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Palau vs Tuvalu
Side-by-side comparison of Palau and Tuvalu from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Palau scores 46.7 in the NationsTree Index (103rd in the world) and Tuvalu scores 33.1 (152nd), a gap of 13.6 points. Their trees are 0.4 m and 0.1 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Palau has 86% more people than Tuvalu. Palau is 18 times larger than Tuvalu by land area. Palau has an economy 6.3 times the size of Tuvalu (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Palau 17,663 and Tuvalu 9,492 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $23,052 in Palau and $6,759 in Tuvalu (2025, international dollars). People in Palau live on average 2.1 years longer (69.4 vs 67.3 years).
Of 25 indicators reported by both countries, Palau ranks higher in the world on 15 and Tuvalu on 10. Palau is clearly stronger in tourism, infrastructure & digital and economy. Tuvalu is clearly stronger in environment & energy, trade and natural resources.
As a nation, Tuvalu is the older of the two (statehood since 1978, 48 years), compared with Palau (since 1994). Over the last five years Tuvalu improved faster (direction score 82 vs 57 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Palau and Tuvalu.
Palau
82.84
203rd of 203
Tuvalubetter
0.00
1st of 203
GDP growthEconomy
Palaubetter
6.3%
33rd of 210
Tuvalu
1.6%
158th of 210
Safely managed drinking waterInfrastructure & digital
Palaubetter
90.8%
59th of 150
Tuvalu
8.7%
148th of 150
Tertiary enrolmentSociety & health
Palaubetter
71.8%
45th of 150
Tuvalu
19.4%
124th of 150
General government gross debtEconomy
Palau
52.8%
93rd of 189
Tuvalubetter
2.8%
4th of 189
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Palau has been ahead of Tuvalu in the NationsTree Index in every year since 2005.
Palau has been ahead of Tuvalu in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP), life expectancy and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
PalauTuvalu All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Palau | Tuvalu |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 460190th/216 · 2024 | 26214th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 460189th/216 · 2024 | 26213th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 17,663215th/217 · 2025 | 9,492217th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.18%189th/217 · 2025 | -1.61%213th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 38.5164th/216 · 2024 | 371.031st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 79.3%62nd/217 · 2025 | 65.4%106th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 17.9%140th/217 · 2025 | 33.0%58th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 11.8%87th/217 · 2025 | 7.0%124th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $345.0 m207th/210 · 2025 | $57.3 m210th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $407.2 m196th/199 · 2025 | $64.2 m199th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $347.9 m196th/199 · 2025 | $54.8 m199th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $19,53278th/210 · 2025 | $6,041130th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $23,05294th/199 · 2025 | $6,759155th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $19,89067th/201 · 2025 | $9,78094th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 6.3%33rd/210 · 2025 | 1.6%158th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | -0.4%7th/180 · 2025 | 0.5%2011 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 85.2%2019 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 52.8%93rd/189 · 2025 | 2.8%4th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.4%46th/192 · 2025 | 25.8%1st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 2.7%132nd/197 · 2024 | 15.9%2015 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 13.0%169th/200 · 2024 | 7.0%2015 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 1.2%182nd/192 · 2024 | 1.0%2011 |
| Services % of GDP | 73.1%22nd/200 · 2024 | — |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $105.1 m181st/182 · 2024 | — |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $235.1 m181st/182 · 2024 | — |
| Exports % of GDP | 32.7%100th/183 · 2024 | — |
| Imports % of GDP | 73.1%30th/183 · 2024 | — |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 105.8%53rd/183 · 2024 | — |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%2017 | 7.2%2005 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 9.0%2018 | 39.6%2005 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 88.7%2018 | 3.2%2004 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.1%2018 | — |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 51.7%2018 | — |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -11.6%171st/191 · 2025 | 21.1%5th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 16.6%10th/196 · 2025 | 0.4%164th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%187th/209 · 2021 | 0.0%187th/209 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | — | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 0.7%194th/206 · 2024 | — |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 18,400186th/194 · 2020 | 3,600193rd/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $123.0 m137th/175 · 2017 | $2.4 m2013 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 93.5%1st/168 · 2017 | 43.4%2013 |
| Outbound trips departures | 9,0001998 | 2,1002011 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 69.4157th/217 · 2024 | 67.3175th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 21.4125th/196 · 2024 | 19.2122nd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.8187th/174 · 2023 | 1.3597th/174 · 2020 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 4.32010 | 4.22001 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 97%29th/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 94.4%31st/153 · 2020 | 58.3%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 95.7%77th/173 · 2024 | 90.7%100th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 37.4%2006 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 16.8%89th/217 · 2025 | 11.7%118th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.9%18th/193 · 2023 | 27.1%1st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 99.8%6th/98 · 2020 | 100.0%1st/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 71.8%45th/150 · 2024 | 19.4%124th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.78684th/193 · 2023 | 0.689129th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | — | 39.12010 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | — | 9.0%2010 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 90.8%59th/150 · 2024 | 8.7%148th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 39.7%97th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 83.9%86th/186 · 2024 | 35.2%2017 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 13548th/210 · 2023 | 99140th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 7.3129th/208 · 2023 | 4.5143rd/208 · 2022 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 82.84203rd/203 · 2024 | 0.001st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 0.9%193rd/212 · 2022 | 5.2%167th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 4.914th/200 · 2023 | 5.215th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 90.8%4th/214 · 2024 | 39.6%80th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 4,8141990 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 54.5100th/205 · 2025 | 40.0151st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 58.468th/207 · 2025 | 59.861st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 77.930th/207 · 2025 | 80.924th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 88.416th/207 · 2025 | 90.58th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 63.258th/205 · 2025 | 47.9130th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 76.340th/205 · 2025 | 80.821st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 11.22018 | 18.32012 |
| Military | ||
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 7.0 m2020 | 7.0 m2019 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Scientific articles articles | 5186th/197 · 2023 | 0196th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Palau or Tuvalu?
Palau has the larger population: 17,663 (2025) compared with 9,492 for Tuvalu (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Palau or Tuvalu?
Palau is larger: 460 km² (2024) compared with 26 km² for Tuvalu (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Palau or Tuvalu?
Palau has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $407.2 m intl. (2025) compared with $64.2 m intl. for Tuvalu (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Palau or Tuvalu?
Palau has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $23,052 intl. (2025) compared with $6,759 intl. for Tuvalu (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Palau or Tuvalu?
Palau has the higher life expectancy at birth: 69.4 years (2024) compared with 67.3 years for Tuvalu (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Palau or Tuvalu?
Palau: 46.7 points (103rd in the world); Tuvalu: 33.1 points (152nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Naoero
TongaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Palau vs Tuvalu — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/palau-vs-tuvalu. Data as of 26 October 2026.