Palau Country Overview
Where is Palau located? The island nation of Palau is located in the Pacific Ocean. The time zone map indicates that Palau is located in a world time zone called “Palau Time” which is 9 hours time difference from Coordinated Universal Time. Accordingly, clocks on Palau are 9 hours later than those on the world clock (UTC+9). This time difference stays the same throughout the year as there is no daylight saving time change in Palau.
Bordering Countries of Palau
According to abbreviationfinder, Palau is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, and it borders a number of other countries. To the east of Palau lies the Philippines, a nation renowned for its beautiful beaches and vibrant cities such as Manila. To the south of Palau lies Indonesia, a country with an interesting cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. To the west of Palau lies Papua New Guinea, a rugged nation known for its remote mountain tribes and rainforest jungles. Finally, to the north of Palau lies Micronesia, a small but prosperous nation home to numerous historical sites left over from its past. All these countries have their own unique culture and history that make them great destinations for travelers looking to explore Oceania. The Philippines is known for its rich culture such as its distinctive cuisine, while Indonesia has numerous national parks filled with lush mountains and valleys. Papua New Guinea is renowned for its remote mountain tribes such as the Huli Wigmen, while Micronesia has many historical sites such as Yap’s Stone Money to explore. All these countries have something special to offer visitors looking to explore Oceania.
Population Distribution
As of 2023, the latest population of Palau is 21,685, based on our calculation of the current data from UN (United Nations).
| Total population | 21,685 |
| Population growth rate | 0.39% |
| Birth rate | 11.30 births per 1,000 people |
| Life expectancy | |
| Overall life expectancy | 72.33 years |
| Men life expectancy | 69.17 years |
| Women life expectancy | 75.68 years |
| Age structure | |
| 0-14 years | 19.37% |
| 15-64 years | 72.13% |
| 65 years and above | 8.50% |
| Median age | 33.20 years |
| Gender ratio (Male to Female) | 1.12 |
| Population density | 47.24 residents per km² |
| Urbanization | 68.60% |
| Ethnicities | |
| 70% Palau (Micronesians), 28% Asians (Filipinos, Chinese, Vietnamese), 2% North Americans and Europeans | |
| Religions | |
| Christians (Catholics (Roman Catholic), Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one third of the population follows this indigenous religion) | |
| Human Development Index (HDI) | 0.814 |
| HDI ranking | 55th out of 194 |
People in Palau
About 21,000 people live in the island republic of Palau. Half of them – 50 out of 100 residents – live on the island of Koror, which was also the capital of the country. This is where most of the job opportunities can be found, as many restaurants, hotels and shops are based here. About 41 people live per square kilometer. In addition to Koror, the islands of Babelthuap, Peleliu and Angaur are settled. Most of Palau’s islands remain uninhabited, however.
70 out of 100 residents – the Palau – are Micronesians, Malay and Melanesians,whereby the population groups mixed. 28 out of 100 people are Asians such as Filipinos, Chinese and Vietnamese. Some whites also live on Palau, most of them originally from Europe.
Languages in Palau
The people speak Palaui and English. Both languages are official languages. Most people speak in Palaui, but the proportion of people who speak Filipino is increasing. 10 out of 100 can also communicate in English. There are also a few other Asian languages such as Chinese and Japanese.
Religions in Palau
Most of the people are Christians and most of them are Catholics. A specialty on Palau is a local religion called Ngara Modekngei or simply Modekngei. In this religion, Christian ideas of God mix with the original beliefs of the local population.