If you lived in Palau instead of Canada, you would:

Health

live 12.7 years less

In Canada, the average life expectancy is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024. In Palau, that number is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 55.9% more likely to be obese

In Canada, 26.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Palau, that number is 40.5% of people as of 2024.

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see 75.7% less spent on your healthcare

Canada spends $7,646 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Palau spends $1,857 as of 2023.

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have 35.9% fewer doctors per person

Canada has 28.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Palau has 18.1 as of 2023.

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have 28.6% less access to essential health services

Canada scores 91 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Palau scores 65 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 2.6 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Canada, 9.4% live below the poverty line as of 2008. In Palau, however, that number is 24.9% as of 2006.

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make 64.9% less money

Canada has a GDP per capita of $55,698 as of 2025, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $19,532 as of 2025.

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Life

have 20.1% more children

In Canada, there are approximately 8.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Palau, there are 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 7.4 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Canada, approximately 12.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Palau, 89.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 4.0 times more likely to die during infancy

In Canada, approximately 4.7 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Palau, on the other hand, 18.6 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 11.0% less likely to have internet access

In Canada, approximately 94.3% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Palau, about 83.9% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 28.9% less on education

Canada spends 4.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Palau spends 3.4% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Geography

see 99.2% less coastline

Canada has a total of 202,080 km of coastline. In Palau, that number is 1,519 km.

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Safety

be 4.7 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Canada, road accidents kill 4.7 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Palau, they kill 22.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 82.8% less home broadband

Canada has 42.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Palau has 7.3 as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 5.9 times more CO2

Canada emits 14.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Palau emits 82.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), The World Factbook (2006–2008), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Palau: At a glance

Palau is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 459 sq km. 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.
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How big is Palau compared to Canada? See an in-depth size comparison.

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