Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Palau
Palau: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 79.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Palau, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Palau stood at 79.3%.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Palau peaked at 81.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 25.7%, in 1950.
Palau ranks 74th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 33.9% | 25.7% | 41.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 51.2% | 43.9% | 57.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 60.7% | 58.3% | 62.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 66.5% | 62.5% | 69.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 70.5% | 69.5% | 71.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.8% | 69.6% | 80.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.4% | 79.3% | 81.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.2% | 79.1% | 79.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Palau
More population data for Palau
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Population density 24.23 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 539 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.88 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.88 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.88 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.91 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.83 children per women (2023)
- Birth rate by women's age group 29.93 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Palau?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Palau was 79.3% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Palau?
- The highest recorded value was 81.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Palau?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.7% in 1950.
- How does Palau rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Palau ranks 74th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Palau?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Palau data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.