Urban and rural population in Palau
Palau: Urban and rural population was 14,004 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
14,004
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
223rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
15,374
in 2005
All-time low
1,923
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Palau, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Palau recorded 14,004 for urban and rural population in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Palau peaked at 15,374 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1,923, in 1950.
That places Palau 223rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban and rural population in Palau, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,923 | — |
| 1951 | 2,115 | +9.9% |
| 1952 | 2,307 | +9.1% |
| 1953 | 2,510 | +8.8% |
| 1954 | 2,724 | +8.5% |
| 1955 | 2,940 | +8.0% |
| 1956 | 3,149 | +7.1% |
| 1957 | 3,347 | +6.3% |
| 1958 | 3,551 | +6.1% |
| 1959 | 3,816 | +7.5% |
| 1960 | 4,094 | +7.3% |
| 1961 | 4,374 | +6.8% |
| 1962 | 4,659 | +6.5% |
| 1963 | 4,947 | +6.2% |
| 1964 | 5,238 | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 5,528 | +5.5% |
| 1966 | 5,815 | +5.2% |
| 1967 | 6,057 | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 6,239 | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 6,403 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 6,631 | +3.6% |
| 1971 | 6,956 | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 7,297 | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 7,581 | +3.9% |
| 1974 | 7,716 | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 7,736 | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 7,732 | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 7,715 | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 7,691 | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 7,663 | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 7,669 | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 7,833 | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 8,156 | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 8,525 | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 8,910 | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 9,279 | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 9,581 | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 9,843 | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 10,097 | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 10,344 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 10,610 | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 10,922 | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 11,261 | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 11,604 | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 11,945 | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 12,276 | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 12,578 | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 12,814 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 12,998 | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 13,172 | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 13,346 | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 13,650 | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 14,117 | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 14,655 | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 15,152 | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 15,374 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 15,343 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 15,252 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 15,143 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 15,008 | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 14,839 | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 14,639 | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 14,413 | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 14,308 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 14,302 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 14,285 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 14,257 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 14,219 | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 14,171 | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 14,110 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 14,070 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 14,064 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 14,050 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 14,032 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 14,016 | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 14,004 | -0.1% |
Palau compared with similar countries
- Palau's 14,004 is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 1% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Palau's 14,004 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 722,007, 2% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2,838 | 1,923 | 3,816 | 10 |
| 1960s | 5,336 | 4,094 | 6,403 | 10 |
| 1970s | 7,472 | 6,631 | 7,736 | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,024 | 7,669 | 10,344 | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,018 | 10,610 | 13,172 | 10 |
| 2000s | 14,704 | 13,346 | 15,374 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,354 | 14,110 | 14,839 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,039 | 14,004 | 14,070 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Palau
- 220 Guernsey 19,082 compare
- 221 Saint Kitts and Nevis 14,968 compare
- 222 Anguilla 14,728 compare
- 224 Nauru 12,025 compare
- 225 Saint Barthelemy 11,414 compare
- 226 Cook Islands 10,199 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)
- Population growth rate -0.611 (2100)
- Population density 24.23 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 539 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Palau?
- Urban and rural population in Palau was 14,004 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Palau?
- The highest recorded value was 15,374 in 2005.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Palau?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,923 in 1950.
- How does Palau rank for urban and rural population?
- Palau ranks 223rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Palau?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Palau data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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