The Human Truth Foundation

Palau (Republic of Palau)

https://www.humantruth.info/palau.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#Palau

Palau
Republic of Palau
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index110th best
CapitalMelekeok
Land Area 460km21
LocationAustralasia, Micronesia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population17 9072
Life Expectancy66.02yrs (2017)3
GNI$13 819 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesPW, PLW, 5855
Internet Domain.pw6
CurrencyDollar (USD)7
Telephone+6808

1. Overview

After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverYou don´t have to get wet to enjoy Palau, but it helps. This tiny island country in the western Pacific Ocean is one of the world´s most spectacular diving and snorkelling destinations. Most tourists who come to the Republic of Palau like to spend their time underwater. This is among the world´s most spectacular diving and snorkelling destinations, featuring coral reefs, blue holes, WWII wrecks, hidden caves and tunnels, more than 60 vertical drop-offs, and an astonishing spectrum of coral, fish and rare sea creatures. There are also some outright miracles of evolution: giant clams that weigh a quarter of a ton, for example, and a lake teeming with 21 million softly pulsating, stingless jellyfish.

On land the republic embraces Micronesia´s richest flora and fauna: exotic birds fly, crocodiles slip through the swamps and orchids sprout profusely in backyards.

The Palauan archipelago encompasses the polyglot state of Koror; the marvellous Rock Islands; Micronesia´s second-largest island, Babeldaob (the land that Pacific Standard Time forgot); Peleliu, once war-ravaged, now just ravishing; tranquil, tiny Angaur; the coral atolls of Kayangel and Ngeruangel; and the remote South-West Islands.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Palau National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
78Macedonia0.770
79China0.768
80=Moldova0.767
80=Palau0.767
80=Dominican Rep.0.767
83Cuba0.764
84Peru0.762
85Armenia0.759
Australasia Avg0.70
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
83Brazil$14 370
84Azerbaijan$14 257
85Albania$14 131
86Palau$13 819
87Grenada$13 484
88Gabon$13 367
89Ukraine$13 256
90Armenia$13 158
Australasia Avg$12 519
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark27.0
2Norway29.9
3Sweden31.8
...
107Bahrain91.1
108Ghana92.5
109Guatemala93.7
110Palau93.7
111Kyrgyzstan94.3
112Botswana94.5
113Azerbaijan95.0
114Lebanon95.0
Australasia Avg95.6
World Avg88.6
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Palau's Demographics and Migration

#health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #population

Population:

Palau's population is predicted to rise to 24 742 by 2030.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
188Marshall Islands58 413
189St Kitts & Nevis52 441
190Monaco38 682
191Liechtenstein37 910
192San Marino33 785
193Palau17 907
194Tuvalu11 508
195Nauru10 670
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
141Tanzania66.2
142Pakistan66.1
143Rwanda66.1
144Palau66.0
145Gabon65.8
146Guyana65.7
147Myanmar (Burma)65.7
148Papua New Guinea65.4
World Avg71.28
q=195.

Migration:

Immigrants13
Pos.2017
%13
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
18Antigua & Barbuda28.1%
19Brunei25.3%
20Israel23.6%
21Palau23.0%
22New Zealand22.7%
23Canada21.5%
24Kazakhstan20.0%
25Austria19.0%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants14
Pos.2010
%14
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
11Barbados41.0%
12Suriname39.0%
13Bosnia & Herzegovina38.9%
14Palau38.8%
15St Vincent & Grenadines37.7%
16Cape Verde37.6%
17Jamaica36.1%
18Armenia28.2%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Palau's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2025)15
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank15
1New Zealand13.3
2Australia16.0
3Kiribati70.1
4Marshall Islands75.0
5Tuvalu76.7
6Micronesia78.2
7Palau80.7
8Nauru82.3
9Fiji87.1
10Vanuatu98.7
11Samoa100.4
12Tonga105.5
13Solomon Islands108.9
Australasia Avg79.23
q=14.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)15
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank15
1Sweden6.1
2Denmark8.6
3Norway9.0
...
85El Salvador79.5
86Philippines79.6
87Moldova80.6
88Palau80.7
89Paraguay80.8
90Honduras81.1
91Suriname81.5
92Guatemala81.5
World Avg86.55
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway16. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, N. Korea and Afghanistan16.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe16, whereas the worst are Africa, The Middle East and Asia16.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Freedom in the World
Lower is better
Pos.2024
Score
1=Norway1.0
1=Canada1.0
1=Cape Verde1.0
...
9=Dominica1.0
9=Portugal1.0
9=Slovenia1.0
9=Palau1.0
9=Czechia1.0
9=Finland1.0
9=New Zealand1.0
9=Netherlands1.0
Australasia Avg1.8
World Avg3.7
q=205.
Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
17
Pos.2009
Treaties17
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
187Singapore5
188=Nauru5
189Marshall Islands4
190=Myanmar (Burma)4
190=Palau4
190=Malaysia4
193Bhutan3
194=Kiribati3
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
18
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty18
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
188Kiribati15.80
189Solomon Islands15.81
190Nauru16.16
191Sao Tome & Principe16.17
192Tuvalu16.33
193Palau16.34
194Marshall Islands16.34
195Palestine17.21
Australasia Avg14.35
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.Total
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
171Guinea-Bissau1977
172Zimbabwe1978
173=Marshall Islands1979
173=Palau1979
173=Micronesia1979
176Iraq1980
177=Vanuatu1980
178Liechtenstein1984
Australasia Avg1962
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
19
Pos.2017
Score19
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
83=Philippines20
83=Central African Rep.20
83=Sao Tome & Principe20
83=Palau20
83=Nauru20
83=Marshall Islands20
83=Guinea-Bissau20
83=Micronesia20
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
20
Pos.202120
1=Belgium1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
...
19Micronesia1.8
20=USA1.8
20=Slovenia1.8
20=Palau1.8
20=Burkina Faso1.8
20=Albania1.8
20=Kosovo1.8
20=S. Korea1.8
Australasia Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Palau's Health

#health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #palau #parenting #population #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2025)21
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank21
1Australia49.3
2New Zealand51.2
3New Caledonia57.9
4=French Polynesia70.9
5Fiji96.7
6Guam99.3
7Palau101.7
8Tonga110.1
9Tuvalu112.1
10Kiribati117.2
11Micronesia122.8
12Samoa124.2
13Vanuatu125.3
Australasia Avg112.00
q=17.
Health (2025)21
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank21
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
123Kyrgyzstan100.5
124Algeria100.7
125El Salvador101.3
126Palau101.7
127Peru101.8
128Turkmenistan102.7
129Palestine104.6
130Bangladesh106.5
World Avg96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man22. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria22.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans22, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia22.

For more, see:

Health:

Palau is a pretty unhealthy country. And finally, it does worse than average in its immunizations take-up23, its adolescent birth rate24 and in its average life expectancy11. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Palau improved by +3.2yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. In the 2010s, Palau was one of only 12 countries that saw their life expectancy drop, although only by a small amount. Although it has just a few data points each decade, its peak fertility rate was 2.84 in 1990.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
141Tanzania66.2
142Pakistan66.1
143Rwanda66.1
144Palau66.0
145Gabon65.8
146Guyana65.7
147Myanmar (Burma)65.7
148Papua New Guinea65.4
Australasia Avg70.11
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
25
Pos.2016
%25
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
184Tonga78.5
185Kiribati78.7
186Niue80.0
187Tuvalu81.9
188Marshall Islands83.5
189Cook Islands84.7
190Palau85.1
191Nauru88.5
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
24
Pos.2022
Per 100024
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
109Azerbaijan40.1
110Pakistan41.2
111Barbados41.9
112Palau42.1
113Palestine42.9
114Brazil43.6
115Egypt43.6
116Samoa43.8
Australasia Avg40.2
World Avg43.8
q=195.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
23
Pos.2015
Avg %23
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
101France92.6
102=El Salvador92.4
102=Swaziland92.4
104Palau92.4
105Vietnam92.3
106Denmark92.3
107Azerbaijan92.2
108=Australia92.1
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Palau's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #internationalism #marshall_islands #over-exploitation #the_environment

Compared to Australasia (2025)26
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank26
1New Zealand75.8
2Australia76.6
3Fiji89.1
...
8Kiribati111.4
9Micronesia114.6
10Cook Islands119.6
11Solomon Islands121.6
12Marshall Islands123.1
13Palau124.5
14Tuvalu127.4
15Niue129.5
16Nauru134.4
Australasia Avg93.28
q=16.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)26
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank26
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
182Zimbabwe121.5
183Solomon Islands121.6
184Marshall Islands123.1
185Palau124.5
186Grenada125.0
187Tuvalu127.4
188Tajikistan128.6
189Niue129.5
World Avg84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

One of the worst in Australasia Palau comes 15th-worst in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 2 data sets. Palau does better than average for its forested percent change 2000-202027. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
27
Pos.Total27
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
51Thailand4.7%
52Poland4.6%
53Macedonia4.6%
54Palau4.6%
55Bhutan4.5%
56Morocco4.2%
57Lebanon3.8%
58Bosnia & Herzegovina3.6%
Australasia Avg0.1%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
187S. Sudan37%
188Timor-Leste (E. Timor)36%
189Bhutan35%
190Palau34%
191Angola33%
192Iraq28%
193San Marino26%
194Haiti25%
Australasia Avg48.2%
World Avg57.5%
q=197.
Palau is one of only two eligible countries who could sign up for the protections of the Waigani Convention, but, have not (the other is Marshall Islands). It's particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and so, was one of the early adopters of the Kyoto Protocol in 1999 and one of the 19 countries that signed the Paris Agreement within the first few months in Q2 2016.

7. Palau's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1New Zealand15.2
2Australia16.6
3Palau47.4
4=Tonga62.0
5Fiji71.5
6Samoa99.8
7Marshall Islands111.1
8Vanuatu125.6
9Kiribati127.3
10Micronesia133.6
11Tuvalu138.2
12Solomon Islands154.5
13Papua New Guinea158.4
Australasia Avg97.01
q=13.
Modernity & Learning (2020)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
38Russia44.3
39Malta45.9
40Barbados47.4
41Palau47.4
42Ukraine47.7
43Bulgaria47.8
44Croatia47.8
45Liechtenstein48.8
World Avg86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark29. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone29. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots30.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)31

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe29, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia29.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education
Higher is better
32
Pos.201832
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
14Slovenia97.6%
15Armenia97.2%
16Hungary97.2%
17Palau97.1%
18New Zealand96.9%
19Switzerland96.5%
20Moldova96.4%
21Germany96.3%
Australasia Avg79.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
33
Pos.2021
Years33
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
40Estonia15.9
41Thailand15.9
42France15.8
43Palau15.8
44Russia15.8
45Kazakhstan15.8
46UAE15.7
47Barbados15.7
Australasia Avg13.4
World Avg13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
34
Pos.2017
Ratio34
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
157=Brunei0.0
157=Aruba0.0
157=Bahrain0.0
157=Palau0.0
157=Equatorial Guinea0.0
157=Belize0.0
157=Suriname0.0
157=Grenada0.0
Australasia Avg1.55
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below35:

Christian86.7%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.8%
Folk Religion0.8%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated1.2%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witnesses 0.9%, Mormon 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)36.

Links: