Population · Oceania · 2025 data
Palau Population
Palau had a population of 17,663 in 2025, ranking #214 of 216 countries and territories (0.00% of the world). The population fell by 0.6% over the past ten years and peaked in 2004 at 19,820.
Population of Palau, 1960–2025
Values in people · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17,663 | -0.18% |
| 2024 | 17,695 | -0.18% |
| 2023 | 17,727 | -0.18% |
| 2022 | 17,759 | -0.13% |
| 2021 | 17,783 | -0.05% |
| 2020 | 17,792 | -0.03% |
| 2019 | 17,798 | -0.09% |
| 2018 | 17,814 | +0.01% |
| 2017 | 17,812 | +0.08% |
| 2016 | 17,797 | +0.15% |
| 2015 | 17,770 | +0.31% |
| 2014 | 17,715 | +0.38% |
| 2013 | 17,648 | -0.66% |
| 2012 | 17,765 | -1.73% |
| 2011 | 18,078 | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 18,396 | -1.67% |
| 2009 | 18,709 | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 19,009 | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 19,302 | -1.49% |
| 2006 | 19,593 | -1.14% |
| 2005 | 19,819 | -0.01% |
| 2004 | 19,820 | +0.82% |
| 2003 | 19,659 | +0.80% |
| 2002 | 19,503 | +0.78% |
| 2001 | 19,352 | +0.91% |
| 2000 | 19,178 | +1.47% |
| 1999 | 18,901 | +2.04% |
| 1998 | 18,524 | +2.30% |
| 1997 | 18,108 | +2.57% |
| 1996 | 17,654 | +2.67% |
| 1995 | 17,195 | +2.53% |
| 1994 | 16,770 | +2.43% |
| 1993 | 16,372 | +2.40% |
| 1992 | 15,989 | +2.40% |
| 1991 | 15,614 | +2.33% |
| 1990 | 15,259 | +2.10% |
| 1989 | 14,945 | +2.05% |
| 1988 | 14,645 | +2.17% |
| 1987 | 14,334 | +2.21% |
| 1986 | 14,024 | +2.45% |
| 1985 | 13,688 | +2.63% |
| 1984 | 13,337 | +2.54% |
| 1983 | 13,006 | +2.46% |
| 1982 | 12,694 | +2.35% |
| 1981 | 12,402 | +1.07% |
| 1980 | 12,271 | -0.53% |
| 1979 | 12,337 | -0.83% |
| 1978 | 12,440 | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 12,525 | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 12,598 | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 12,655 | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 12,687 | +1.08% |
| 1973 | 12,552 | +2.94% |
| 1972 | 12,194 | +3.70% |
| 1971 | 11,759 | +3.44% |
| 1970 | 11,368 | +1.87% |
| 1969 | 11,159 | +0.71% |
| 1968 | 11,080 | +0.84% |
| 1967 | 10,988 | +1.69% |
| 1966 | 10,805 | +2.45% |
| 1965 | 10,547 | +2.48% |
| 1964 | 10,292 | +2.54% |
| 1963 | 10,037 | +2.49% |
| 1962 | 9,793 | +2.49% |
| 1961 | 9,555 | +2.43% |
| 1960 | 9,328 | — |
Demographics of Palau
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.)
Where people live
Urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023).
Largest cities
Frequently asked questions about the population of Palau
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Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).