What is the population of Palau in 2026?
Palau has a population of 17,663 people (2025 estimate), which is 223rd in the world and about 0.00% of the global total.
Officially Republic of Palau
Population 2025
17,663
0.00% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
−0.18%
−32 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
39/km²
460 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
38.5 years
Life expectancy 69.4 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Palau
With a population of 17,663, Palau ranks 221st globally among nations. The island state gained independence in 1994 and uses the United States dollar as its currency, with English and Palauan as official languages. A median age of 38.5 years and life expectancy of 69.4 years reflect an aging population, while the fertility rate of 1.9 births per woman contributes to an annual population decline of -0.2%.
The country spans 460 km² across Oceania with a population density of 39 people per km². Nearly four-fifths of residents live in urban areas, concentrated mainly around the capital, Ngerulmud. A GDP per capita of $19,532 positions Palau among middle-income nations in the Pacific region.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Ngerulmud
- Continent
- Oceania
- ISO codes
- PW · PLW
- Demonym
- Palauan
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD $)
- State inception
- 1994
- Time zone
- UTC+09:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +680
- Internet TLD
- .pw
- Land neighbours
- No land borders
Languages
- English
- Palauan
Demographics
Economy
Not published for Palau: Unemployment Rate, Gini Index.
Health
Education
Not published for Palau: Mean Years of Schooling.
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Not published for Palau: Happiness Index.
Geography
Military
None of our sources publish these indicators for Palau.
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 18.2%
- Age 15–64
- 70.4%
- Age 65+
- 11.4%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 0 | 0 |
| 95-99 | 0 | 3 |
| 90-94 | 4 | 18 |
| 85-89 | 19 | 45 |
| 80-84 | 63 | 95 |
| 75-79 | 141 | 166 |
| 70-74 | 270 | 311 |
| 65-69 | 439 | 437 |
| 60-64 | 582 | 559 |
| 55-59 | 700 | 605 |
| 50-54 | 789 | 610 |
| 45-49 | 805 | 611 |
| 40-44 | 807 | 557 |
| 35-39 | 776 | 562 |
| 30-34 | 801 | 552 |
| 25-29 | 541 | 434 |
| 20-24 | 513 | 474 |
| 15-19 | 596 | 590 |
| 10-14 | 630 | 565 |
| 5-9 | 558 | 504 |
| 0-4 | 501 | 471 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 7,474 |
| 1960 | 9,328 |
| 1970 | 11,368 |
| 1980 | 12,271 |
| 1990 | 15,259 |
| 2000 | 19,178 |
| 2010 | 18,396 |
| 2020 | 17,792 |
| 2030 | 17,376 |
| 2040 | 16,602 |
| 2050 | 15,518 |
| 2060 | 14,315 |
| 2070 | 13,305 |
| 2080 | 12,506 |
| 2090 | 11,800 |
| 2100 | 11,126 |
How Palau Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Palau | 18K |
Palau Population FAQ
Is the population of Palau growing or shrinking?
Palau's population is shrinking at −0.18% per year, a change of roughly 32 people annually.
What is the capital of Palau?
The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud.
How densely populated is Palau?
Palau has 39/km² across 460 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Palau?
Life expectancy at birth in Palau is 69.4 years (2024).
What is the median age in Palau?
The median age in Palau is 38.5 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Palau in?
Palau is in Oceania.