Total population (thousands) in Palau
Palau: Total population (thousands) was 17.68 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
17.68 thousands
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
221st
of 233 countries
All-time high
19.9 thousands
in 2005
All-time low
11.2 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Palau, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Palau stood at 17.68 thousands.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Palau peaked at 19.9 thousands in 2005 and was at its lowest, 11.2 thousands, in 1970.
That places Palau 221st out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Palau, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.2 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 11.54 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 11.98 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 12.41 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 12.7 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 12.68 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 12.63 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 12.56 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 12.49 thousands | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 12.39 thousands | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 12.28 thousands | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 12.26 thousands | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 12.54 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 12.85 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 13.17 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 13.51 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 13.87 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1987 | 14.18 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 14.49 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 14.8 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 15.09 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 15.43 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 15.8 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 16.18 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 16.57 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 16.97 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 17.42 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 17.89 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 18.32 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 18.72 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 19.08 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 19.28 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 19.43 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 19.58 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 19.74 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 19.9 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 19.73 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 19.45 thousands | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 19.15 thousands | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 18.86 thousands | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 18.55 thousands | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 18.24 thousands | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 17.92 thousands | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 17.61 thousands | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 17.68 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 17.75 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 17.79 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 17.8 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 17.82 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 17.81 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 17.79 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 17.8 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 17.77 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 17.75 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 17.71 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 17.68 thousands | -0.1% |
Palau compared with similar countries
- Palau's 17.68 thousands is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 1% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Palau's 17.68 thousands is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,410 thousands, 1% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.26 thousands | 11.2 thousands | 12.7 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.39 thousands | 12.26 thousands | 14.8 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.84 thousands | 15.09 thousands | 18.72 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.42 thousands | 18.86 thousands | 19.9 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.9 thousands | 17.61 thousands | 18.55 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.75 thousands | 17.68 thousands | 17.8 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Palau
- 218 Marshall Islands 36.91 thousands compare
- 219 San Marino 33.55 thousands compare
- 220 Saint Martin (French part) 25.49 thousands compare
- 222 Anguilla 14.67 thousands compare
- 223 Cook Islands 13.49 thousands compare
- 224 Nauru 11.99 thousands compare
More population data for Palau
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5888 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -9.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5888 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.426 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 16.69 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.2005 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7366 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Palau?
- Total population in Palau was 17.68 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Palau?
- The highest recorded value was 19.9 thousands in 2005.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Palau?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2 thousands in 1970.
- How does Palau rank for total population?
- Palau ranks 221st out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Palau?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Palau data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release