Palau is a country in Micronesia. Its capital is Ngerulmud.
Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Ngerulmud; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapPalau is a western Pacific island country with both larger high islands and many smaller limestone islands. Babeldaob has hills, rivers and forested catchments. Other islands are much smaller and more strongly shaped by coastal erosion.
The Rock Islands are steep-sided limestone islands surrounded by lagoons and reefs. Their sheltered marine waters contrast with Babeldaob’s inland river landscapes. Low outer islands add another geographic setting beyond the main group.
Palau is hot and humid, with abundant rain. Seasonal changes affect rainfall more than temperature, which remains warm throughout the year.
Reefs, mangroves and seagrass provide linked habitats around the islands. Land-based runoff can affect nearby lagoon waters. Palau’s biodiversity therefore depends on both upland catchments and the wider marine environment.
Light blue with a large yellow disk to the left side
Forested limestone islands rise directly from Palau’s lagoon waters.
Photo: Luka Peternel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
An aerial view shows part of Palau’s largest island.
Photo: Dr. James P. McVey, NOAA Sea Grant Program · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Palauan and English are national official languages. Palauan is the main local language across much of the country.
Some states also recognize their own languages, including Sonsorolese and Tobian; Japanese has a historical official role in Angaur’s constitution. Tagalog and other languages are spoken by resident communities. These local provisions do not make every language equally common nationwide.
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.
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.
Tourism services, fisheries, agriculture, construction and public administration.
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
| 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 |
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
| 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 |
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
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
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.
Three questions about Palau.
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.
