Oceania · MelekeokPalau· by the numbers
Palau's population is 17,663 (2025) — the 215th-largest in the world and the 12th-largest in Oceania, shrinking by about 32 people a year.
Palau Facts at a Glance
Six numbers that summarise the country — population trend, rank, density, wealth, prices, share of humanity.
Palau in World Rankings
Every world ranking we publish, this country’s place in each, and its overall percentile shape.
Is Palau's Population Declining?
Yes. Palau's population fell by 32 people (-0.18%) between 2024 and 2025. The fertility rate is 1.9 births per woman — below the ~2.1 replacement level. Net migration was negative in the latest year on record.
Population, 1960 to 2025
66 years of estimates from the same source.
Palau Demographics
Every indicator has its own source and dataset year — shown honestly rather than smoothed into one.
Age & sex structure
17 five-year bands, male and female, 2025.
Where is Palau Located?
- Capital
- Melekeok
- Currency
- Dollar (USD)
- Language(s)
- PAU, SOV, English, TOX, Japanese, FIL, Chinese
- Region
- East Asia & Pacific
- Continent
- 14 countries in Oceania →
- Land area
- 460 km²
- Area (GeoNames)
- 458 km²
- Borders
- none (island nation)
No land borders.
You, in Palau
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Compare Palau with:Frequently asked
What is the population of Palau?
Palau's population is 17,663 as of 2025 (World Bank estimate), ranking #215 of 217 countries and territories by population.
How many people live in Palau?
17,663 people, as of the 2025 World Bank estimate — the most recent figure this page tracks.
What is Palau's population density?
38.4 people per km², based on a land area of 460 km².
What is Palau ranked in population worldwide?
#215 of 217 countries and territories by population — see the full ranking table for every country's position.
What is the life expectancy in Palau?
69.4 years on average (2024) — 67.3 for men, 71.9 for women.
What is Palau's GDP?
$345M, ranking #183 of 186 economies we track — $19,532 per capita.
Is Palau's population declining?
Yes. Palau's population has been shrinking, falling by 32 people (-0.18%) between 2024 and 2025.
Why is Palau's population so small?
Palau ranks #215 of 217 by population, with 17,663 people (2025) — one of the smallest populations we track, a small island nation with a correspondingly small land area.
Cite this page
CC BY 4.0Our compilation on this page — the figures as arranged, ranked and dated here — is published under CC BY 4.0. Reuse it anywhere, including commercially, with a link back. The underlying data belongs to the organizations credited below.
Us, by Numbers. "Us, by Numbers." https://usbynumbers.com
Sources
- World Bank Open Data · data.worldbank.orgCC BY 4.0 · population, GDP, life expectancy, homicide, PM2.5, vitals
- NCD-RisC / The Lancet · ncdrisc.orgCC BY 4.0 · pooled measured-height and life-expectancy studies
- GeoNames · geonames.orgCC BY 4.0 · cities, geographic passport