01
Physical geography
Varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs.
Local timeNgerulmud ·
Oceania / Micronesia · Card 019
Palau
Palau is a country in Micronesia. Its capital is Ngerulmud.
Find Palau
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Ngerulmud
- Languages
- English & Palauan
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Population
- 17,6632025 · World Bank
- Area
- 459 km²177.22 square miles
- Independence
- 1994
Palau in context
Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Ngerulmud; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include English, Palauan.
03
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines.
Flag
Light blue with a large yellow disk to the left side
History & independence
Palau experienced Spanish, German and Japanese control before joining the US-administered UN trust territory after the Second World War. It adopted a constitution in 1981 and became independent in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. The national government moved from Koror to Ngerulmud in 2006.
-
Palau’s constitution takes effect
-
Palau becomes independent under the Compact of Free Association
-
The national capital moves to Ngerulmud
Economy
Main activities
Tourism, particularly diving and marine recreation, is central to private-sector activity. Public services and support under the Compact of Free Association are also important. Fisheries, agriculture and small businesses contribute, while dependence on visitors and imported goods makes the economy vulnerable to external shocks.
Industry and production
Tourism services, fisheries, agriculture, construction and public administration.
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Thousands of people17.72025 · thousands of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Thousands of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11,368 | 11.368 |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 12.271 |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 15.259 |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 19.178 |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 18.396 |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 17.792 |
| 2025 | 17,663 | 17.663 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars0.282025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 215,420,017 | 0.215 |
| 1991 | 225,986,875 | 0.226 |
| 1992 | 211,523,631 | 0.212 |
| 1993 | 185,506,137 | 0.186 |
| 1994 | 199,048,162 | 0.199 |
| 1995 | 220,744,392 | 0.221 |
| 1996 | 243,701,807 | 0.244 |
| 1997 | 249,306,952 | 0.249 |
| 1998 | 254,293,048 | 0.254 |
| 1999 | 240,561,266 | 0.241 |
| 2000 | 234,297,230 | 0.234 |
| 2001 | 251,508,443 | 0.252 |
| 2002 | 263,367,005 | 0.263 |
| 2003 | 257,763,189 | 0.258 |
| 2004 | 266,714,049 | 0.267 |
| 2005 | 274,408,270 | 0.274 |
| 2006 | 275,034,203 | 0.275 |
| 2007 | 276,923,856 | 0.277 |
| 2008 | 261,544,896 | 0.262 |
| 2009 | 245,341,943 | 0.245 |
| 2010 | 237,916,712 | 0.238 |
| 2011 | 248,730,840 | 0.249 |
| 2012 | 253,858,002 | 0.254 |
| 2013 | 250,320,025 | 0.250 |
| 2014 | 260,868,320 | 0.261 |
| 2015 | 283,224,750 | 0.283 |
| 2016 | 287,944,710 | 0.288 |
| 2017 | 278,092,878 | 0.278 |
| 2018 | 276,931,491 | 0.277 |
| 2019 | 277,764,180 | 0.278 |
| 2020 | 261,077,755 | 0.261 |
| 2021 | 229,971,280 | 0.230 |
| 2022 | 228,906,790 | 0.229 |
| 2023 | 231,705,973 | 0.232 |
| 2024 | 259,524,528 | 0.260 |
| 2025 | 275,839,217 | 0.276 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.786High human developmentRank 84 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20000.736
20100.779
20200.799
20230.786
69.3 yearsLife expectancy at birth
13.3 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
A presidential republic in free association with the United States. An elected President heads the executive. The Olbiil Era Kelulau, the national Congress, has a Senate and House of Delegates. Palau’s states have their own governing institutions.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Palau.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Palau?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.