Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Palau: Ngerulmud — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud. Palau sits in Oceania, has a population of 18,055, and uses the USD. Official languages include Palauan, English.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Ngerulmud
  • Continent: Oceania
  • Population: ~18,055
  • Area: 459 km²
  • Population density: 39.3 people per km²
  • Official languages: Palauan, English
  • Currency: USD
  • ISO code: PW

How big is Palau?

By population, Palau ranks 194th in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 182nd.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Palau has 39.3 people per square kilometre, which is about 1.5 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within Oceania, Palau is the 12th most populous country of 14.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Palau in population are Nauru (12,668) and Tuvalu (11,312).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Seychelles (455 km²) and Andorra (468 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Palauan is listed as an official language of Palau alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.

The USD is not unique to Palau — it is also used by Ecuador, El Salvador, Marshall Islands and Micronesia, and 2 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.

How to remember Palau

Ngerulmud replaced Koror as the capital in 2006, so older answers may say Koror. For the flag, picture a full moon over the ocean, placed a little to one side.

The flag of Palau: light blue and yellow

🇵🇼 The flag is a light blue flag with a large yellow disc a little to the left of centre. The blue stands for the ocean and the yellow disc for the full moon, a symbol of peace, love and calm.

Region and neighbours

Palau is an island country in the western Pacific Ocean, in Micronesia, southeast of the Philippines. As an island country it has no land neighbours.

Three facts about Palau

  1. In 2009 Palau created the world's first shark sanctuary, banning commercial shark fishing in its waters.
  2. The Rock Islands Southern Lagoon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  3. In Jellyfish Lake, millions of golden jellyfish swim across the water every day.

Sources: Wikipedia: Palau, Wikipedia: Flag of Palau, Wikipedia: Ngerulmud, Wikipedia: Rock Islands, Wikipedia: Jellyfish Lake, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Palau

Palau capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Palau 🇵🇼?

    • Apia
    • Ngerulmud
    • Yaren
    • Honiara
    Show answer

    Ngerulmud

  2. What is the capital of Nauru 🇳🇷?

    • Yaren
    • Tarawa
    • Wellington
    • Canberra
    Show answer

    Yaren

  3. What is the capital of Tuvalu 🇹🇻?

    • Apia
    • Funafuti
    • NukuÊ»alofa
    • Port Vila
    Show answer

    Funafuti

  4. What is the capital of Marshall Islands 🇲🇭?

    • Majuro
    • Tarawa
    • Yaren
    • NukuÊ»alofa
    Show answer

    Majuro

  5. What is the capital of Tonga 🇹🇴?

    • Majuro
    • NukuÊ»alofa
    • Suva
    • Wellington
    Show answer

    Nukuʻalofa

Palau in Oceania

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Fiji.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Oceania is the block Palau belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Palau.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Palau?

The capital of Palau is Ngerulmud.

What is the population of Palau?

About 18,055, making it the 194th most populous country in the world.

How big is Palau?

459 square kilometres, ranking 182nd by land area, at a density of 39.3 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Palau use?

The USD, shared with 6 other countries.

What are the colours of the Palau flag?

The flag of Palau is a light blue flag with a large yellow disc a little to the left of centre. The blue stands for the ocean and the yellow disc for the full moon, a symbol of peace, love and calm.

Which countries border Palau?

None. Palau is an island country in the western Pacific Ocean, in Micronesia, southeast of the Philippines, so it has no land borders with other countries.

How can I remember the capital of Palau?

Ngerulmud replaced Koror as the capital in 2006, so older answers may say Koror. For the flag, picture a full moon over the ocean, placed a little to one side.

More capitals to learn

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