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Palau Demographics Profile

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Population 21,613 (July 2021 est.)
Nationality noun: Palauan(s)

adjective: Palauan
Ethnic groups Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 73%, Carolinian 2%, Asian 21.7%, Caucasian 1.2%, other 2.1% (2015 est.)
Languages Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.)

note: Sonsoralese is official in Sonsoral; Tobian is official in Tobi; Angaur and Japanese are official in Angaur
Religions Roman Catholic 45.3%, Protestant 34.9% (includes Evangelical 26.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.9%, Assembly of God .9%, Baptist .7%), Modekngei 5.7% (indigenous to Palau), Muslim 3%, Mormon 1.5%, other 9.7% (2015 est.)
Age structure 0-14 years: 18.68% (male 2,090/female 1,961)

15-24 years: 15.86% (male 1,723/female 1,716)

25-54 years: 45.33% (male 6,026/female 3,804)

55-64 years: 10.68% (male 853/female 1,463)

65 years and over: 9.45% (male 501/female 1,548) (2020 est.)
Median age total: 33.9 years

male: 32.9 years

female: 35.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate 0.38% (2021 est.)
Birth rate 11.47 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Death rate 8.19 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Net migration rate 0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population distribution most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap
Urbanization urban population: 81.5% of total population (2021)

rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major cities - population 277 NGERULMUD (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.58 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.58 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.32 male(s)/female

total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate total: 11.52 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 13.53 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Life expectancy at birth total population: 74.38 years

male: 71.19 years

female: 77.75 years (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate 1.7 children born/woman (2021 est.)
Drinking water source improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)
Health expenditures 10.9% (2018)
Physicians density 1.42 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density 4.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Sanitation facility access improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths NA
Major infectious diseases degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate 55.3% (2016)
Education expenditures NA
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.6%

male: 96.8%

female: 96.3% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) total: 17 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2013)

Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021