Palau: crime and justice
2 answers, 1 from Palau's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
How many people are in prison in Palau?
77 people were held in Palau's prisons in 2021, a rate of 433 per 100,000 population, according to the Pacific Community's persons held in prisons data on the Pacific Data Hub. The figure was 94 (528 per 100,000) in 2019.
Rates per 100,000 swing widely in a population of under 18,000, so a few more or fewer prisoners change the rate noticeably. No more recent count was found. The President's July 2026 address says the FY2027 budget includes a 25% increase for the Bureau of Public Safety to complete and open a new prison in Babeldaob. No official recorded crime statistics were found on the government portal, checked on 15 October 2026.
International comparisons
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
How many murders are there in Palau?
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the intentional homicide rate in Palau was 11.2 per 100,000 in 2018. It is 1st highest of 13 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 1.1 per 100,000. Of 121 countries with 2018 data, 21st highest.
Official bodies in Palau
- Pacific Data Hub (Pacific Community)The Pacific Community's regional statistics database, carrying Palau's consumer price index, prison population and other series supplied by national offices.
- Government of the Republic of PalauThe national government portal, publishing the President's addresses, the national government pay scale and ministry pages.
More about Palau
- Economy
- Jobs and pay
- Cost of living
- Public finances
- Health and care
- Housing
- Immigration
- Education
- Environment
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error