Palau population pyramid 2026
17,614 people in 2026 (projected). Palau’s small pyramid combines a surplus of working-age men, many of them foreign workers, with a deep notch at 25–29 that partly reflects emigration to the US.
- 2026 population
- 17.6Krank 224 of 237
- Median age
- 38.9 yearsoldest rank 76
- Fertility rate
- 1.84births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older12.4% age 65+
Palau population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Palau age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 17.6% of the population, while 12.4% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 70.0% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Palau’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 42.8: about 43 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (25.1 children and 17.6 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Palau’s population pyramid
Workers in, young adults out
Palau has fewer than 18,000 inhabitants, so its five-year bands contain at most about 1,400 people each, and migration in both directions dominates the shape of the pyramid. Since the 1990s foreign workers, many of them from the Philippines, have filled jobs in construction, tourism and services. Most are men, and in 2026 there are about 141 men per 100 women at ages 30–34 and 145 at 40–44, giving an overall ratio of about 116.
At the same time, Palauans can live and work in the United States without a visa under the Compact of Free Association that took effect at independence in 1994, and many young adults leave for study and jobs there or in Guam. The UN estimates net emigration of about 2,800 between 2000 and 2023, and the 25–29 band, born about 1997–2001, is about 24% smaller than its neighbours, a gap that also reflects the fall in births in the late 1990s.
From high fertility to natural decrease
Fertility above seven children per woman in the 1950s and 1960s fell to below two by 2000. The population peaked in 2004 at about 19,800, and deaths have exceeded births since 2021. Palau’s age structure is now closest to those of Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and French Polynesia. Under the medium scenario it falls to about 15,500 by 2050, but with numbers this small, a change in recruitment or in emigration to the US could easily alter that path.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
Comparing each five-year band with its neighbours picks out the cohorts that break a smooth slope. These irregularities usually record past surges or deficits in births, or migration concentrated at particular ages; the pattern alone does not identify which. The guide to baby booms and echo cohorts explains how to date and interpret them.
| Age band in 2026 | Born about | Feature | Versus neighbouring bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25–29 | 1997–2001 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −24% |
Deaths have exceeded births every year since 2021. People aged 65 and older are projected to outnumber children under 15 by 2035.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Palau is projected to record 184 births (about 184 births a year) and 215 deaths, a natural decrease of 31. Net migration adds −22 people, ranking #156 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 5,855 births, 4,423 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −2,784. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −247 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 72.2 years57.5 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 67.4 years48.7 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 13.9 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 16.9per 1,000 births · 89 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 20.5per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 28.5 yearssex ratio at birth 107.7
Women in Palau are projected to live 4.8 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 89 to 16.9 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #71 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 28.5 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Palau
The median age of 38.9 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.84 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 69.6 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,614 | #224 | Largest first |
| Median age | 38.9 years | #76 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.84 | #124 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | -0.3% | #195 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 69.6 years | #179 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 12.4% | #103 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Palau
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50–54 | 1,398 | 7.9% | 788 / 610 |
| 2 | 45–49 | 1,381 | 7.8% | 794 / 587 |
| 3 | 35–39 | 1,341 | 7.6% | 785 / 556 |
| 4 | 40–44 | 1,339 | 7.6% | 792 / 547 |
| 5 | 55–59 | 1,309 | 7.4% | 716 / 593 |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Palau has 9,466 males and 8,149 females. That is 116.2 males per 100 females, ranking #10 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 53.7% of the population and females for 46.3%. There are 1,317 more males than females overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 87.3 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 107.7 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, above the biological norm of about 105 (see the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Palau has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 7,474 in 1950 to 17,614 in 2026, a change of 136%. Over the same span, median age moved from 17.6 to 38.9 years.
The under-15 share changed from 43.7% to 17.6%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 8.4% to 12.4%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Palau’s population is projected to decline by about 12%, reaching 15,518 in 2050. The median age changes from 38.9 to 41.2 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 8.0 percentage points to 20.4%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 16.3%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest estimated population of 19,820 in 2004. Historical population totals are estimates rather than exact head counts. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7,474 | 17.6 | 7.15 | 52.7 | 346 | 154 | −25 | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 9,328 | 15.7 | 7.19 | 54.9 | 432 | 136 | −70 | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 11,368 | 15.3 | 6.39 | 57.7 | 421 | 135 | +54 | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 17.7 | 3.35 | 61.9 | 280 | 116 | −179 | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 15,259 | 24.6 | 2.88 | 62.8 | 336 | 155 | +156 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 19,178 | 29.8 | 1.82 | 64.5 | 276 | 190 | +120 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 18,396 | 33.3 | 1.94 | 68.3 | 251 | 170 | −392 | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 36.8 | 1.97 | 68.7 | 207 | 198 | 0 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 17,727 | 37.8 | 1.91 | 69.3 | 193 | 204 | −19 | -0.2% |
| 2024* | 17,695 | 38.2 | 1.88 | 69.4 | 189 | 208 | −14 | -0.1% |
| 2026* | 17,614 | 38.9 | 1.84 | 69.6 | 184 | 215 | −22 | -0.3% |
| 2030* | 17,376 | 40.1 | 1.79 | 70.0 | 181 | 231 | −19 | -0.4% |
| 2040* | 16,602 | 41.9 | 1.74 | 71.1 | 178 | 265 | +1 | -0.5% |
| 2050* | 15,518 | 41.2 | 1.72 | 72.3 | 157 | 269 | −7 | -0.7% |
| 2060* | 14,315 | 42.5 | 1.70 | 73.5 | 142 | 248 | −6 | -0.8% |
| 2070* | 13,305 | 42.5 | 1.69 | 74.8 | 135 | 219 | −3 | -0.7% |
| 2080* | 12,506 | 42.8 | 1.69 | 76.2 | 123 | 193 | −3 | -0.6% |
| 2090* | 11,800 | 43.9 | 1.69 | 77.5 | 112 | 180 | −3 | -0.7% |
| 2100* | 11,126 | 44.4 | 1.69 | 78.7 | 107 | 172 | 0 | -0.6% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 485 | 452 | 937 | 5.3% |
| 5–9 | 521 | 489 | 1,010 | 5.7% |
| 10–14 | 620 | 536 | 1,156 | 6.6% |
| 15–19 | 608 | 597 | 1,205 | 6.8% |
| 20–24 | 556 | 522 | 1,078 | 6.1% |
| 25–29 | 463 | 419 | 882 | 5.0% |
| 30–34 | 722 | 511 | 1,233 | 7.0% |
| 35–39 | 785 | 556 | 1,341 | 7.6% |
| 40–44 | 792 | 547 | 1,339 | 7.6% |
| 45–49 | 794 | 587 | 1,381 | 7.8% |
| 50–54 | 788 | 610 | 1,398 | 7.9% |
| 55–59 | 716 | 593 | 1,309 | 7.4% |
| 60–64 | 605 | 571 | 1,176 | 6.7% |
| 65–69 | 463 | 467 | 930 | 5.3% |
| 70–74 | 302 | 346 | 648 | 3.7% |
| 75–79 | 159 | 187 | 346 | 2.0% |
| 80–84 | 65 | 100 | 165 | 0.9% |
| 85–89 | 22 | 44 | 66 | 0.4% |
| 90–94 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 0.1% |
| 95–99 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Palau’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Trinidad and Tobago95% overlap · median age 38.2
- Antigua and Barbuda95% overlap · median age 36.7
- French Polynesia95% overlap · median age 36.7
- Dominica95% overlap · median age 36.6
- Saint Kitts and Nevis94% overlap · median age 36.5
- Sint Maarten (Dutch part)94% overlap · median age 42.0
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Palau.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Palau Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/palau/
MLA
“Palau Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/palau/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Palau Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/palau/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Palau in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Palau's population in 2026 is projected at 17,614.
What is the median age in Palau?
The projected median age in Palau in 2026 is 38.9 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Palau?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.84 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Palau's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will decline by about 12%, from 17.6K to 15.5K.
What share of Palau is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 12.4% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 20.4%.
How many babies are born in Palau each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 184 births and 215 deaths in 2026, about 184 births a year. Deaths exceed births by 31.
What is life expectancy in Palau for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 72.2 years for women and 67.4 years for men, a gap of 4.8 years in favour of women.
Does Palau have more immigrants or emigrants?
Palau is projected to lose about 22 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −2,784.
What is the sex ratio in Palau?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 116.2 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.