Capital of Palau: Ngerulmud
The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud. Palau sits in Oceania, has a population of 18,055, and uses the USD. Official languages include Palauan, English.
Quick facts
- Capital: Ngerulmud
- Continent: Oceania
- Population: ~18,055
- Area: 459 km²
- Population density: 39.3 people per km²
- Official languages: Palauan, English
- Currency: USD
- ISO code: PW
How big is Palau?
By population, Palau ranks 194th in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 182nd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Palau has 39.3 people per square kilometre, which is about 1.5 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Oceania, Palau is the 12th most populous country of 14.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Palau in population are Nauru (12,668) and Tuvalu (11,312).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Seychelles (455 km²) and Andorra (468 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Palauan is listed as an official language of Palau alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
The USD is not unique to Palau — it is also used by Ecuador, El Salvador, Marshall Islands and Micronesia, and 2 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Palau in Oceania
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Fiji.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Oceania is the block Palau belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Palau and a page on the flag of Palau.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Palau?
The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud.
What is the population of Palau?
About 18,055, making it the 194th most populous country in the world.
How big is Palau?
459 square kilometres, ranking 182nd by land area, at a density of 39.3 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Palau use?
The USD, shared with 6 other countries.