Moving to Sri Lanka from Palau

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Palau to Sri Lanka — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Palau to Sri Lanka, and you’d need to navigate life in Sinhala and Tamil. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Palau to Sri Lanka.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

per 100,000 people per year

PW
11.2
LK
3.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PW
22.2
LK
11.5

Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Palau across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PW
$1,857
LK
$507
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

PW
17.8
LK
11.9

Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Palau leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PW
82.8t
LK
1.1t

Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Palau across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PW
6.9
LK
10.1
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

PW
37.2%
LK
67.0%

Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Palau across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PW
1.7%
LK
6.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PW
$15,800
LK
$13,000

Palau generally does better on employment & economy, though Sri Lanka leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PW
74.6 yrs
LK
77.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PW
11.3
LK
8.2

Palau generally does better on family life, though Sri Lanka leads in life expectancy.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Palau and Sri Lanka. To live, work, or study long-term in Sri Lanka, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sri Lanka's immigration authority.

Palau passport

Palau passport holder visiting Sri Lanka

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Palau passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka passport

Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Palau

Visa on Arrival
Sri Lanka passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Palau.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sri Lanka?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sri Lanka has 10.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Sri Lanka safe for expats?

Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Sri Lanka is 3.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.2 in Palau.

How is healthcare in Sri Lanka compared to Palau?

Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Palau leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 11.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sri Lanka, compared to 17.8 in Palau. Sri Lanka scores 67 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Palau: 65).

What language do they speak in Sri Lanka?

The official languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. In Palau, the official languages are English and Palauan.

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At a Glance

PW LK
Population 21,695 23,187,516
Currency United States Dollar ($) Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Languages English, Palauan Sinhala, Tamil
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +680 +94
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119