Palau is a country in Micronesia, one of the 7 entries this site files under that subregion. In formal use it is Republic of Palau. Ngerulmud is the capital.
By land area it covers 459 km², which ranks it 203rd of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind the Northern Mariana Islands and just ahead of Seychelles. For scale, it is about half again the size of Malta.
Around 17,695 people live there, placing it 225th of 250 by population — between Saint Martin above it and the Cook Islands below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 5th of 7 in size and 6th in population.
Location, borders and position
Plotted on a globe it falls at 7.5° north, 134.5° east, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 835 km from the equator, in what geographers would call the equatorial belt.
Follow that same latitude east or west and you reach Ethiopia, Venezuela and the Central African Republic — places that share its distance from the equator but little else.
There is no land frontier at all — every boundary it has is a coastline. That puts it among the 85 entries of 250 here with no land neighbours, a group made up mostly of islands and island groups.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population, density and language
Population divided by land area gives roughly 39 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
Someone from Palau is a Palauan.
It recognises 2 languages: English and Palauan. Palauan is listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes it effectively unique to Palau. English, the first listed, is shared with 90 other entries worldwide.
Inside Oceania it places 17th of 27 by population, and it accounts for 3.4% of everyone living in Micronesia.
Currency, domain and dialling code
Money there is the United States dollar ($, USD). That is a shared currency: 19 other entries use it, including American Samoa, the Bahamas, the British Indian Ocean Territory, the British Virgin Islands and Cambodia.
Websites there use the .pw domain. Calls from overseas start with +680. Standard country codes: pw and PLW.
Ngerulmud is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
Palau is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Fun facts about Palau
- Population density works out at roughly 39 people per square kilometre.
- It is 225th of 250 by population, with about 17,695 residents.
- Ranked by land area, Palau is 203rd out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- Its capital city is Ngerulmud.
- In land area it is about half again the size of Malta.
- It has no land border with any other country — one of 85 such entries in this dataset.
- Within Micronesia it is the 5th largest of 7.
Palau — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Palau?
- The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud.
- Does Palau border any other country?
- No. Palau has no land border with any other country, so every route in or out is by sea or air. 85 of the 250 entries on this site are in the same position.
- How big is Palau?
- Palau covers 459 km², ranking 203rd of 250 by land area. That makes it about half again the size of Malta.
- What currency does Palau use?
- Palau uses the United States dollar, written $ (currency code USD). It is shared with 19 other entries.
- Is Palau a country?
- Yes. Palau is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What is the population of Palau?
- Palau has a population of about 17,695, which makes it the 225th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Saint Martin sits just above it and the Cook Islands just below.
- Where is Palau located?
- Palau is in Micronesia, part of Oceania. Its reference coordinates are 7.5° north and 134.5° east, roughly 835 km from the equator in equatorial latitudes.
- What language is spoken in Palau?
- Palau lists 2 official languages: English and Palauan. Palauan does not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
