Palau

Country in Oceania

CountryScope

In brief

Population: 17.7K (2025). World rank 214 of 216; in Oceania, 17 of 19. Area: 459 km². World rank 202 of 249; in Oceania, 15 of 27. GDP: $345M (2025). World rank 207 of 210; in Oceania, 16 of 19. From 2015 to 2025: population 17.8K → 17.7K, GDP $283.2M → $345M, and GDP per person $15,938 → $19,532.

State

Official name: Republic of Palau
Local name: Palau
Capital: Ngerulmud
Region: Oceania
Form of government: Presidential republic
UN member: Yes
Head of state: Surangel Whipps Jr.
Head of government: Surangel Whipps Jr.
Independence: October 1, 1994
Women in parliament: 25% 2025

Key figures

Population: 17,663 2025
Area: 459 km²
GDP: $345M 2025
GDP per person: $19,532 2025
Life expectancy: 69.4 years 2024

Practical information

Languages: English, Palauan
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Time zones: UTC+9
Calling code: +680
Emergency numbers: 911
Driving side: Right
Plug types: A, B
Mains voltage: 120 V

Territory

Sea access: Has a coastline
Coastline, km: 1,519
Neighbours: None
Agricultural land: 9.4% 2024

Elevation

Highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus, 242 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean, 0 m

Climate

Average temperature in the capital, °C: 28
Warmest month in the capital: May, 28°C
Coldest month in the capital: February, 28°C

Population and migration

Population density: 38.5 per km² 2025
Population growth per year: -0.2% 2025
Living in cities: 79.3% 2025
Net migration per year: -16 2025
Born in another country: 29.5% 2024

Age and life expectancy

Aged 0–14: 17.9% 2025
Aged 15–64: 70.2% 2025
Aged 65 and over: 11.8% 2025
Life expectancy, women: 71.9 years 2024
Life expectancy, men: 67.3 years 2024

Births and deaths

Children per woman: 1.9 2024
Births per 1,000 people: 10.7 2024
Deaths per 1,000 people: 11.7 2024

Society

Religions: Catholic 46.9%, Protestant 30.9%, other 12.3%, folk religions 5.1%, and Muslim 4.9% (2020)

Quality of governance (100 = best)

Rule of law, score 0–⁠100: 77.9 2025
Control of corruption, score 0–⁠100: 58.4 2025
Government effectiveness, score 0–⁠100: 54.5 2025
Regulatory quality, score 0–⁠100: 63.2 2025
Voice and accountability, score 0–⁠100: 76.4 2025

Size and growth

GDP per person at purchasing power parity: $23,052 2025
GDP growth per year: +6.3% 2025

Income and prices

Income level (World Bank): High income
Gross national income per person: $19,890 2025
Inflation: -0.4% 2025
Price level, USA = 100: 85 2025

Structure and jobs

Agriculture, share of GDP: 2.7% 2024
Industry, share of GDP: 13% 2024
Services, share of GDP: 73.1% 2024

Trade and finance

Exports, share of GDP: 32.7% 2024
Imports, share of GDP: 73.1% 2024
Current account balance, share of GDP: -48.6% 2023
Foreign direct investment, share of GDP: +16.6% 2025
Remittances received, share of GDP: 0.8% 2023
Tax revenue, share of GDP: 18.1% 2020

Education

Adult literacy: 99.8% 2020
Primary school enrolment: 107% 2024
Secondary school enrolment: 95.7% 2024
Higher education enrolment: 71.8% 2024
Public spending on education, share of GDP: 3.4% 2023

Healthcare

Health spending, share of GDP: 10.9% 2023
Health spending per person: $1,684 2023
Out-of-pocket health spending, share of total: 12.1% 2023
Doctors per 1,000 people: 1.8 2023
Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people: 6.6 2023
Hospital beds per 1,000 people: 4.3 2010
Children vaccinated against measles: 96% 2024

Public health

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 18.6 2024
Deaths under age 5 per 1,000 births: 21.4 2024
Maternal deaths per 100,000 births: 89 2023
Diabetes prevalence, ages 20–79: 19.3% 2024
Overweight adults: 71.3% 2022
Adults who use tobacco: 23% 2024

Living conditions

Access to safe drinking water: 99.5% 2024
Access to basic sanitation: 99% 2024
Access to clean cooking fuels: 96% 2024

Safety

Homicides per 100,000 people: 11.2 2018
Road deaths per 100,000 people: 4.8 2013
Political stability and absence of violence, score 0–⁠100: 88.4 2025
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones

Air and emissions

Air pollution PM2.5, µg/m³: 4.9 2023
CO₂ emissions, tonnes per person: 82.8 2024
All greenhouse gases, tonnes CO₂e per person: 86.7 2024

Nature and water

Forest cover: 90.8% 2024
Protected areas: 98% 2025

Internet and communications

Using the internet: 83.9% 2024
Mobile subscriptions per 100 people: 135 2023
Home broadband per 100 people: 7.3 2023
Internet domain: .pw

Energy

Access to electricity: 100% 2024
Renewable share of energy use: 0.9% 2022
Electricity from renewables: 4.6% 2021
Electricity from fossil fuels: 95.4% 2021

Transport

Airports: 3 2025

Science and innovation

Scientific articles per year: 5 2023
High-tech share of manufactured exports: 51.7% 2018