Skip to content

Palau

Oceania · Micronesia · PLW · 459 km²
Population
17,695
Year 2024

Total number of people living in the country.

Population Density
38.5/km²

How many people live per square kilometer of land.

Life Expectancy
69.3 years
♂ 67.2 / ♀ 71.8

How long a newborn baby can expect to live on average.

Fertility Rate (TFR)
1.91
children per woman

Average number of children born to each woman. About 2.1 is needed to keep population stable.

Median Age
37.5 years

Half the population is younger and half is older than this age.

Net Migration
-14

Difference between people moving in and out. Positive means more arrivals.

Key demographic indicators for Palau as of 2024. These numbers give a quick overview of the country's population size, density, birth rates, life expectancy, and migration patterns.

Population Trend

How the total population has changed over the decades. A rising line means the country has been growing, a flat or falling line indicates stagnation or decline.

Population Projection to 2100

Estimated future population based on current trends in birth rates, death rates, and migration. The dashed line shows this is a projection, not actual data.

Birth Rate vs Death Rate

Birth rate (green) vs. death rate (red) per 1,000 people per year. When the birth rate is higher than the death rate, the population grows naturally.

Life Expectancy (Male vs Female)

Average number of years a newborn can expect to live. Blue shows men, red shows women. Women typically live longer in most countries.

Fertility Rate Trend

Total Fertility Rate — the average number of children per woman. A rate of about 2.1 is needed to maintain the population without immigration.

Population Pyramid

Shows the age distribution of the population. Blue bars (left) represent men, red bars (right) represent women. A wide base means a young population, a wide top means an aging population.

Historical Data

Detailed numbers for selected years showing how the country's key indicators have changed over time. Click column headers to sort.

Year Population Growth Rate Fertility Rate (TFR) Life Expectancy Median Age Birth Rate Death Rate
1960 9,328 0.00% 7.19 54.9 18.1 46.3‰ 14.6‰
1965 10,547 2.45% 7.01 55.9 7.0 38.8‰ 12.8‰
1970 11,368 1.86% 6.39 57.7 18.6 37.0‰ 11.9‰
1975 12,655 -0.25% 4.90 60.0 20.7 30.0‰ 10.3‰
1980 12,271 -0.54% 3.35 61.9 24.0 22.8‰ 9.4‰
1985 13,688 2.60% 3.01 62.7 27.3 22.3‰ 9.1‰
1990 15,259 2.08% 2.88 62.8 30.5 22.0‰ 10.2‰
1995 17,195 2.50% 2.55 63.3 31.5 20.7‰ 9.9‰
2000 19,178 1.45% 1.82 64.5 33.3 14.4‰ 9.9‰
2005 19,819 -0.01% 2.02 66.2 33.5 13.9‰ 9.9‰
2010 18,396 -1.69% 1.94 68.3 34.9 13.7‰ 9.3‰
2015 17,770 0.31% 2.00 69.1 35.6 12.6‰ 9.5‰
2020 17,792 -0.03% 1.97 68.7 36.6 11.6‰ 11.1‰
2024 17,695 -0.18% 1.91 69.3 37.5 10.9‰ 11.5‰
2025 17,663 -0.18% 1.91 69.4 37.6 10.9‰ 11.5‰
2030 17,510 -0.17% 1.90 69.9 37.6 10.8‰ 11.3‰
2035 17,370 -0.16% 1.89 70.4 37.6 10.8‰ 11.2‰
2040 17,240 -0.14% 1.89 70.9 37.6 10.7‰ 11.0‰
2045 17,122 -0.13% 1.88 71.4 37.6 10.7‰ 10.8‰
2050 17,015 -0.12% 1.87 71.9 37.6 10.6‰ 10.7‰
2055 16,919 -0.11% 1.86 72.4 37.6 10.5‰ 10.5‰
2060 16,834 -0.10% 1.86 72.9 37.6 10.5‰ 10.3‰
2065 16,759 -0.08% 1.85 73.4 37.6 10.4‰ 10.2‰
2070 16,694 -0.07% 1.84 73.9 37.6 10.4‰ 10.0‰
2075 16,640 -0.06% 1.84 74.4 37.6 10.3‰ 9.8‰
2080 16,596 -0.05% 1.83 74.9 37.6 10.2‰ 9.7‰
2085 16,562 -0.04% 1.82 75.4 37.7 10.2‰ 9.5‰
2090 16,538 -0.02% 1.81 75.9 37.7 10.1‰ 9.3‰
2095 16,524 -0.01% 1.81 76.4 37.7 10.1‰ 9.2‰
2100 16,520 0.00% 1.80 76.9 37.7 10.0‰ 9.0‰

About Country — Palau

Palau is a country in Oceania (Micronesia) with a total population of 17,695 as of 2024. It covers an area of 459 km², resulting in a population density of 38.5 people per km².

The average life expectancy is 69.3 years (67.2 for men, 71.8 for women). The fertility rate stands at 1.91 children per woman, and the median age of the population is 37.5 years.

The country's population growth rate is -0.18% per year. Net migration is -14 people, indicating that more people are leaving the country than arriving. The infant mortality rate is 19.1 per 1,000 live births.

Demographic Profile

Palau is located in Micronesia, a part of Oceania, and covers an area of 459 km². With a population of 17,695, the country has a population density of 38.5 inhabitants per square kilometer, which is below the global average of approximately 60 people per km².

The demographic structure of Palau reveals an aging population. The median age of 37.5 years means that half of the population is younger and half is older than this age. This aging population structure poses challenges for pension systems, healthcare provision, and the labor market, as the ratio of working-age to retired individuals continues to decline.

Health and Longevity

Life expectancy in Palau stands at 69.3 years overall — 67.2 years for men and 71.8 years for women. This is close to the global average, indicating ongoing improvements in healthcare and living conditions. The infant mortality rate is 19.1 per 1,000 live births, which reflects moderate healthcare conditions with room for improvement.

Fertility and Population Growth

The total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.91 children per woman is near the replacement level of 2.1, suggesting population stability. The population is roughly stable at a rate of -0.18% per year. This decline is driven by low birth rates, emigration, or a combination of both factors.

Migration

Net migration in Palau is -14 people, meaning more people are leaving the country than arriving. Emigration may reflect economic challenges or conflict, and can lead to brain drain as skilled workers seek opportunities elsewhere.

Outlook

Based on current demographic trends, Palau's population dynamics reflect broader patterns seen across Micronesia. As the population ages, adapting social security systems and healthcare to serve a growing elderly population will be a key challenge.

Year Reviews

2024

In 2024, Palau had a population of 17,695. Located in Oceania (Micronesia), the country experienced a population growth rate of -0.18%.

The total fertility rate stood at 1.91 children per woman. Life expectancy was 69.3 years overall, with men averaging 67.2 years and women 71.8 years. The median age of the population was 37.5 years.

The crude birth rate was 10.9 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 11.5 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to -14 people. The infant mortality rate was 19.1 per 1,000 live births.

2000

In 2000, Palau had a population of 19,178. Located in Oceania (Micronesia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 1.45%.

The total fertility rate stood at 1.82 children per woman. Life expectancy was 64.5 years overall, with men averaging 61.0 years and women 69.4 years. The median age of the population was 33.3 years.

The crude birth rate was 14.4 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 9.9 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 120 people. The infant mortality rate was 22.3 per 1,000 live births.

1974

In 1974, Palau had a population of 12,687. Located in Oceania (Micronesia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 1.07%.

The total fertility rate stood at 5.26 children per woman. Life expectancy was 59.5 years overall, with men averaging 55.1 years and women 65.2 years. The median age of the population was 20.0 years.

The crude birth rate was 30.8 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 10.6 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to -282 people. The infant mortality rate was 54.1 per 1,000 live births.

1964

In 1964, Palau had a population of 10,292. Located in Oceania (Micronesia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 2.51%.

The total fertility rate stood at 7.08 children per woman. Life expectancy was 55.8 years overall, with men averaging 51.6 years and women 60.7 years. The median age of the population was 7.0 years.

The crude birth rate was 40.5 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 13.0 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to -27 people. The infant mortality rate was 0.0 per 1,000 live births.

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

Replying to
Your email will not be published.
Comments are moderated before publication.

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!