Photo: Lukas from Munich, Germany derivative work: Inkey · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Palau: Governance & Institutions
How well is the state actually run?
Palau is placed 117th of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness 0.104 (2025); Statistical Performance Indicators 60.95 (2024).
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Governance & Institutions
117th
of 194 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Palau on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.104
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Higher is better
Palau: 0.104. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.
- World median
- 0.101
- Best in Micronesia
- 1.213 Guam
Key 2 of 4
Statistical Performance Indicators
World Bank Group
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
60.95
SPI overall score (0–100)
Higher is better
Palau: 60.95. Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.
- World median
- 69.3
- Best in Micronesia
- 60.95 Palau
Key 3 of 4
Corruption Perceptions Index
Transparency International
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
No reading
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Higher is better
Transparency International publishes no 2025 figure for Palau, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.
- World median
- 39
Key 4 of 4
Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Higher is better
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg publishes no 2025 figure for Palau, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.
- World median
- 0.676
02Over time
Which way Palau is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government Effectiveness
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) · higher is better
PalauWorld median
Palau rose from -0.422 in 2008 to 0.104 in 2025; the world median went from -0.213 to 0.101.
Every year’s figures
Year Palau World median 2025 0.1036 0.1006 2024 -0.0452 0.0098 2023 -0.0749 -0.0408 2022 -0.0750 -0.0305 2021 -0.0453 -0.0158 2020 -0.0466 -0.0171 2019 -0.0072 0.0150 2018 -0.0098 0.0159 2017 -0.3377 0.0158 2016 -0.3371 0.0225 2015 -0.3385 0.0038 2014 -0.2100 0.0194 2013 -0.2873 -0.0758 2012 -0.2853 -0.0839 2011 -0.2861 -0.1221 2010 -0.5372 -0.1145 2009 -0.4123 -0.1609 2008 -0.4219 -0.2134 2007 — -0.3260 2006 — -0.3310 2005 — -0.3706 2004 — -0.3140 2003 — -0.4369 2002 — -0.3366 2000 — -0.3969 Statistical Performance Indicators
SPI overall score (0–100) · higher is better
PalauWorld median
Palau rose from 53.63 in 2020 to 60.95 in 2024; the world median went from 62.91 to 69.3.
Every year’s figures
Year Palau World median 2024 61.0 69.30 2023 55.1 68.86 2022 51.7 67.99 2021 55.4 69.96 2020 53.6 62.91 2019 — 61.19 2018 — 61.17 2017 — 59.55 2016 — 56.25
03In context
Palau beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.
Palau and Micronesia
Palau has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 194; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Government EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) | Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100) | Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) | Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palau | 117th | 0.104 | 60.95 | — | — |
 Nauru | 147th | 0.079 | 47.94 | — | — |
 Kiribati | 157th | -0.365 | 50.04 | — | — |
 Micronesia | 158th | -0.073 | 37.1 | — | — |
 Marshall Islands | 167th | -0.353 | 43.54 | — | — |
 Guam | not placed | 1.213 | — | — | — |
 Northern Mariana Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Micronesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.
Placed either side on governance & institutions
The countries immediately above and below Palau in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Palau is ahead of the world, and behind
14 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median9
Statistics on which Palau does better than the middle country measured.
Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.4689.6850.46No earlier reading
Palau: 89.68 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.
Position 9th of 198 · derived.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.810080.8No earlier reading
Palau: 100 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1021.171-0.102No real change since 2015
Palau: 1.171 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 211 · derived.
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.5820.387▲ Improved since 2014
Palau: 0.582 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 33rd of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.193.252.1No earlier reading
Palau: 93.2 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0221.015-0.022▼ Worsened since 2015
Palau: 1.015 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.
Position 39th of 206 · derived.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0930.445-0.093▲ Improved since 2015
Palau: 0.445 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 60th of 209 · derived.
Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1970.513-0.197No real change since 2015
Palau: 0.513 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.
Position 70th of 211 · derived.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.985.643.9No earlier reading
Palau: 85.6 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which Palau does worse than the middle country measured.
Government Spending on EducationUIS · 2023 · world median 3.7093.4373.709▲ Improved since 2020
Palau: 3.437 · world median 3.709 · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 16.39; higher is better.
Position 70th of 123 · derived.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1923.840.19No earlier reading
Palau: 23.8 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 151st of 195 by Oxford Insights.
GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.2060.63▲ Improved since 2022
Palau: 0.206 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.
Position 170th of 196 · derived.
Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 81.2556.2581.25▼ Worsened since 2015
Palau: 56.25 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.125 to 100; higher is better.
Position 171st of 190 · derived.
Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance ScoreWorld Bank Group · 2018 · world median 2.250.252.25No earlier reading
Palau: 0.25 · world median 2.25 · Regulatory governance score (0–5, where 5 is the most transparent rule-making). World Bank Group, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; higher is better.
No current reading for Palau
Agriculture Orientation Index (last 2019), Bribery Incidence, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Central Bank Independence Index, Child and Family Benefit Coverage, Completeness of Birth Registration, Corruption Perceptions Index, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, Equal Protection Index, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public Officials, Foundational ID Ownership, General Government Consumption (last 2024), Government Funding per Primary Student, Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Liberal Democracy Index, Meritocratic Appointment in the State Administration, Neopatrimonial Rule Index, Open Data Inventory, Political Corruption Index, Public Sector Employment, Public Sector Wage Bill (last 2019), Rigorous and Impartial Public Administration, Senior Management Time Spent on Government Regulation, State Authority over Territory, State Capacity Index, State Fiscal Source of Revenue, Trade Union Density and V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Governance & Institutions among Palau’s 7 topics
Governance & Institutions is Palau’s 5th best-placed topic of 7. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Democracy & Civil Liberties14th of 1982/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 52nd of 1933/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge78th of 1983/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital81st of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions117th of 1942/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing138th of 2003/4 keys
- Digital & Technology184th of 1983/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Work & Labour, Environment & Sustainability, Gender & Equality, Peace & Security, Mobility & Trade, Food & Agriculture, Poverty & Inequality, Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on governance & institutions
The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Palau can most readily be measured against.
1
DenmarkNorthern Europe
1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand
2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale
3
SwedenNorthern Europe
3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
New Zealand2nd4/4 keysHighest in Micronesia
Palau117th2/4 keys
Positions out of 194 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Palau and governance & institutions
08Questions
Palau on governance & institutions: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Palau rank on governance & institutions?
Palau is placed 117th of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness and Statistical Performance Indicators). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for Palau?
0.104 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.
What is the latest Statistical Performance Indicators figure for Palau?
60.95 in 2024 (sPI overall score (0–100)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 69.3.
How have Palau’s governance & institutions figures changed?
Government Effectiveness rose from -0.422 in 2008 to 0.104 in 2025; Statistical Performance Indicators rose from 53.63 in 2020 to 60.95 in 2024.
Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Palau?
No current reading is published for Palau on Agriculture Orientation Index, Bribery Incidence, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Central Bank Independence Index, Child and Family Benefit Coverage, Completeness of Birth Registration, Corruption Perceptions Index, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, Equal Protection Index, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public Officials, Foundational ID Ownership, General Government Consumption, Government Funding per Primary Student, Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Liberal Democracy Index, Meritocratic Appointment in the State Administration, Neopatrimonial Rule Index, Open Data Inventory, Political Corruption Index, Public Sector Employment, Public Sector Wage Bill, Rigorous and Impartial Public Administration, Senior Management Time Spent on Government Regulation, State Authority over Territory, State Capacity Index, State Fiscal Source of Revenue, Trade Union Density and V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.
How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The governance & institutions method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Government Effectiveness — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Statistical Performance Indicators — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Corruption Perceptions Index — Transparency International, CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
- Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 14 statistics on this page come from 6 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Palau’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Palau (banner) — Lukas from Munich, Germany derivative work: Inkey, CC BY 2.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
- New Zealand — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Sweden — User:Pieter Kuiper, Public domain
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Palau: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/palau/governance