Palau Flag

Palau

Population

17,614

Estimated as of Oct 22, 2026View source
Population rank
224th
Share of world
< 0.01%
Annual change
−490.19%

Population of Palau

010K20K30K40K50K95% prediction intervalPeak202617.6K2050 projection15.5K↓ 12% from 202619601980200020202040206020802100

Source: United Nations — World Population Prospects (2024 Revision)

Current population estimate: 17,614. 2050 projection: 15,518.Use the arrow keys on the chart to inspect individual years.

Historical population estimates for Palau. Annual change is shown as a percentage.
202617,6140.19%224
202517,6630.15%224
202017,7920.03%224
201917,7980.09%224
201817,8140.01%224
201717,8120.08%224
201517,7700.69%224
201018,3961.48%224
200519,8190.66%223
200019,1782.21%222

Showing 10 of 19 years.

Population by City

Koror is home to 9,310 people, 52.86% of Palau's population.

City population9K4K1K
Koror 9.3KNgerulmud 9.3KAirai 2.1KMeyuns 1.6KNgetkib 777.0Kloulklubed 421.0Bkulangriil 254.0
Largest cities by 2026 population and share of the national population.
1Koror9.3K52.86%
2Ngerulmud9.3K52.86%
3Airai2.1K12.13%
4Meyuns1.6K8.94%
5Ngetkib777.04.41%
6Kloulklubed421.02.39%
7Bkulangriil254.01.44%

Palau by the Numbers

Estimated as of Oct 22, 2026

Population
Palau is home to an estimated 17,614 people, the 224th largest population in the world.
Daily change
Palau has a net population change of approximately 0 people per day, driven by 1 births, 1 deaths, and net immigration of 0 people.
Share of world
Palau makes up < 0.01% of the world's population and 0.04% of Oceania's.
Density
38.3 people per km² of land (99.2 per mi²), ranking 178th among countries and territories.
Urban living
79.28% of people live in urban areas.

Palau Demographics

Age & longevity

MaleFemale95–99 years, male: 095–99 years, female: 390–94 years, male: 490–94 years, female: 1785–89 years, male: 2385–89 years, female: 4580–84 years, male: 6580–84 years, female: 10175–79 years, male: 16175–79 years, female: 18770–74 years, male: 30370–74 years, female: 34765–69 years, male: 46565–69 years, female: 46860–64 years, male: 60660–64 years, female: 57255–59 years, male: 71655–59 years, female: 59450–54 years, male: 79050–54 years, female: 61145–49 years, male: 79545–49 years, female: 58840–44 years, male: 79440–44 years, female: 54935–39 years, male: 78635–39 years, female: 55830–34 years, male: 72330–34 years, female: 51325–29 years, male: 46525–29 years, female: 42120–24 years, male: 55620–24 years, female: 52315–19 years, male: 60915–19 years, female: 59810–14 years, male: 62110–14 years, female: 5385–9 years, male: 5225–9 years, female: 4900–4 years, male: 4870–4 years, female: 453100+95–9990–9485–8980–8475–7970–7465–6960–6455–5950–5445–4940–4435–3930–3425–2920–2415–1910–145–90–4200200400400600600

Hover or tap an age group to see exact counts. Use the up and down arrow keys to inspect age groups.

Median age

39.9 yrs

World: 31

Life expectancy

69.6 yrs

World: 73.8

Male

53.72%

Female

46.28%

Life expectancy 67.4Life expectancy 72.2

Ethnicity

73.6%

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures)

  • Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures)73.6%
  • Asian21.7%
  • Carolinian1.8%
  • Other1.6%
  • White1.3%
Data notes

Source estimate: 2020 est.

Religion

46.9%

Roman Catholic, the largest religion

  • Roman Catholic46.9%
  • Protestant30.9%
  • Modekngei5.1%
  • Muslim4.9%
  • Church of Jesus Christ4.6%
  • Other3.9%
  • None3.7%
Data notes

Source estimate: 2020 est.

Protestant: includes Evangelical 24.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.3%, Other Protestant 1.0%

Modekngei: indigenous to Palau

Related Pages

Sources

  1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.
  2. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - Palau United Nations Graphs/Profiles
  3. World Bank / UN World Urbanization Prospects - 2025: Urban population (% of total population), using national definitions.
  4. Office of Planning and Statistics (OPS)
  5. Office of Planning and Statistics (OPS)