Country profile

Palau

East Asia & PacificHigh income18K inhabitants

Last updated December 1, 2025

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Microstate notice: This country is classified as a microstate (population under 300,000) and is indexed but not included in GEFRI global or regional rankings.

Composite GEFRI Score

Emerging readiness

Palau demonstrates early-stage readiness (69th percentile worldwide). Investments are generating initial gains, yet substantial gaps persist in several dimensions. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.

59.64Composite score
Global percentile
69th
Global rank
Not ranked (microstate)
Regional rank
Not ranked (microstate)
Viewing data for
Infrastructure
68.35
66th percentileGlobal avg. 56.53
Human Capital
51.37
55th percentileGlobal avg. 47.25
Innovation
37.76
41st percentileGlobal avg. 43.36
Governance
65.33
79th percentileGlobal avg. 47.71
Access & Parity
75.41
66th percentileGlobal avg. 49.41

Country profile

Palau performs close to the global average across all GEFRI dimensions. Progress is evident, yet stronger ambition is needed to reach futures readiness among global peers.

Uneven scores across dimensions highlight areas that need targeted coordination. High internet adoption enables broad participation in digital learning and innovation.

A large research workforce accelerates experimentation, technology adoption, and applied innovation. Gender parity across secondary pathways reflects sustained commitment to equitable participation.

Regionally, Palau leads most clearly in School Access and Gender Parity, sitting well above the peer average.

Note: Several indicators use imputed values. Policymakers and planners should validate results further before committing to major initiatives.

Key insights

  • Sits above the global median at the 69th percentile.
  • Scores range from Access & Parity (75.4) to Innovation (37.8), reflecting variation across dimensions.
  • Leads regional peers most clearly in Access & Parity.

Regional peers: East Asia & Pacific

Composite GEFRI score

Global rankRegional rankCountryScore
21Korea, Rep.79.60
32Singapore78.63
53Hong Kong SAR, China77.86
114Japan76.54
145Australia76.14
196New Zealand73.28
——Northern Mariana IslandsMicrostate61.56
487Brunei Darussalam61.48
498Thailand61.30
——New CaledoniaMicrostate61.09
529Indonesia60.44
——NauruMicrostate59.95
——GuamMicrostate59.92
——PalauMicrostate59.64
——American SamoaMicrostate59.42
——French PolynesiaMicrostate59.20
5910Macao SAR, China58.71
6311Viet Nam57.39
6912Fiji56.40
7013Mongolia56.30
7114Malaysia56.21
7315China55.14
8216Philippines52.74
——TuvaluFCSMicrostate51.67
——SamoaMicrostate50.98
——TongaMicrostate49.06
——KiribatiFCSMicrostate46.78
——Marshall IslandsFCSMicrostate46.17
10717Timor-LesteFCS44.20
——Micronesia, Fed. Sts.FCSMicrostate42.51
11218Vanuatu41.00
12219Korea, Dem. People's Rep.36.64
12620Cambodia35.43
12921MyanmarFCS33.80
13422Solomon IslandsFCS32.22
13823Lao PDR31.38
14524Papua New GuineaFCS28.17