Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Palau
Palau: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 20.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Palau, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population in Palau stood at 20.7%.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Palau peaked at 56.1% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 18.9%, in 2012.
That places Palau 157th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Palau, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 56.1% | — |
| 1961 | 54.2% | -3.4% |
| 1962 | 52.4% | -3.3% |
| 1963 | 50.7% | -3.3% |
| 1964 | 49.1% | -3.2% |
| 1965 | 47.6% | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 46.2% | -3.0% |
| 1967 | 44.9% | -2.8% |
| 1968 | 43.7% | -2.6% |
| 1969 | 42.6% | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 41.7% | -2.2% |
| 1971 | 40.8% | -2.0% |
| 1972 | 40.2% | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 39.6% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 39.2% | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 38.9% | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 38.6% | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 38.4% | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 38.2% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 37.9% | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 37.5% | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 36.8% | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 35.8% | -3.0% |
| 1983 | 34.5% | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 33.2% | -3.7% |
| 1985 | 32.2% | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 31.7% | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 31.3% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 31.1% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 30.8% | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 30.5% | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 30.0% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 29.6% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 29.1% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 28.8% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 28.6% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 28.8% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 29.2% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 29.8% | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 30.3% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 30.4% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 29.5% | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 27.6% | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 25.5% | -7.8% |
| 2004 | 23.6% | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 22.4% | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 21.7% | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 21.0% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 20.3% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 19.8% | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 19.3% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 19.0% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 18.9% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 18.9% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 19.3% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 19.6% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 19.9% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 20.2% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 20.4% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 20.7% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 20.9% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 20.9% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 20.9% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 20.8% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 20.8% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 20.7% | -0.4% |
Palau compared with similar countries
- Palau's 20.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Palau's 20.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.6%, 60% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 48.8% | 42.6% | 56.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 39.3% | 37.9% | 41.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 33.5% | 30.8% | 37.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.5% | 28.6% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.2% | 19.8% | 30.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.6% | 18.9% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.8% | 20.7% | 20.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Palau
More agriculture & rural data for Palau
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.7% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.2% (2018)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.7% (2018)
- Rural population growth -0.5% (2025)
- Rural population 3,659 (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 2.7% (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 8.78 million current US$ (2024)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 496.19 current US$ per person (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.35 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Palau?
- Rural population in Palau was 20.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Palau?
- The highest recorded value was 56.1% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Palau?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.9% in 2012.
- How does Palau rank for rural population?
- Palau ranks 157th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Palau?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Palau data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.