National Identity
- Official name
- Republic of Palau
- Official name (in Palauan)
- Beluu er a Belau
- Name etymology
from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word beluu, meaning "village"
Sources:- About Palau - General Information ↗ - Honorary Consulate-General of Palau in Belgium
- The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- National flag
As published by the Republic of Palau National Government The flag is composed of a pale blue sheet and a yellow circle centered slightly toward the left side of the flag. When the flag is hung it creates an impression that the circle is located right in the center of the flag.
As published in EnglishAs published by the Republic of Palau National Government Blue color symbolizes the Pacific Ocean that surrounds the islands and the yellow circle allegedly resembles the full moon, which is an important period for the islanders. They believe that activities such as fishing, planting and harvesting are much more effective during this moon-phase.
As published in EnglishAs published by the Republic of Palau National Government The flag of Palau has been adopted on 1st January 1981, when the archipelago decided to separate from the territory of the Pacific Islands and it was proclaimed a republic under the protection of the United States.
As published in EnglishSource:- palaugov.pw ↗ - the Republic of Palau National Government
- National anthem
- Belau rekid0:52
- Title (in Palauan)
- Belau rekid
- Title (in English, translated)
- Our Palau
- Lyrics
1Belau loba klisiich er a kelulul El di mla ngar ngii ra rechuodel mei Meng mengeluolu er a chimol beluu El ngar eungel a rirch el lomekesang
2Bodo leketek a keruul era beluad Loba a blak el reng ma duch el reng Belau a chotil a Klengar er kid Me bodo rurt a bedul msa klisichel
3Bod kaiuereked chim lokiu a reng E do ngedmokl er a di mla koted Lomcheliu a rengedel ma klebkellel Lokiu a budech ma beltik el reng
4Dios mo mekngeltengat ra belumam El di mla dikesam ra rechuodel mei Beskemam a klisicham ma lemeltam Lorrurt a klungiolam el mo cherechar
Source: - Citizens
- Palauans
- Official name:About Palau - General Information ↗ - Honorary Consulate-General of Palau in Belgium
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- National flag:palaugov.pw ↗ - the Republic of Palau National Government
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
- Total area
- 459 km²
- Land area
- 459 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 1,519 km
- Terrain
Varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs - Highest point
- 242 mMount Ngerchelchuus
- Lowest point
- 0 mPacific Ocean
- Climate
Tropical hot and humid; wet season May to November - Avg. temperature
- 27.1 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 26.2 to 27.9 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 3,146 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 27.7 27 26.1 236 February 27.4 26.8 26 207 March 27.6 26.9 26.1 166 April 27.9 27.2 26.4 187 May 28.2 27.4 26.4 283 June 28 27.1 26.2 352 July 27.9 27 26.1 345 August 27.9 27.1 26.2 286 September 28 27.2 26.3 277 October 28 27.2 26.3 264 November 28.1 27.3 26.4 264 December 28 27.2 26.3 280 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable0.7%Perm. crops4.3%Pasture4.3%Forest90.6%
- Arable land
- 300 hectares (0.7%)
- Permanent crops
- 2,000 hectares (4.3%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 2,000 hectares (4.3%)
- Forest
- 41,690 hectares (90.6%)
- Other land
- 10 hectares (0.0%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Tsunamis4.4Medium#63/191Coastal floods4.4Medium#77/191Drought3.5Low#82/191Epidemics2.0Very low#185/191Tropical cyclones0.5Very low#61/191Earthquakes0.1Very low#127/191River floods0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- −0.28% per year−49 people/yearWorld Rank193rdof 237
- Birth rate
- 10.5 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 12.2 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −1.2 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 38.9 yearsWorld Rank76thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years17.6%15-64 years70.0%65 years +12.4%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 12.4%
- Share aged under 18
- 21.7%
- Total dependency ratio
- 43
- Youth dependency ratio
- 25
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 18
- Sex ratio
- 1.16 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.5% 0.9% 70-79 2.6% 3.0% 60-69 6.1% 5.9% 50-59 8.5% 6.8% 40-49 9.0% 6.4% 30-39 8.6% 6.1% 20-29 5.8% 5.4% 10-19 7.0% 6.4% 0-9 5.7% 5.3% - 2026
- 0.36 below the replacement level for Palau ()1.84 births per womanreplacement 2.20123World Rank124thof 237
- 0.85 daughters per woman0.15 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- −1.8 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 1.8 more deaths than births a year
- 2026
- −1.2 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 79.4% live in cities13,981 urban residents
- Largest places2020
- Koror, Airai, Meyuns, NgetkibRankPlacePopulation (2020 census)1Koror9,5642Airai2,0203Meyuns1,6314Ngetkib6305Kloulklubed4546Bkulangriil239Source:
- Bureau of Budget and Planning, Palau (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap.
- Ethnic groups2020
- Palauan70.6%Carolinian1.2%Asian26.5%Other1.7%
Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures.
Source:- The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- Religions2020
- Roman Catholic46.9%Protestant30.9%Modekngei5.1%Muslim4.9%Other12.3%
- Protestant
- 30.9%
- Evangelical
- 24.6%
- Seventh Day Adventist
- 5.0%
- Other Protestant
- 1.4%
Modekngei is indigenous to Palau.
Source:- The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- Languages
- Palauan (Tekoi er a Belau), English
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Bureau of Budget and Planning, Palau (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe Constitution establishes "the sovereign Republic of Palau" (Preamble).Source:
- Constitution of the Republic of Palau ↗, Preamble
- System of government
- PresidentialThe President, elected nationwide, heads the executive with a cabinet of department heads; the Olbiil Era Kelulau (national congress) can remove the President only by impeachment, and recall needs the state legislatures (Art. VIII, ss. 4, 5, 9, 10).Source:
- Constitution of the Republic of Palau ↗, Art. VIII, ss. 4, 5, 9, 10
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Ngerulmud
- National holidays
- 13 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- SunMar 15Youth Day
- MonMar 16Youth Day (observed)
- TueMay 5Senior Citizens Day
- MonJun 1President's Day
- ThuJul 9Constitution Day
- MonSep 7Labor Day
- ThuOct 1Independence Day
- FriOct 23United Nations Day (observed)
- SatOct 24United Nations Day
- ThuNov 26Thanksgiving Day
- FriNov 27Family Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- PWTPalau TimeUTC+9
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Calling code
- +680
- Internet TLD
- .pw
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- PW, PLW
- Infrastructure
- Aircraft registration prefix
- T8
Source:- The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Constitution of the Republic of Palau ↗ - Republic of Palau National Government
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Economy
- High income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +4.3% per yearWorld Rank55thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $21,308 (61st in the world)
Source:- 2024
- Services73.1% of GDPIndustry13% of GDPAgriculture2.7% of GDPManufacturing1.2%part of industry
- Households
- +74.6%
- Government
- +38.3%
- Investment
- +35%
- Exports
- +32.7%
- Imports
- −73.1%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useThe five add up to 107.5% of GDP, not 100. The gap is in the source data.
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 1.7%up 1.5 percentage points1.5pp from 2025
- Budget balance2026
- 0.1% of GDP surplus
- Current account
- 13.8% of GDP, $51 million deficit
Source: - Trade2023
- Goods$1.7 million2.7%
- Services$61.9 million97.3%
- Total exports
- $63.6 million
- Change from 2022
- up 74 percent on the previous year74%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- Industries
- tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
Cost of Living
- Average gross salary2023
- $1,042 per month$1,042 (PPP)
- Median
- $831 per month
- Men
- $991 per month
- Women
- $1,117 per month
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- 2024
- $883 per month, gross$889 (PPP)
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.786HighWorld Rank84thof 193PalauWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Palau World 2000 0.736 0.651 2001 0.741 0.657 2002 0.746 0.662 2003 0.749 0.669 2004 0.755 0.675 2005 0.761 0.681 2006 0.765 0.688 2007 0.771 0.694 2008 0.773 0.698 2009 0.776 0.701 2010 0.779 0.707 2011 0.784 0.713 2012 0.787 0.717 2013 0.791 0.721 2014 0.795 0.726 2015 0.802 0.731 2016 0.804 0.735 2017 0.804 0.739 2018 0.805 0.741 2019 0.806 0.745 2020 0.799 0.742 2021 0.789 0.742 2022 0.786 0.752 2023 0.786 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 13.3 years
- Expected for a child today
- 14.1 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2020
- 99.8% of adults
- Education expenditure2023
- 3.4% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 9.5%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2022
- 82.6% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 82.6%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2022
- 24,000
- Fixed telephone lines
- 6,154
- Fixed broadband
- 7 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Refugees hosted2025
- 5 people
- Inbound tourists2020latest available
- 18,400 arrivalsdown 80% against 201980% below 2019Official tourism site
- Per resident
- 1 arrivals per resident
- $15 million(2022)
- Share of GDP
- 9.8% tourism direct GDP
- $21.2 million(2022)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2020A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 1 site1 mixed
Site Rock Islands Southern Lagoon Source:- The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2018
- 11.2 per 100,000 peopleHigh by global standards
- Crime rates
- 1 offence category
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 11.2 2 2018 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2023
- 372.3 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 66
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 69.6 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 10.9% of GDP$1,684 per person
- Physicians2023
- 1.81 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2010latest available
- 4.3 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 16.9 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 89 per 100,000 live births
- Tobacco use2023
- 23.3% of adults
- Men
- 35.4%
- Women
- 11.1%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Road traffic deaths2013
- 4.8 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 1.47 Mt per yearup 4.9 percent on the previous year4.9% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 63.7 t per personWorld Rank1stof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- < 0.01%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 0.04 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 0.03 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 1.53 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 1.4 µg/m³ of PM2.5Most polluted223rdof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
- National standard
- 12 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- 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
Source:- The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- International agreements
- 19 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 65 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 2000 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 2001 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 2001 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1999 CITES in force 2004 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) in force 2008 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2003 Nagoya Protocol in force 2018 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 2003 World Heritage Convention in force 2002 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1999 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 2011 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) not a party Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2011 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1996 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in force 2026 MARPOL 73/78 in force 2011 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Palau - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- Obesity2024
- 40.5% of adults
- Men
- 36%
- Women
- 45.9%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Energy
Defense
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
