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Palau's population is projected to have slipped past its peak: from a high of 19,820 in 2004, it is projected at 17,614 in 2026. That is a 2.4-fold increase on the 7,474 recorded in 1950. Numbers are roughly stable, edging down 0.30% a year. Population density sits at 38 people/km². Half the population is younger than 38.9 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 41.2 by 2050. Men outnumber women in the population, at 116 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it falling to 11,126 (-37% from 2026).
Total population
17,614
Density
38 people/km²
Median age
38.9 years
Growth rate
-0.30%
Palau passed its population peak 22 years ago in 2004, and has since declined by 11.1%. The sex ratio of 116 males per 100 females is notably higher than the global average of ~101. The population is gradually aging, with median age projected to reach 41 by 2050 (up from 39 in 2026). UN projections show a decline to 11.1K by 2100.