Rank #146 by World Population
🇵🇼Palau
Palau has a population of 17,727, ranking #146 in the world. The capital is Koror. Located in East Asia & Pacific.
World Bank: High income
17,727
Population
#146
World Rank
69.3
Life Expectancy
$15,611
GDP Per Capita
Palau, #146 by world population
Palau Population History (1960-2024)
The country of Palau had a population of 9,328 in 1960 and 17,695 in 2024, a 89.7% growth over 64 years. The peak was 19,820 in 2004. Average annual growth rate: 1.02%.
17,695
Population (2024)
9,328
Population (1960)
19,820
Peak (2004)
1.02%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 9,328 |
| 1961 | 9,555 |
| 1962 | 9,793 |
| 1963 | 10,037 |
| 1964 | 10,292 |
| 1965 | 10,547 |
| 1966 | 10,805 |
| 1967 | 10,988 |
| 1968 | 11,080 |
| 1969 | 11,159 |
| 1970 | 11,368 |
| 1971 | 11,759 |
| 1972 | 12,194 |
| 1973 | 12,552 |
| 1974 | 12,687 |
| 1975 | 12,655 |
| 1976 | 12,598 |
| 1977 | 12,525 |
| 1978 | 12,440 |
| 1979 | 12,337 |
| 1980 | 12,271 |
| 1981 | 12,402 |
| 1982 | 12,694 |
| 1983 | 13,006 |
| 1984 | 13,337 |
| 1985 | 13,688 |
| 1986 | 14,024 |
| 1987 | 14,334 |
| 1988 | 14,645 |
| 1989 | 14,945 |
| 1990 | 15,259 |
| 1991 | 15,614 |
| 1992 | 15,989 |
| 1993 | 16,372 |
| 1994 | 16,770 |
| 1995 | 17,195 |
| 1996 | 17,654 |
| 1997 | 18,108 |
| 1998 | 18,524 |
| 1999 | 18,901 |
| 2000 | 19,178 |
| 2001 | 19,352 |
| 2002 | 19,503 |
| 2003 | 19,659 |
| 2004 | 19,820 |
| 2005 | 19,819 |
| 2006 | 19,593 |
| 2007 | 19,302 |
| 2008 | 19,009 |
| 2009 | 18,709 |
| 2010 | 18,396 |
| 2011 | 18,078 |
| 2012 | 17,765 |
| 2013 | 17,648 |
| 2014 | 17,715 |
| 2015 | 17,770 |
| 2016 | 17,797 |
| 2017 | 17,812 |
| 2018 | 17,814 |
| 2019 | 17,798 |
| 2020 | 17,792 |
| 2021 | 17,783 |
| 2022 | 17,759 |
| 2023 | 17,727 |
| 2024 | 17,695 |
Demographics
| Population | 17,727 |
| Population Growth Rate | -0.18% |
| Urban Population | 79.2% |
| Fertility Rate | 1.91 births/woman |
| Life Expectancy | 69.3 years |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 19.0 per 1,000 |
| Literacy Rate | 99.8% |
Economy & Trade
$15,611
GDP Per Capita
-
Unemployment Rate
High income
Income Level
106.7%
Trade (% of GDP)
18,400
Tourism Arrivals
Health & Education
10.9%
Health Expenditure (% GDP)
1.81
Physicians per 1,000
3.4%
Education Expenditure (% GDP)
99.8%
Literacy Rate
19.0
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Development & Connectivity
100.0%
Electricity Access
82.6%
Internet Users
135
Mobile Subs per 100
38.5
People per km2
-19
Net Migration
Environment
90.5%
Forest Area
Other Countries in East Asia & Pacific
Palau in global context
Palau is one of 212 countries tracked. See how it ranks globally, regional shares of world population, and projections to 2050 / 2100.
World Population 2026: Top 10 Countries, Regions & Trends →Other related entities
Country rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
Palau has a population of 17,727, ranking #146 in the world. The annual population growth rate is -0.18%.
Life expectancy in Palau is 69.3 years. The infant mortality rate is 19.0 per 1,000 live births.
Palau's GDP per capita is $15,611. It is classified as a high income country by the World Bank.
79.2% of Palau's population lives in urban areas. The overall population density is 38.5 people per square kilometer.
The adult literacy rate in Palau is 99.8%. The country spends 3.4% of GDP on education.
International data from the World Bank Open Data API. Population figures are latest available estimates. GDP per capita in current US dollars.
this entity is one of the data points covered by this site’s U.S. population demographics dataset. The detail above comes directly from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files; the context that follows situates the headline numbers against the broader distribution across U.S. states, metros, cities, and ZIPs.
The methodology behind every numeric value on this page is publicly documented on the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files portal and described in detail on this site’s methodology page. Refresh cadence varies by underlying series; the page surfaces the as-of date for each number so readers can trace any figure back to the source release.
For readers using this page as a decision input, the related-entity pages elsewhere on the site provide the comparison set. The most useful comparison for this entity is typically a peer within U.S. states, metros, cities, and ZIPs with similar size, similar exposure, or similar geography — not the national-level summary alone.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.