Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 8.8 years longer

In Rwanda, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Palau, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 9.5 times more likely to be obese

In Rwanda, 5.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Palau, that number is 55.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 5.3 times more money

Rwanda has a GDP per capita of $3,000 as of 2023, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $15,800 as of 2023.

be 88.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Rwanda, 14.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Palau, that number is 1.7% as of 2015.

be 34.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Rwanda, 38.2% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Palau, however, that number is 24.9% as of 2006.

Life

be 27.3% more likely to be literate

In Rwanda, the literacy rate is 75.9% as of 2021. In Palau, it is 96.6% as of 2015.

be 57.3% less likely to die during infancy

In Rwanda, approximately 26.4 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.

have 56.1% fewer children

In Rwanda, there are approximately 26.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Palau, there are 11.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 97.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In Rwanda, approximately 51% of people have electricity access (98% in urban areas, and 38% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Palau, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 24.0% more likely to have internet access

In Rwanda, approximately 30.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Palau, about 37.2% do as of 2021.

be 20.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Rwanda, approximately 83% of people have improved drinking water access (92% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Palau, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 78.9% more on education

Rwanda spends 3.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Palau spends 6.8% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 2.5 times more on healthcare

Rwanda spends 7.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Palau, that number is 18.4% of GDP as of 2020.

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 Rwanda? See an in-depth size comparison.

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