Palau
Oceania Β· Capital: Ngerulmud
How it is run: Palau is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Palau is home to 17,663 people in Micronesia, where people speak English, Palauan.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
17,663 people
That is about 2 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
459 kmΒ²
Smaller than most big cities β you could cross it in an afternoon.
ποΈ How crowded
About 38 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
17th most people in Oceania
15th largest by land in Oceania.
π£οΈ Official languages
English, Palauan
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
United States dollar ($)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
69.4 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$19,532
An upper-middle-income country: growing cities, and more families joining the middle class.
π’ Living in cities
79.3% of people
Mostly a city country β think buses, trains and apartment blocks.
π Kids under 15
17.9% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+680
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.pw
π§ People here are called
Palauan
π·οΈ Name at home
Palau Β· Belau
Also written: Republic of Palau, Beluu er a Belau.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Asia and the Pacific Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Palau has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Palau
French
Palaos (Palau)
Arabic
Ψ¨Ψ§ΩΨ§Ω
Chinese
εΈε³
Japanese
γγ©γͺ
Russian
ΠΠ°Π»Π°Ρ
Portuguese
Palau
German
Palau
Put it in perspective π
- Australia β the most populated country in Oceania β has about 1563.4Γ as many people as Palau.
- All of Palau would fit inside one large national park in many other countries.
- If everyone in Palau lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 9 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Palau
ποΈ Capital
Ngerulmud
π Region
Oceania Β· Micronesia
π€ Country code
PW
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Palau π
π§ Where on the map
7.5Β° N, 134.5Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+9 β when it is noon in London it is about 21:00 in Ngerulmud.
- Palau is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Palau shares its part of the world with Marshall Islands. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- π΅πΌ is the flag of Palau. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is PW.
- Palau is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Palau has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Palau can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Palau spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Palau?
Ngerulmud
Which money do people spend in Palau?
United States dollar ($)
How many countries share a land border with Palau?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Palau?
17,663 people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.