Sheet 131 of 195 · OceaniaPLW · 7.5°N 134.6°E

Palau

Republic of Palau · Beluu er a Belau

Capital: Ngerulmud
Population: 17,663 2025
Area: 459 km²
Neighbours: 0

Palau hatched and ringed, Ngerulmud marked with a triangle. Orthographic projection centred on 7.5°N 134.6°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

Palau is an island country in Micronesia, with no land border. Of the other 194 countries in this atlas, the nearest capital to Ngerulmud is Manila, in the Philippines, 1,686 km away. With 459 km², it is about the size of Seychelles and Andorra and ranks 180th of 195 by area.

17,663 people lived in Palau in 2025, according to the World Bank; only two countries have fewer. On average, 39 people live on each km². The urban share of the population was 79.3% in 2025. The population shrank by 0.18% in 2025.

In 2025, GDP per capita stood at US$19,532 in current US dollars: 59th of 191 worldwide, 3rd of 14 in Oceania. Newborns in 2024 had a life expectancy of 69.4 years. Forest covers 90.8% of its land (2024).

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres. Directly through the Earth from Ngerulmud, the antipode falls on land, in Brazil.

How it compares Oceania: 14 countries

Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.
Measure	Figure	World	Oceania
Population	17,6632025, World Bank	192nd of 194	12th of 14
Area	459 km²world-countries	180th of 195	11th of 14
GDP	US$345 million2025, World Bank, current US$	188th of 191	11th of 14
GDP per capita	US$19,5322025, World Bank, current US$	59th of 191	3rd of 14
Population density	39 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries	143rd of 194	9th of 14
Life expectancy	69.4 years2024, World Bank	133rd of 194	7th of 14
Urban population	79.3%2025, World Bank	47th of 194	4th of 14
Forest area	90.8% of land2024, World Bank	4th of 194	2nd of 14
Population growth	-0.18% a year2025, World Bank	173rd of 194	11th of 14
Internet users	83.9%2024, World Bank	83rd of 188	4th of 11
Fertility rate	1.88 births per woman2024, World Bank	105th of 194	12th of 14
Land neighbours	0world-countries; among the 195	157th of 195	2nd of 14

Closest in areaSeychelles, Andorra and Antigua and Barbuda

Closest in populationNauru, Tuvalu and San Marino

Neighbours none by land

No land borders. The nearest capitals:

Philippines1,686 km
Ngerulmud to Manila
Timor-Leste2,047 km
Ngerulmud to Dili
Brunei2,196 km
Ngerulmud to Bandar Seri Begawan

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern
Capital: Ngerulmud
7.49°N 134.63°E
Northernmost latitude: 7.71°N
Southernmost latitude: 7.36°N
Westernmost longitude: 134.51°E
Easternmost longitude: 134.66°E
North to south: about 39 km
Antipode of Ngerulmud: 7.49°S 45.37°W
on land, in Brazil