If you lived in Micronesia, Federated States of instead of Palau, you would:

Health

live 2.0 years less

In Palau, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2024. In Micronesia, Federated States of, that number is 67 years (64 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 20.1% more likely to be obese

In Palau, 40.5% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Micronesia, Federated States of, that number is 48.6% of people as of 2024.

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see 74.1% less spent on your healthcare

Palau spends $1,857 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Micronesia, Federated States of spends $482 as of 2023.

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have 46.1% fewer doctors per person

Palau has 18.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Micronesia, Federated States of has 9.7 as of 2020.

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have 26.2% less access to essential health services

Palau scores 65 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Micronesia, Federated States of scores 48 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 77.4% less money

Palau has a GDP per capita of $19,532 as of 2025, while in Micronesia, Federated States of, the GDP per capita is $4,414 as of 2025.

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Life

have 2.1 times more children

In Palau, there are approximately 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Micronesia, Federated States of, there are 22.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 44.9% more likely to die during childbirth

In Palau, approximately 89.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Micronesia, Federated States of, 129.0 women do as of 2023.

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Basic Needs

be 13.1% less likely to have access to electricity

In Palau, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Micronesia, Federated States of, that number is 87% of people on average (97% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 52.9% less likely to have internet access

In Palau, approximately 83.9% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Micronesia, Federated States of, about 39.5% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 3.4 times more on education

Palau spends 3.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Micronesia, Federated States of spends 11.6% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

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spend 18.7% more on healthcare

Palau spends 10.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Micronesia, Federated States of, that number is 12.9% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 4.0 times more coastline

Palau has a total of 1,519 km of coastline. In Micronesia, Federated States of, that number is 6,112 km.

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Safety

be 91.9% less likely to be murdered

Palau has a homicide rate of 11.2 per 100,000 people as of 2018. In Micronesia, Federated States of, that number is 0.9 per 100,000 as of 2019.

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be 36.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Palau, road accidents kill 22.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Micronesia, Federated States of, they kill 14.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 20.6% less home broadband

Palau has 7.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Micronesia, Federated States of has 5.8 as of 2022.

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Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Micronesia, Federated States of: At a glance

Micronesia, Federated States of is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 702 sq km. The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean; they became part of a UN Trust Territory under US administration following World War II. The eastern four island groups adopted a constitution in 1979 and chose to become the Federated States of Micronesia. (The fifth, westernmost island group became Palau.) Independence came in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
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