PW
Trade & investment · East Asia & Pacific · High income
Palau: trade and investment
Exports is 32.7% (2024), 101st of 184 in the world and 16th of 32 in East Asia & Pacific. Imports is 73.1% (2024), 30th of 184 in the world and 9th of 32 in East Asia & Pacific. Trade openness is 105.8% (2024), 53rd of 184 in the world and 15th of 32 in East Asia & Pacific.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: Palau in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within East Asia & Pacific; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 32.7%2024 | 101/184 | 16/32 | · | 46.4% | 23.3% | −22.6 ppsince 2014 | 32.5% | 31.7% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 73.1%2024 | 30/184 | 9/32 | · | 76.7% | 81.1% | −17.4 ppsince 2014 | 28.5% | 30.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 105.8%2024 | 53/184 | 15/32 | · | 123.1% | 104.4% | −40.0 ppsince 2014 | 63.8% | 60.5% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -48.6%2023 | 184/185 | 29/29 | · | -10.1% | -43.9% | −35.7 ppsince 2013 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $3.0m2025 | 205/206 | 36/37 | $12.0m | $6.0m | $7.0m | −50%since 2015 | $9.2tn | $17.5tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 51.7%2018 | — | — | · | · | 51.7%2018 | — | 34.6% | 25.8% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.5%2017 | — | — | · | 0.1%2012 | · | — | 4.2% | 10.4% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 88.7%2018 | — | — | · | 86.3%2012 | 88.7%2018 | — | 4.4% | 8.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 9.5%2021 | 38/184 | 5/29 | · | 6.8% | 9.6% | +3.0 ppsince 2011 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 16.6%2025 | 10/197 | 3/32 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 17.0% | +4.3 ppsince 2015 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 0.8%2023 | 127/178 | 18/26 | · | 0.9% | 0.9% | −0.2 ppsince 2013 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 18,4002020 | 188/196 | 29/35 | 58,000 | 85,000 | 18,400 | −78%since 2010 | 491m | 1.5bn | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $123m2017 | 138/177 | 20/31 | · | $76.0m | · | +81%since 2007 | — | $1.2tn | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
Palau and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Palau. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Palau | Indonesia | Philippines | Micronesia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 32.7%2024 | 22.8%2025 | 26.6%2025 | 22.1%2025 |
| Imports | 73.1%2024 | 20.5%2025 | 40.2%2025 | 70.9%2025 |
| Trade openness | 105.8%2024 | 43.4%2025 | 66.8%2025 | 93.1%2025 |
| Current account | -48.6%2023 | -0.1%2025 | -3.5%2025 | 7.1%2014 |
| Merchandise exports | $3.0m2025 | $283bn2025 | $83.7bn2025 | $109m2025 |
| High-tech exports | 51.7%2018 | 8.7%2024 | 60.4%2024 | — |
| Fuel exports | 0.5%2017 | 16.0%2025 | 1.0%2025 | — |
| Food exports | 88.7%2018 | 22.9%2025 | 10.8%2025 | 99.2%2013 |
| Average tariff | 9.5%2021 | 1.8%2022 | 1.8%2022 | — |