Palau: low across the board; strong nature keeps overall risk contained. Its overall risk score is 39 out of 100 (low), blended from World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.

What drives Palau's risk?

Palau's highest pressures are governance (59, medium) and adaptation (56). Its strongest area is nature (24).

How might Palau's climate change by 2080?

Palau's climate zones stay broadly stable through 2080 even under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5); its Koppen-based climate-hazard pressure index holds near 76 out of 100. This forward-looking outlook is separate from the historical ND-GAIN scores.

How much will sea levels rise along Palau's coast?

Coastal sea level along Palau is projected to rise by +0.83 m by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), and by about +0.61 m under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5). Based on the regional median of IPCC AR6 projections.

How will water stress change in Palau?

The share of Palau under high water stress is projected to move from 0% today to 0% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct projections.

How will river-flood exposure change in Palau?

The share of Palau exposed to river flooding is projected to move from 0% today to 0% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct riverine-flood projections.

When was Palau's risk data last updated?

Updated September 2026, drawing on World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.

Palau Climate risk profile and hazard map

Region: Oceania
Subregion: Micronesia
Income: Upper middle income
ISO: PLW

Palau: low across the board; strong nature keeps overall risk contained.

Live events

Hourly disaster feed, shown alongside the standing risk below. Open the live map

How risky is Palau, overall?

The composite and its five dimensions. Higher means more risk.

Low 39 / 100

27 Climate Low
24 Nature +0.6 Low
30 Social Low
59 Governance Medium
56 Adaptation +1.1 Medium

Which hazards threaten Palau most?

Physical hazard intensity. INFORM Risk Index, 0 to 10.

0.0FloodVery low
4.9DRR capacityMedium

Palau in global context

Risk-ranked against its cohorts. Click any country to open its page.

Micronesia

#1 of 5 · median 45

Oceania

#3 of 14 · median 43

Upper middle income

#11 of 53 · median 44

Put two countries head to head

Compare with any neighbour on all risks and their 5-year trajectory.

Compare Score a site here

Palau: outlook from 2050 to 2100

Projected physical change under a moderate (SSP2-4.5) and a high (SSP5-8.5) emissions pathway.

Water stress

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: 0% → 0%
Current path SSP3-7.0: 0% → 0%

Share of land under high or extreme water stress; 0% today.

River flooding

20502080

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: 0% → 0%
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: 0% → 0%

Land exposed to a 100-year river flood; 0% today.

Sea level

Palau: under high emissions, a 100-year coastal flood in 2080 could reach 1 of its largest cities.

Koror, Max depth 1.4 mFlood depth3 mOpen the live map© OpenStreetMap

Coastal sea-level rise

20502100

Higher emissions SSP5-8.5: +0.24 m → +0.83 m
Lower emissions SSP2-4.5: +0.21 m → +0.61 m

Largest exposed cities

PopulationMax depth

Max depth: the deepest water within 12 km of the city center in a 100-year coastal flood in 2080, under RCP8.5 with high-end sea-level rise (95th percentile), ignoring flood defenses and land subsidence. Source: WRI Aqueduct Floods.

Regional estimate for the country's coast (IPCC AR6 median), not the global average.

Projections from public CMIP6 (WorldClim 2.1, 5-model median, against a 1970-2000 baseline), WRI Aqueduct 4.0 and IPCC AR6 data. Monthly and bioclimatic aggregates, not daily-threshold indices. Forward-looking estimates, not a re-scored site risk.

Indicator panel

Every source-level indicator behind the dimensions above. Sort by score, value, or name.

		Year		vs world	vs region
Energy Intensity	13.8 MJ/$2017 PPP GDP	2022	100.0	+80.8	+66.3
Renewable Energy Share	0.90 % of total energy	2022	100.0	+31.6	+18.8
Renewable Electricity Share	4.60 % of total	2021	95.4	+20.3	+11.5
Coastal Protection Needed	94.0 % coast	2020	92.2	+7.9	-2.1
Cooling Degree Days	6070 degree days	2020	83.1	+31.3	+12.3
Access to Clean Fuels	29.4 % population	2022	70.5	+60.3	+18.4
Land Surface Temperature	26.5 deg C change	2021	63.4	-1.3	+0.5
CO2 Emissions Per Capita	8.89 metric tons	2020	28.3	+20.6	+25.1
PM2.5 Air Pollution	7.33 ug/m3	2020	3.0	-16.2	-5.4
N2O Emissions Per Capita	0.00 kt CO2e per capita	2020	0.0	-7.0	-4.5
Flood Risk	0.00 0-10	2026	0.0	-52.0	0.0
Heating Degree Days	0.00 degree days	2020	0.0	-1.4	0.0
Heat Index	0.00 index	2020	0.0	-0.1	0.0
Coal Electricity Share	0.00 % of total	2021	0.0	0.0	0.0

		Year		vs world	vs region
Projected Sea Level Rise Impact	1.00 0-1	2023	100.0	+86.5	+12.2
Environmental Treaties Engagement	0.97 0-1	2023	96.8	+20.5	+11.2
Projected Cereal Yield Change	0.91 0-1	2023	90.7	+4.2	+0.3
Urban Concentration	0.81 0-1	2023	81.0	+23.6	+26.0
Population Below 5m	0.74 0-1	2023	74.2	+59.5	-25.8
Health Expenditure Per Capita	0.74 0-1	2023	73.5	-10.7	-11.7
Dependency Ratio	0.71 0-1	2023	70.5	+63.7	-19.0
Projected Vector Disease Change	0.66 0-1	2023	65.8	0.0	0.0
Projected Warm Period Change	0.64 0-1	2023	63.7	-4.0	-5.3
Agricultural Capacity	0.50 0-1	2023	49.7	-42.1	-43.4
Tsunami Risk	4.40 0-10	2026	44.0	+33.0	-15.5
Projected Flood Hazard Change	0.44 0-1	2023	43.6	+25.3	+13.9
Age Dependency Ratio	0.37 0-1	2023	37.1	-15.6	-24.3
Food Import Dependency	0.36 0-1	2023	36.3	+14.6	+0.6
Projected Marine Biodiversity Loss	0.30 0-1	2023	30.5	-6.8	-57.0
Disaster Preparedness	0.28 0-1	2023	27.5	-2.5	-12.5
Projected Population Change	0.22 0-1	2023	22.0	-0.3	+1.9
Rural Population	0.19 0-1	2023	19.0	-23.6	-26.0
Agricultural Land	9.35 % of land	2022	10.6	-36.7	-11.3
Access to Reliable Drinking Water	0.10 0-1	2023	9.7	-10.7	-49.3
Projected Climate-Related Deaths	0.09 0-1	2023	9.1	-21.2	0.0
Agriculture GDP Share	2.99 % of GDP	2023	8.3	-10.6	-31.6
Forest Area	90.4 % of land	2022	4.4	-61.9	-48.1
Threatened Mammal Species	4.00 count	2018	2.1	-3.1	-0.3
Earthquake Risk	0.10 0-10	2026	1.0	-34.0	-14.5
Tree Cover Loss	3.00 hectares	2021	0.0	-0.1	0.0
Protected Areas	100 % of land	2023	0.0	-88.9	-99.7
Water Dependency Ratio	0.00 0-1	2023	0.0	-6.9	0.0
Electricity Access	0.00 0-1	2023	0.0	0.0	0.0

		Year		vs world	vs region
Overweight Adults	71.3 % adults	2022	76.0	+20.0	-0.3
Education Expenditure	9.53 % of govt	2023	63.2	+16.1	+16.3
Aid Dependency	6.30 0-10	2026	63.0	+38.0	+2.5
Net Migration	-19.0 persons	2023	55.0	0.0	0.0
Life Expectancy	69.3 years	2023	53.6	+14.1	-3.0
GDP Growth	1.88 % annual	2023	50.5	+1.6	+0.8
School Gender Parity	1.04 ratio	2020	43.5	-13.4	-5.0
Primary School Enrollment	95.9 % gross	2023	43.4	+1.4	+4.6
ESG Performance Score	2.07 0-100	2018	39.7	+14.7	+16.1
Aging Population	10.9 % population	2023	26.7	+10.3	+14.8
Development and Deprivation	2.30 0-10	2026	23.0	-7.0	-18.5
Fertility Rate	1.91 births per woman	2023	21.9	-1.4	-22.3
Under-5 Mortality Rate	22.3 per 1,000	2023	18.4	+6.2	+1.8
Children Under 5	1.60 0-10	2026	16.0	+5.0	0.0
Uprooted People	1.20 0-10	2026	12.0	-47.0	+12.0
Safe Drinking Water	90.4 % population	2022	10.2	-11.3	-51.7
Food Security	1.00 0-10	2026	10.0	-8.0	0.0
Health Conditions	0.30 0-10	2026	3.0	-5.0	-37.0
Population Density	38.6 people/km2	2022	0.2	-0.3	-0.1
Recent Shocks	0.00 0-10	2026	0.0	-1.0	-1.0
Access to Electricity	100 % population	2023	0.0	0.0	0.0

		Year		vs world	vs region
Scientific Articles	6.45 count	2022	100.0	+0.1	0.0
Women in Parliament	6.25 % seats	2023	89.8	+31.6	+5.0
INFORM Governance Index	5.00 0-10	2026	50.0	-6.0	-2.5
Disaster Risk Reduction	4.90 0-10	2026	49.0	+7.5	+5.0
Regulatory Quality	0.40 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	42.0	-10.8	-12.6
Government Effectiveness	0.44 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	41.2	-10.5	-8.8
Control of Corruption	0.59 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	38.2	-17.4	-0.8
Rule of Law	0.94 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	31.3	-21.7	-6.3
Healthcare Access	2.90 0-10	2026	29.0	-8.0	-16.0
Political Stability	1.08 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	28.4	-21.4	0.0
Voice and Accountability	1.09 -2.5 to +2.5	2023	28.3	-20.6	-0.6
Legal Rights Strength	10.0 0-12	2019	16.7	-33.3	0.0
Physical Infrastructure	1.40 0-10	2026	14.0	-16.0	-9.0
Communication Infrastructure	1.20 0-10	2026	12.0	-8.0	-12.5

		Year		vs world	vs region
Education (Readiness)	0.21 0-1	2023	79.3	+6.3	+5.0
Doing Business Score	0.38 0-1	2023	62.5	+4.1	+1.7
ICT Infrastructure	0.42 0-1	2023	58.5	+10.8	+1.4
Control of Corruption (Readiness)	0.56 0-1	2023	44.0	-20.3	-0.9
Rule of Law (Readiness)	0.58 0-1	2023	41.6	-11.0	-12.5
Regulatory Quality (Readiness)	0.69 0-1	2023	30.7	-21.3	-6.3
Political Stability (Readiness)	0.76 0-1	2023	24.4	-18.7	0.0

These indicators have site-level resolution. Score your exact location.

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But what about your location?

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Where exactly?

Type an address, city, or landmark and we resolve it to a precise risk profile for that point.

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Map of Palau — Pinpoint on the map Open the map

Common questions

Answer-first, drawn from the same data above.

How risky is Palau?
Palau: low across the board; strong nature keeps overall risk contained. Its overall risk score is 39 out of 100 (low), blended from World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.
What drives Palau's risk?
Palau's highest pressures are governance (59, medium) and adaptation (56). Its strongest area is nature (24).
How might Palau's climate change by 2080?
Palau's climate zones stay broadly stable through 2080 even under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5); its Koppen-based climate-hazard pressure index holds near 76 out of 100. This forward-looking outlook is separate from the historical ND-GAIN scores.
How much will sea levels rise along Palau's coast?
Coastal sea level along Palau is projected to rise by +0.83 m by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5), and by about +0.61 m under lower emissions (SSP2-4.5). Based on the regional median of IPCC AR6 projections.
How will water stress change in Palau?
The share of Palau under high water stress is projected to move from 0% today to 0% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct projections.
How will river-flood exposure change in Palau?
The share of Palau exposed to river flooding is projected to move from 0% today to 0% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Based on WRI Aqueduct riverine-flood projections.
When was Palau's risk data last updated?
Updated September 2026, drawing on World Bank, INFORM Risk Index and ND-GAIN Country Index.