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

Health

live 6.3 years longer

In Zimbabwe, the average life expectancy is 63 years (60 years for men, 65 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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see 18.0 times more spent on your healthcare

Zimbabwe spends $103 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Palau spends $1,857 as of 2023.

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have 13.3 times more doctors per person

Zimbabwe has 1.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Palau has 18.1 as of 2023.

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have 18.2% more access to essential health services

Zimbabwe scores 55 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Palau scores 65 as of 2021.

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be 2.8 times more likely to be obese

In Zimbabwe, 14.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Palau, that number is 40.5% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 6.5 times more money

Zimbabwe has a GDP per capita of $3,021 as of 2025, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $19,532 as of 2025.

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Life

be 75.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Zimbabwe, approximately 358.0 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 11.3% more likely to be literate

In Zimbabwe, the literacy rate is 89.7% as of 2021. In Palau, it is 99.8% as of 2020.

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be 70.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Zimbabwe, approximately 62.4 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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have 64.2% fewer children

In Zimbabwe, there are approximately 29.9 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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Basic Needs

be 61.3% more likely to have access to electricity

In Zimbabwe, approximately 62% of people have electricity access (84% in urban areas, and 51% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Palau, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Zimbabwe, approximately 41.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Palau, about 83.9% do as of 2024.

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be 48.1% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Zimbabwe, approximately 67% of people have access to drinking water (94% in urban areas, and 54% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Palau, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 9.1 times more on education

Zimbabwe spends 0.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Palau spends 3.4% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 3.7 times more on healthcare

Zimbabwe spends 2.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Palau, that number is 10.8% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 25.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Zimbabwe, road accidents kill 29.9 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 3.8 times more home broadband

Zimbabwe has 1.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Palau has 7.3 as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 107.6 times more CO2

Zimbabwe emits 0.8 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 (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021). 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 Zimbabwe? See an in-depth size comparison.

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