Palau flag
Oceania / Pacific · Oceania

Palau

Palau
Capital
Ngerulmud
Population
18K
Area
459 km²
Language
Palauan / English

Palau is a country in Oceania / Pacific, Oceania. Its capital is Ngerulmud, with a population of approximately 18K and a total area of 459 km². The official languages are Palauan / English and the currency is the US Dollar (USD).

📊 Quick Facts about Palau

👥
Population
18K
total residents
📐
Total Area
459 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
39/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$0.27B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$15,000
per person
💱
Currency
US Dollar (USD)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
Palauan / English
official
🌊
Coastline
1,519 km
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+9
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1994
established
🕐
Local Time in Ngerulmud

Palau covers an area of 459 km² with a population density of 39/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $0.27B ($15,000 per capita) and gained independence in 1994. It has a coastline of 1,519 km.

Did You Know?

Palau created the world's first shark sanctuary in 2009, all 130 species of shark are fully protected in its waters. Jellyfish Lake contains millions of golden jellyfish that evolved without stingers over thousands of years of isolation.

See all 14+ facts about Palau

✈️ Travel Information for Palau

📅
Best Time to Visit
November–April
Tropical, hot and humid year-round
💸
Cost of Travel
Expensive
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa-free for most Western nationalities
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Palau travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Palau on the Map

Street-level photo from Koror
📍 Koror · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 Palau World Rankings

1st
Shark Sanctuary
World's first shark sanctuary, all species fully protected
1st
Jellyfish Lake
Jellyfish Lake, millions of stingless jellyfish evolved in isolation
1st
Marine Biodiversity
One of the world's top 5 diving destinations
1st
Eco Pledge
First country to require tourists to sign an environmental pledge

🏛 Must-See Places in Palau

⚖️ Compare Palau with another country

See how Palau stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

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Palau vs New Zealand
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Palau vs Fiji
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Palau vs Kiribati
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Palau vs Marshall Islands
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Palau

What is the capital of Palau?

The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud.

What continent is Palau in?

Palau is located in Oceania, in the Oceania / Pacific region.

What currency does Palau use?

Palau uses the US Dollar (USD). The international calling code is +680.

What is the GDP of Palau?

Palau has a GDP of $0.27B, with a GDP per capita of $15,000.

🌍 Explore More Countries in Oceania / Pacific

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Marshall Islands
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