008 | 79 | -378 | - | - |
| 2007 | 80 | -372 | - | - |
| 2006 | 79 | -365 | - | - |
| 2005 | 80 | -250 | - | - |
| 2004 | 83 | 79 | - | - |
| 2003 | 86 | 71 | - | - |
| 2002 | 88 | 67 | - | - |
| 2001 | 88 | 65 | - | - |
| 2000 | 85 | 120 | - | - |
| 1999 | 100 | 243 | - | - |
| 1998 | 116 | 280 | - | - |
| 1997 | 140 | 297 | - | - |
| 1996 | 166 | 312 | - | - |
| 1995 | 186 | 258 | - | - |
| 1994 | 195 | 211 | - | - |
| 1993 | 196 | 193 | - | - |
| 1992 | 183 | 193 | - | - |
| 1991 | 175 | 193 | - | - |
| 1990 | 181 | 156 | - | - |
| 1989 | 185 | 113 | - | - |
| 1988 | 183 | 126 | - | - |
| 1987 | 182 | 125 | - | - |
| 1986 | 182 | 135 | - | - |
| 1985 | 181 | 179 | - | - |
| 1984 | 181 | 157 | - | - |
| 1983 | 176 | 144 | - | - |
| 1982 | 170 | 132 | - | - |
| 1981 | 161 | 120 | - | - |
| 1980 | 165 | -179 | - | - |
| 1979 | 176 | -291 | - | - |
| 1978 | 193 | -285 | - | - |
| 1977 | 213 | -292 | - | - |
| 1976 | 236 | -296 | - | - |
| 1975 | 249 | -296 | - | - |
| 1974 | 256 | -282 | - | - |
| 1973 | 268 | 22 | - | - |
| 1972 | 280 | 147 | - | - |
| 1971 | 287 | 156 | - | - |
| 1970 | 286 | 54 | - | - |
| 1969 | 283 | -209 | - | - |
| 1968 | 275 | -194 | - | - |
| 1967 | 266 | -150 | - | - |
| 1966 | 268 | -18 | - | - |
| 1965 | 275 | -16 | - | - |
| 1964 | 284 | -27 | - | - |
| 1963 | 291 | -41 | - | - |
| 1962 | 296 | -54 | - | - |
| 1961 | 298 | -65 | - | - |
| 1960 | 296 | -70 | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/palau/vatican | CC BY
Biggest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Palau and the Vatican
|
Palau
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 38.4 years | n/a |
| Median age | 39.2 years | n/a |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.9:46.1 | n/a |
| Fertility rate | 1.91 births per woman | n/a |
| Population density | 99.3 ppl/mi² | 5,493 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/vatican | 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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