Palau Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Ngerulmud

Population

21,947 (2025 est.)

Area

459 sq km

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

🧭 Background

Humans arrived in the Palauan archipelago from Southeast Asia around 1000 B.C. and developed a complex, highly organized matrilineal society where high-ranking women picked the chiefs. The islands were the westernmost part of the widely scattered Pacific islands north of New Guinea that Spanish explorers named the Caroline Islands in the 17th century. The 18th and 19th centuries saw occasional visits of whalers and traders as Spain gained some influence in the islands and administered it from the Philippines. Spain sold Palau to Germany in 1899 after losing the Philippines in the Spanish-American War. Japan seized Palau in 1914, was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the islands in 1920, and made Koror the capital of its South Seas Mandate in 1922. By the outbreak of World War II, there were four times as many Japanese living in Koror as Palauans. In 1944, the US invasion of the island of Peleliu was one of the bloodiest island fights of the Pacific War. After the war, Palau became part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Palau voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978 and adopted its own constitution in 1981, which stated that Palau was a nuclear-free country. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted Palau financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities. However, many Palauans saw the COFA as incompatible with the Palauan Constitution because of the US military’s nuclear arsenal, and seven referenda failed to achieve ratification. Following a constitutional amendment and eighth referendum in 1993, the COFA was ratified and entered into force in 1994 when the islands gained their independence. Its funding was renewed in 2010. Palau has been on the frontlines of combatting climate change and protecting marine resources. In 2011, Palau banned commercial shark fishing and created the world’s first shark sanctuary. In 2017, Palau began stamping the Palau Pledge into passports, reminding visitors to act in ecologically and culturally responsible ways. In 2020, Palau banned coral reef-toxic sunscreens and expanded its fishing prohibition to include 80% of its exclusive economic zone.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Geographic coordinates

7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references

Oceania

Area — total

459 sq km

Area — land

459 sq km

Area — water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries — total

0 km

Coastline

1,519 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Maritime claims — continental shelf

200 nm

Climate

Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

Terrain

Varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Elevation — highest point

Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Elevation — lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

Forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use — agricultural land

9.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

90.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

0% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

Most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap

Natural hazards

Typhoons (June to December)

Geography - note

Westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes world-famous Rock Islands

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

21,947 (2025 est.)

Population — male

11,257

Population — female

10,690

Nationality — noun

Palauan(s)

Nationality — adjective

Palauan

Ethnic groups

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70.6%, Carolinian 1.2%, Asian 26.5%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)

Languages

Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 46.9%, Protestant 30.9% (Evangelical 24.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, other Protestant 1.4%), Modekngei 5.1% (indigenous to Palau), Muslim 4.9%, other 12.3% (2020 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

17.5% (male 1,976/female 1,849)

Age structure — 15-64 years

71.3% (male 8,647/female 6,935)

Age structure — 65 years and over

11.2% (2024 est.) (male 612/female 1,845)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

41.6 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

24.9 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

16.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

6 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

35.5 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

34.1 years

Median age — female

37.4 years

Population growth rate

0.38% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

11.53 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap

Urbanization — urban population

82.4% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

277 NGERULMUD (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.25 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.33 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

89 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

12.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

75.2 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

72 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

78.5 years

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.83 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

16.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.81 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 99% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

55.3% (2016)

Tobacco use — total

16.3% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

25.2% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

6.8% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

48.3% (2020 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

9.8% national budget (2023 est.)

Literacy — total population

100% (2020 est.)

Literacy — male

100% (2020 est.)

Literacy — female

100% (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

15 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

14 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

16 years (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing; rising sea level; coral bleaching; drought

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

Land use — agricultural land

9.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

90.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

0% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

82.4% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

7.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

9,400 tons (2024 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Palau

Country name — conventional short form

Palau

Country name — local long form

Beluu er a Belau

Country name — local short form

Belau

Country name — former

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District

Country name — etymology

From the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word beluu, meaning "village"

Government type

Presidential republic in free association with the US

Capital — name

Ngerulmud

Capital — geographic coordinates

7 30 N, 134 37 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

The name comes from a Palauan term meaning "place of fermented angelfish;" the site of the capital was the traditional location for women to gather and offer fermented angelfish to the gods

Administrative divisions

16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Legal system

Mixed system of civil, common, and customary law

Constitution — history

Ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25% of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Palau

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

Note - no procedure for naturalization

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (since 21 January 2021)

Executive branch — head of government

President Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (since 21 January 2021)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate; also includes the vice president; the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)

Executive branch — most recent election date

5 November 2024

Executive branch — election results

2024: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 57.7%, Tommy REMENGESAU (independent) 42.1%, other 0.2% 2020: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7%, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

November 2028

Legislative branch — legislature name

National Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

House of Delegates

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

16 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

11/5/2024

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

25%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

November 2028

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

15 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

11/5/2024

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

13.3%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

November 2028

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; the Supreme Court organization also includes the Common Pleas and Land Courts)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Justices nominated by a 7-member independent body consisting of judges, presidential appointees, and lawyers and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

National Court and other inferior courts

Political parties

Although not expressly forbidden by law, Palau does not have political parties or coalitions

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 349-8598

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 452-6281

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@palauembassy.org https://www.palauembassy.org/

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s)

Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Joel EHRENDREICH (since 29 September 2023)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Omsangel/Beklelachieb, Airai 96940

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

4260 Koror Place, Washington, DC 20521-4260

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[680] 587-2920

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[680] 587-2911

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ConsularKoror@state.gov https://pw.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO

Independence

1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 9 July (1981); Independence Day, 1 October (1994)

Flag

Description: light blue with a large yellow disk to the left side meaning: blue stands for the ocean, and the disk for the moon, which is considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility

National symbol(s)

Bai (native meeting house)

National color(s)

Blue, yellow

National anthem(s) — title

"Belau rekid" (Our Palau)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1980

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

1 (mixed)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Rock Islands Southern Lagoon

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

High-income Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; subsistence agriculture and fishing industries; US aid reliance; rebounding post-pandemic tourism industry and services sector; very high living standard and low unemployment

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$280.025 million (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$274.866 million (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$278.538 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.9% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

-1.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2021

-13.8% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$15,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$15,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2021

$15,700 (2021 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$281.849 million (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.2% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

12.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

12.4% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

9.9% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

76.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

77.8% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

36.3% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

36.6% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

1.8% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

13.5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-74.3% (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

Coconuts, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish, pigs, chickens, eggs, bananas, papaya, breadfruit, calamansi, soursop, Polynesian chestnuts, Polynesian almonds, mangoes, taro, guava, beans, cucumbers, squash/pumpkins (various), eggplant, green onions, kangkong (watercress), cabbages (various), radishes, betel nuts, melons, peppers, noni, okra

Industries

Tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture

Industrial production growth rate

-19.5% (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$127.757 million (2020 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$152.398 million (2020 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2019

85.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.1% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$135.428 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

-$115.739 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2020

-$115.61 million (2020 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$24.48 million (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$10.566 million (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2020

$52.897 million (2020 est.)

Exports - partners

India 41%, Turkey 26%, Taiwan 10%, USA 9%, Japan 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Ships, refined petroleum (2023)

Imports — Imports 2022

$216.681 million (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$169.938 million (2021 est.)

Imports — Imports 2020

$207.224 million (2020 est.)

Imports - partners

Italy 32%, China 25%, USA 11%, Turkey 10%, Japan 6% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, cars, plastic products (2023)

Exchange rates

The US dollar is used

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

99.9%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

100%

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

8,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

45 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

24,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

135 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

No broadcast TV stations; a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to 4 local cable stations, rebroadcasts (on a delayed basis) of a number of US stations, as well as access to a number of real-time satellite TV channels; about a half dozen radio stations (1 government-owned) (2019)

Internet country code

.pw

Internet users — percent of population

27% (2004 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

1,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

T8

Airports

3 (2025)

Merchant marine — total

427 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

Bulk carrier 49, container ship 8, general cargo 200, oil tanker 52, other 118

Ports — total ports

1 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

0

Ports — small

0

Ports — very small

1

Ports — ports with oil terminals

1

Ports — key ports

Malakal Harbor

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

No regular military forces; the Bureau of Public Safety (Ministry of Justice) has divisions for police functions and maritime security (2025)

Military - note

Under the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US is responsible for the defense of Palau, and the US military is granted access to the islands; the COFA also allows citizens of Palau to serve in the US armed forces Palau has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Palau's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

5 (2024 est.)