Identity
- Official name
- Republic of Palau
- Status
- Sovereign country profile
- Demonym
- Palauan
- Codes
- PW / PLW
Daily discoveryDid you know?
The listed currency code is USD.
PWRepublic of PalauSovereign country profile
Palau
Palau is in Micronesia. This profile brings its status, flag, geography, people, languages, and latest available indicators into one clear visual story.
FlagPLW · 141 / 207
🇵🇼 The flag shown for Palau. Profile code: PW / PLW.
01Population17.6K
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
02CapitalNgerulmud
Republic of Palau
03CurrencyUSD
United States dollar (USD)
04Life expectancy69.6 years
UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
National anthemBelau rekidInstrumental audio · Wikimedia Commons · 0:52
Basic info
Expanded country facts
Core identity, people, geography, government, and practical reference data in one scan-friendly board.
People
- Population
- 17.6K · UN DESA · 2026 medium projection
- Median age
- 38.9 years · UN DESA 2026 medium projection
- Languages
- English, Palauan
- Largest cities
- Ngerulmud
Place
- Region
- Oceania
- Subregion
- Micronesia
- Area
- 459 km²
- Coordinates
- 7.5° N, 134.5° E
Practical
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Calling code
- +680
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Emergency
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Government
- Type
- Not published
- Head of state
- Surangel Whipps Jr.
- Head of government
- Surangel Whipps Jr.
- Constitution
- Comparable date pending
Geography
- Connections
- No land borders; sea and air links shape outside connections.
- Climate
- Tropical to subtropical zones
- Highest point
- Mount Ngerchelchuus
- Driving side
- Right
Compare profiles
See Palau
in context.
Start with a neighbor or a similar regional profile, then adjust the matchup across the complete atlas.
At a glance
Meet
Palau.
Palau is a world profile in Micronesia. Its status is sovereign country profile.
RegionMicronesia
DemonymPalauan
Area459 km²
Calling code+680
Economy
The latest available indicators.
Economic values use the latest non-empty World Bank year from 2019–2026, shown below each figure.
GDP$345M2025 · current USD
GDP per person$19.5K2025 · current USD
GDP growth6.3%2025 annual growth
A deeper profile
People, systems
& everyday life.
Comparable facts are shown with clear dates and neutral framing. Gaps stay visible instead of being filled with guesses.
How people live
Urban 79.3%Rural 20.7%
World Bank · 2025- Median age
- 38.9 years
- Languages
- English, Palauan
- Capital / principal city
- Ngerulmud
Ethnic and religious categories vary by national census and are not presented without a directly comparable, dated source.
Placed in context
Population0.0× atlas average
GDP#189 of 192
Population compares the 207 atlas profiles. GDP ranking includes profiles with a published World Bank value.
A concise timeline
Wikidata records the current state as dating from 1994. Earlier state forms, independence milestones, and later constitutional changes may use different dates, so this is a starting point rather than a complete national timeline.
- Government
- Not published
- Head of state
- Surangel Whipps Jr.
- Head of government
- Surangel Whipps Jr.
- Current constitution
- Comparable date pending
Land and climate
- Climate
- Tropical to subtropical zones
- Geography
- Palau is an island or coastal profile in Micronesia. Its listed area is 459 km².
- Highest point
- Mount Ngerchelchuus
- Major rivers
- Profile-specific value pending
- Natural resources
- Profile-specific value pending
Practical essentials
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +680
- Time zones
- Profile-specific value pending
- Plug types
- Profile-specific value pending
- Tipping
- Local customs vary by setting
- Emergency numbers
- Emergency numbers vary; check official guidance
Remember Palau
- Ngerulmud is the capital city.
- Palau covers 459 km².
- Palau has no land borders; sea and air links shape outside connections.
- Sea routes, ports, and air links shape many outside connections.
- Listed official languages include English, Palauan.
- Its international calling code is +680.
- The latest published population in this atlas is 17.7K (2025).
- The listed currency code is USD.
Connected places
Neighboring profiles
Continue exploring across each listed land border or connected geography.
No land borders; sea and air links shape outside connections.
Visual atlas
Palau in view
People & place
Country
essentials.
English, Palauan
Languages listed in the open country catalog for Palau.
Island/coastal profile
No land borders; sea and air links shape outside connections.
United States dollar (USD)
The primary currency code and name used in the country catalog.
Identity card
Four essentials
PWTwo-letter country code
PLWThree-letter country code
NgerulmudCapital city
OceaniaWorld region
Sources & notes
Numbers you can trace.
Statistics show their reference year because country data changes. Unavailable values are clearly marked instead of estimated.
- UN DESA World Population Prospects — population, age, sex balance, and longevity ↗
- World Bank — latest available economic indicators ↗
- World Bank — urban population share ↗
- Wikidata — government and current officeholders ↗
- National anthem audio source — Belau rekid ↗
- Open country catalog — names, codes and geography ↗
- OpenStreetMap — map data ↗
Verified data & AI projection
Palau
Special Report.
Palau is profiled through long-run World Bank indicators covering the economy, population, health, work, technology, and environment. Micronesia context, regional connectivity, demographic direction, and long-run development indicators.
Current demographic baselineUN DESA · 2026
Medium projection from World Population Prospects, 2024 Revision
Executive read
What the numbers suggest
- Population has moved down since 2000, giving the report a clear demographic baseline.
- Life expectancy is higher than in 2000, showing the direction of health and longevity conditions.
- Recent GDP growth averages 1.4% across the latest 5 available observations.
Human development pressure
17.6KPopulation base
69.5 yrsLife expectancy
1.71Fertility rate
100.0%Internet access
2035 scenarios are simple educational trend projections from recent historical observations. They are not official forecasts.
economy · NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG
HighGDP growth
2000-2.60%
20256.29%
2035 base-0.07%
Low2.15%Base-0.07%High-2.30%
recent average · % annual
people · SP.POP.GROW
HighPopulation growth
20001.45%
2025-0.18%
2035 base-0.54%
Low-0.42%Base-0.54%High-0.67%
linear trend · % annual
people · SP.POP.TOTL
HighPopulation
200019.2K
202517.7K
2035 base17.6K
Low17.6KBase17.6KHigh17.5K
compound trend · people
health · SP.DYN.LE00.IN
HighLife expectancy
200064.5 yrs
202469.4 yrs
2035 base69.5 yrs
Low69.5 yrsBase69.5 yrsHigh69.6 yrs
linear trend · years
people · SP.DYN.TFRT.IN
HighFertility rate
20001.82
20241.88
2035 base1.71
Low1.77Base1.71High1.65
linear trend · births per woman
people · SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
HighUrban population
200069.6%
202579.3%
2035 base78.4%
Low78.7%Base78.4%High78.1%
linear trend · % of total
economy · FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG
HighInflation
2002-1.30%
2025-0.42%
2035 base3.26%
Low1.97%Base3.26%High4.54%
recent average · % annual
economy · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD
HighGDP per capita
2000$7.8K
2025$19.5K
2035 base$23.9K
Low$22.3KBase$23.9KHigh$25.7K
compound trend · current US$
environment · EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5
HighCO2 per person
2000110.6
202482.8
2035 base104.0
Low96.6Base104.0High111.4
linear trend · t CO2e/capita
technology · IT.NET.USER.ZS
LowInternet access
200220.2%
202483.9%
2035 base100.0%
Low100.0%Base100.0%High100.0%
linear trend · % of people
economy · NY.GDP.MKTP.CD
HighGDP
2000$149.6M
2025$345M
2035 base$420.2M
Low$392.4MBase$420.2MHigh$449.9M
compound trend · current US$
Educational projection, not an official forecast.Historical values are World Bank observations retrieved 2026-08-13. The 2026 demographic baseline is the official UN DESA medium projection from World Population Prospects 2024. The atlas's 2035 scenarios use simple trend math.