Palau: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Failure to maintain hull led to shipwreck: report • Feb. 3, 2025, 4:49 AM ET (Taipei Times)

Also Known As	Republic of Palau • Belau • Belu’u er a Belau • Pelew
Head Of State And Government	President: Surangel Whipps, Jr.
Capital	Melekeok, on Babelthuap¹
Population	(2025 est.) 17,600
Form Of Government	republic with two legislative houses (Senate [13]; House of Delegates [16])
Official Languages	Palauan; English
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Beluu er a Belau (Palauan); Republic of Palau (English)
Total Area (Sq Km)	488
Total Area (Sq Mi)	188
Monetary Unit	U.S. dollar (U.S.$)
Population Rank	(2023) 220
Population Projection 2030	18,700
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2025) 93.6
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2025) 36.1
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2020) 77.9% • Rural: (2020) 22.1%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2022) 71.5 years • Female: (2022) 78 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2015) 97% • Female: (2015) 96%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2023) 257
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2023) 14,250
¹Ngerulmud capitol complex is located in the national capital of Melekeok.