Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Palau instead of Hong Kong, you would:

Health

live 9.0 years less

In Hong Kong, the average life expectancy is 84 years (81 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022. In Palau, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 56.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Hong Kong, 3.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Palau, that number is 1.7% as of 2015.

make 75.5% less money

Hong Kong has a GDP per capita of $64,400 as of 2023, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $15,800 as of 2023.

be 25.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Hong Kong, 19.9% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Palau, however, that number is 24.9% as of 2006.

Life

have 52.6% more children

In Hong Kong, there are approximately 7.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Palau, there are 11.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 4.4 times more likely to die during infancy

In Hong Kong, approximately 2.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Palau, on the other hand, 11.3 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 60.0% less likely to have internet access

In Hong Kong, approximately 93.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Palau, about 37.2% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 70.0% more on education

Hong Kong spends 4.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Palau spends 6.8% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

Geography

see 2.1 times more coastline

Hong Kong has a total of 733 km of coastline. In Palau, that number is 1,519 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

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 Hong Kong? See an in-depth size comparison.

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