Palau

Country profile

CO2 emissions per person
12.8
t CO2/person/year · 2024
17th of 213 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
3.30
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
233rd of 241 countries

Climate

CO2 emissions

0.23 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+14% since 1994194th highest of 215 · 2024
00.10.21960198020002020high 2007

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

12.8 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+8.3% since 199417th highest of 213 · 2024
0510151960198020002020high 1990low 1956

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

0.04 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-82% since 1994189th highest of 199 · 2024
00.10.21850190019502000high 1994

Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

0.29 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-28% since 1994186th highest of 199 · 2024
00.20.41850190019502000high 1994

Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

0.03 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
180th highest of 201 · 2024
00.020.040.061850190019502000high 2012

N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

6.94 ha/year · 2024
-86% since 2001167th highest of 197 · 2024
0502005201020152020high 2014low 2015

Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

91.0 % of land · 2025
+6.5 pp since 19956th highest of 212 · 2025
0501990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

0.00 deaths/year · 2021
89th highest of 194 · 2021
-10120002005201020152020

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.66 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-30% since 1994226th highest of 244 · 2024
00.51200020102020

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

31.4 % of land area · 2024
+15 pp since 201331st highest of 213 · 2024
02040201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

3.49 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
+12% since 2002164th highest of 198 · 2023
0510152005201020152020high 2016low 2005

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

98.0 % of territorial waters · 2024
+98 pp since 20133rd highest of 174 · 2024
050100201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

79.3 % living in cities · 2025
+7.9 pp since 199574th highest of 236 · 2025
0501960198020002020Worldhigh 2012

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Safely managed drinking water

90.8 % of population · 2024
+25 pp since 200069th highest of 159 · 2024
05020002005201020152020World

The share of people with safe drinking water at home, available when needed and free from contamination. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

3.30 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
+6.5% since 1998233rd highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2015

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

Ozone-depleting substances

0.00 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
142nd highest of 168 · 2021
0501001990200020102020high 1999

Consumption of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Watch the map fade towards zero: the Montreal Protocol is the world's most successful environmental treaty. UN Environment Programme via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.