Population · Oceania
Papua New Guinea population 2026
Right now · estimate
Papua New Guinea population right now
11,010,904
- Births today
- 0
- Deaths today
- 0
- Births this year
- 216,063
- Births minus deaths this year
- +155,096
Papua New Guinea has an estimated 10,947,848 people on 1 July 2026, the UN's projection, 185,031 more than a year earlier (+1.72%). It is the 89th most populous country in the world. It is still growing and is projected to reach 14.9 million by 2050 and 18.6 million by 2100.
UN projection The counter interpolates the UN’s 1 July figures to the second; it is an estimate, not a count.
Papua New Guinea in numbers, 2026
- Births in 2026
- 257 thousand 705 a day
- Deaths in 2026
- 73 thousand 199 a day
- Net migration
- −534 more departures than arrivals
- Growth rate
- +1.68% growing
- Fertility rate
- 2.99per woman above replacement (2.1)
- Median age
- 23.0years world: 31.1
- Life expectancy
- 66.5years
- Aged 65 and over
- 3.7% 7.4% by 2050
Land, people and health
- Capital
- Port Moresby
- Area
- 462,840 km² 55th largest of 237
- Population density
- 24per km² 197th most crowded
- Urban population
- 16.2% 32.3% by 2050
- Men and women
- 5.6 million / 5.3 million 105.5 men per 100 women
- Life expectancy, women
- 69.5years men: 64.0 years
- Infant mortality
- 30.8per 1,000 births under-5: 38.1
- Birth rate
- 23.5per 1,000 death rate: 6.6
- Net migration rate
- 0.0per 1,000 net arrivals
Population of Papua New Guinea, 1950–2100
Still rising in 2100 on the UN medium projection. By 2050: 14.9 million (+36.2% from today).
- UN estimate
- UN projection
18.6M 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,543,429 |
| 1951 | 1,574,922 |
| 1952 | 1,609,537 |
| 1953 | 1,650,228 |
| 1954 | 1,693,504 |
| 1955 | 1,739,219 |
| 1956 | 1,787,439 |
| 1957 | 1,837,503 |
| 1958 | 1,888,964 |
| 1959 | 1,941,504 |
| 1960 | 1,995,110 |
| 1961 | 2,046,127 |
| 1962 | 2,093,919 |
| 1963 | 2,141,376 |
| 1964 | 2,188,326 |
| 1965 | 2,235,820 |
| 1966 | 2,285,774 |
| 1967 | 2,337,532 |
| 1968 | 2,390,804 |
| 1969 | 2,446,926 |
| 1970 | 2,505,628 |
| 1971 | 2,566,422 |
| 1972 | 2,628,432 |
| 1973 | 2,690,629 |
| 1974 | 2,752,671 |
| 1975 | 2,814,820 |
| 1976 | 2,877,327 |
| 1977 | 2,940,327 |
| 1978 | 3,003,714 |
| 1979 | 3,067,342 |
| 1980 | 3,131,512 |
| 1981 | 3,197,019 |
| 1982 | 3,264,291 |
| 1983 | 3,333,633 |
| 1984 | 3,405,198 |
| 1985 | 3,478,936 |
| 1986 | 3,554,793 |
| 1987 | 3,632,542 |
| 1988 | 3,711,880 |
| 1989 | 3,796,078 |
| 1990 | 3,896,480 |
| 1991 | 4,021,837 |
| 1992 | 4,166,700 |
| 1993 | 4,320,872 |
| 1994 | 4,480,208 |
| 1995 | 4,644,278 |
| 1996 | 4,813,362 |
| 1997 | 4,987,884 |
| 1998 | 5,166,390 |
| 1999 | 5,349,333 |
| 2000 | 5,537,064 |
| 2001 | 5,728,435 |
| 2002 | 5,924,004 |
| 2003 | 6,123,997 |
| 2004 | 6,328,041 |
| 2005 | 6,535,905 |
| 2006 | 6,747,720 |
| 2007 | 6,963,344 |
| 2008 | 7,183,002 |
| 2009 | 7,406,438 |
| 2010 | 7,633,523 |
| 2011 | 7,859,346 |
| 2012 | 8,081,390 |
| 2013 | 8,302,698 |
| 2014 | 8,523,441 |
| 2015 | 8,743,246 |
| 2016 | 8,961,718 |
| 2017 | 9,178,714 |
| 2018 | 9,394,513 |
| 2019 | 9,609,010 |
| 2020 | 9,815,746 |
| 2021 | 10,012,896 |
| 2022 | 10,203,170 |
| 2023 | 10,389,635 |
| 2024 * | 10,576,502 |
| 2025 * | 10,762,817 |
| 2026 * | 10,947,848 |
| 2027 * | 11,131,272 |
| 2028 * | 11,312,894 |
| 2029 * | 11,492,804 |
| 2030 * | 11,671,424 |
| 2031 * | 11,848,222 |
| 2032 * | 12,023,128 |
| 2033 * | 12,196,646 |
| 2034 * | 12,369,256 |
| 2035 * | 12,540,603 |
| 2036 * | 12,710,682 |
| 2037 * | 12,879,740 |
| 2038 * | 13,047,124 |
| 2039 * | 13,212,670 |
| 2040 * | 13,376,160 |
| 2041 * | 13,537,371 |
| 2042 * | 13,696,147 |
| 2043 * | 13,853,418 |
| 2044 * | 14,009,933 |
| 2045 * | 14,165,588 |
| 2046 * | 14,318,892 |
| 2047 * | 14,469,222 |
| 2048 * | 14,617,371 |
| 2049 * | 14,763,603 |
| 2050 * | 14,906,590 |
| 2051 * | 15,046,436 |
| 2052 * | 15,184,632 |
| 2053 * | 15,319,642 |
| 2054 * | 15,452,110 |
| 2055 * | 15,581,644 |
| 2056 * | 15,707,079 |
| 2057 * | 15,830,065 |
| 2058 * | 15,950,474 |
| 2059 * | 16,068,350 |
| 2060 * | 16,184,460 |
| 2061 * | 16,296,837 |
| 2062 * | 16,404,572 |
| 2063 * | 16,509,326 |
| 2064 * | 16,612,730 |
| 2065 * | 16,715,200 |
| 2066 * | 16,815,379 |
| 2067 * | 16,912,869 |
| 2068 * | 17,007,234 |
| 2069 * | 17,097,902 |
| 2070 * | 17,185,172 |
| 2071 * | 17,270,186 |
| 2072 * | 17,352,715 |
| 2073 * | 17,431,213 |
| 2074 * | 17,506,195 |
| 2075 * | 17,578,920 |
| 2076 * | 17,648,972 |
| 2077 * | 17,716,806 |
| 2078 * | 17,783,709 |
| 2079 * | 17,848,303 |
| 2080 * | 17,911,988 |
| 2081 * | 17,973,524 |
| 2082 * | 18,030,231 |
| 2083 * | 18,085,347 |
| 2084 * | 18,138,341 |
| 2085 * | 18,188,717 |
| 2086 * | 18,237,649 |
| 2087 * | 18,283,631 |
| 2088 * | 18,326,294 |
| 2089 * | 18,366,274 |
| 2090 * | 18,405,692 |
| 2091 * | 18,443,490 |
| 2092 * | 18,477,305 |
| 2093 * | 18,507,776 |
| 2094 * | 18,535,522 |
| 2095 * | 18,560,524 |
| 2096 * | 18,582,665 |
| 2097 * | 18,601,774 |
| 2098 * | 18,617,208 |
| 2099 * | 18,630,031 |
| 2100 * | 18,640,541 |
* UN projection
Population of Papua New Guinea by year
5.5 million in 2000, 10.9 million in 2026. Every year for the last decade, then every five years to 1950. * UN projection; earlier years are UN estimates.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 10,947,848 | +1.72% | +185,031 | −534 | 23.0 | 2.99 | 24 | 16% | 0.13% | 89 |
| 2025* | 10,762,817 | +1.76% | +186,315 | −284 | 22.8 | 3.03 | 24 | 16% | 0.13% | 90 |
| 2024* | 10,576,502 | +1.80% | +186,867 | −707 | 22.6 | 3.07 | 23 | 15% | 0.13% | 92 |
| 2023 | 10,389,635 | +1.83% | +186,465 | −787 | 22.3 | 3.10 | 23 | 15% | 0.13% | 93 |
| 2022 | 10,203,170 | +1.90% | +190,274 | −787 | 22.1 | 3.16 | 23 | 15% | 0.13% | 94 |
| 2021 | 10,012,896 | +2.01% | +197,150 | +10,703 | 21.9 | 3.21 | 22 | 14% | 0.13% | 93 |
| 2020 | 9,815,746 | +2.15% | +206,736 | +10,703 | 21.7 | 3.27 | 22 | 14% | 0.12% | 93 |
| 2019 | 9,609,010 | +2.28% | +214,497 | +22,978 | 21.5 | 3.32 | 21 | 14% | 0.12% | 94 |
| 2018 | 9,394,513 | +2.35% | +215,799 | +24,684 | 21.4 | 3.38 | 21 | 14% | 0.12% | 95 |
| 2017 | 9,178,714 | +2.42% | +216,996 | +26,513 | 21.2 | 3.43 | 20 | 14% | 0.12% | 96 |
| 2016 | 8,961,718 | +2.50% | +218,472 | +28,473 | 21.0 | 3.50 | 20 | 13% | 0.12% | 96 |
| 2015 | 8,743,246 | +2.58% | +219,805 | +30,580 | 20.8 | 3.56 | 19 | 13% | 0.12% | 95 |
| 2010 | 7,633,523 | +3.07% | +227,085 | +50,106 | 20.0 | 3.88 | 17 | 13% | 0.11% | 97 |
| 2005 | 6,535,905 | +3.28% | +207,864 | +46,014 | 19.3 | 4.22 | 14 | 13% | 0.10% | 101 |
| 2000 | 5,537,064 | +3.51% | +187,731 | +41,855 | 18.8 | 4.52 | 12 | 13% | 0.09% | 102 |
| 1995 | 4,644,278 | +3.66% | +164,070 | +40,962 | 18.2 | 4.78 | 10 | 14% | 0.08% | 110 |
| 1990 | 3,896,480 | +2.64% | +100,402 | +2,398 | 17.6 | 5.18 | 9 | 15% | 0.07% | 117 |
| 1985 | 3,478,936 | +2.17% | +73,738 | −25,470 | 17.3 | 5.47 | 8 | 14% | 0.07% | 118 |
| 1980 | 3,131,512 | +2.09% | +64,170 | −25,638 | 16.9 | 5.70 | 7 | 13% | 0.07% | 119 |
| 1975 | 2,814,820 | +2.26% | +62,149 | −23,562 | 16.1 | 6.06 | 6 | 13% | 0.07% | 119 |
| 1970 | 2,505,628 | +2.40% | +58,702 | −18,773 | 16.2 | 6.25 | 6 | 10% | 0.07% | 118 |
| 1965 | 2,235,820 | +2.17% | +47,494 | −18,532 | 16.8 | 6.20 | 5 | 5% | 0.07% | 119 |
| 1960 | 1,995,110 | +2.76% | +53,606 | −2,034 | 17.4 | 6.02 | 4 | 4% | 0.07% | 118 |
| 1955 | 1,739,219 | +2.70% | +45,715 | −605 | 17.8 | 5.82 | 4 | 2% | 0.06% | 118 |
| 1950 | 1,543,429 | – | – | −4,845 | 17.3 | 5.71 | 3 | 2% | 0.06% | 117 |
Population forecast for Papua New Guinea
UN medium-variant projection: 14.9 million in 2050 (+36.2% from 2026), 18.6 million in 2100.
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Net migrants | Median age | Fertility | Density (km²) | Urban | World share | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 11,671,424 | +1.55% | −1,184 | 23.9 | 2.84 | 26 | 18% | 0.14% | 89 |
| 2035 | 12,540,603 | +1.39% | −2,615 | 25.1 | 2.70 | 28 | 21% | 0.14% | 87 |
| 2040 | 13,376,160 | +1.24% | −2,220 | 26.3 | 2.56 | 30 | 24% | 0.15% | 86 |
| 2045 | 14,165,588 | +1.11% | +0 | 27.4 | 2.46 | 31 | 28% | 0.15% | 87 |
| 2050 | 14,906,590 | +0.97% | −1,787 | 28.5 | 2.36 | 33 | 32% | 0.15% | 85 |
| 2060 | 16,184,460 | +0.72% | +2,833 | 30.6 | 2.21 | 36 | – | 0.16% | 84 |
| 2070 | 17,185,172 | +0.51% | +1,596 | 32.4 | 2.10 | 38 | – | 0.17% | 83 |
| 2080 | 17,911,988 | +0.36% | +6,764 | 34.0 | 2.01 | 40 | – | 0.17% | 81 |
| 2090 | 18,405,692 | +0.21% | +6,116 | 35.6 | 1.94 | 41 | – | 0.18% | 81 |
| 2100 | 18,640,541 | +0.06% | −1,408 | 37.2 | 1.88 | 41 | – | 0.18% | 82 |
Largest cities in Papua New Guinea
Urban area in 2026: the whole built-up city, measured the same way for every country (UN, 2025). * UN projection. Largest cities in the world
| # | City | Population 2026 | 2050* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Moresby (capital) | 419,038 | 576,904 |
| 2 | Mendi | 135,666 | 206,086 |
| 3 | Lae | 122,284 | 135,778 |
| 4 | Mount Hagen | 108,887 | 179,796 |
| 5 | Goroka | 97,055 | 158,976 |
| 6 | Madang | 95,493 | 140,535 |
| 7 | Kundiawa | 90,065 | 158,709 |
| 8 | Tari | 66,969 | 111,074 |
| 9 | Ganigle | 60,573 | 96,176 |
| 10 | Wabag | 58,454 | 111,571 |
Age structure
Median age 23.0. 3.7% are 65 or older, 7.4% by 2050; 32.8% are under 15.
Share of the total population in each age group (%)
Births per woman
2.99 in 2026; about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration.
- UN estimate
- UN projection
1.9 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.71 |
| 1951 | 5.74 |
| 1952 | 5.76 |
| 1953 | 5.79 |
| 1954 | 5.78 |
| 1955 | 5.82 |
| 1956 | 5.84 |
| 1957 | 5.89 |
| 1958 | 5.93 |
| 1959 | 5.96 |
| 1960 | 6.02 |
| 1961 | 6.07 |
| 1962 | 6.14 |
| 1963 | 6.15 |
| 1964 | 6.19 |
| 1965 | 6.20 |
| 1966 | 6.23 |
| 1967 | 6.24 |
| 1968 | 6.25 |
| 1969 | 6.26 |
| 1970 | 6.25 |
| 1971 | 6.23 |
| 1972 | 6.20 |
| 1973 | 6.16 |
| 1974 | 6.11 |
| 1975 | 6.06 |
| 1976 | 6.02 |
| 1977 | 5.96 |
| 1978 | 5.88 |
| 1979 | 5.79 |
| 1980 | 5.70 |
| 1981 | 5.64 |
| 1982 | 5.59 |
| 1983 | 5.56 |
| 1984 | 5.51 |
| 1985 | 5.47 |
| 1986 | 5.42 |
| 1987 | 5.36 |
| 1988 | 5.30 |
| 1989 | 5.24 |
| 1990 | 5.18 |
| 1991 | 5.11 |
| 1992 | 5.03 |
| 1993 | 4.96 |
| 1994 | 4.87 |
| 1995 | 4.78 |
| 1996 | 4.73 |
| 1997 | 4.68 |
| 1998 | 4.63 |
| 1999 | 4.59 |
| 2000 | 4.52 |
| 2001 | 4.47 |
| 2002 | 4.42 |
| 2003 | 4.36 |
| 2004 | 4.28 |
| 2005 | 4.22 |
| 2006 | 4.15 |
| 2007 | 4.08 |
| 2008 | 4.01 |
| 2009 | 3.94 |
| 2010 | 3.88 |
| 2011 | 3.82 |
| 2012 | 3.75 |
| 2013 | 3.68 |
| 2014 | 3.63 |
| 2015 | 3.56 |
| 2016 | 3.50 |
| 2017 | 3.43 |
| 2018 | 3.38 |
| 2019 | 3.32 |
| 2020 | 3.27 |
| 2021 | 3.21 |
| 2022 | 3.16 |
| 2023 | 3.10 |
| 2024 * | 3.07 |
| 2025 * | 3.03 |
| 2026 * | 2.99 |
| 2027 * | 2.95 |
| 2028 * | 2.92 |
| 2029 * | 2.88 |
| 2030 * | 2.84 |
| 2031 * | 2.81 |
| 2032 * | 2.78 |
| 2033 * | 2.75 |
| 2034 * | 2.73 |
| 2035 * | 2.70 |
| 2036 * | 2.67 |
| 2037 * | 2.64 |
| 2038 * | 2.61 |
| 2039 * | 2.59 |
| 2040 * | 2.56 |
| 2041 * | 2.54 |
| 2042 * | 2.51 |
| 2043 * | 2.49 |
| 2044 * | 2.48 |
| 2045 * | 2.46 |
| 2046 * | 2.44 |
| 2047 * | 2.42 |
| 2048 * | 2.40 |
| 2049 * | 2.38 |
| 2050 * | 2.36 |
| 2051 * | 2.35 |
| 2052 * | 2.33 |
| 2053 * | 2.32 |
| 2054 * | 2.30 |
| 2055 * | 2.28 |
| 2056 * | 2.27 |
| 2057 * | 2.26 |
| 2058 * | 2.24 |
| 2059 * | 2.23 |
| 2060 * | 2.21 |
| 2061 * | 2.20 |
| 2062 * | 2.19 |
| 2063 * | 2.17 |
| 2064 * | 2.16 |
| 2065 * | 2.15 |
| 2066 * | 2.14 |
| 2067 * | 2.13 |
| 2068 * | 2.12 |
| 2069 * | 2.11 |
| 2070 * | 2.10 |
| 2071 * | 2.08 |
| 2072 * | 2.08 |
| 2073 * | 2.06 |
| 2074 * | 2.05 |
| 2075 * | 2.04 |
| 2076 * | 2.04 |
| 2077 * | 2.03 |
| 2078 * | 2.02 |
| 2079 * | 2.02 |
| 2080 * | 2.01 |
| 2081 * | 2.00 |
| 2082 * | 1.99 |
| 2083 * | 1.99 |
| 2084 * | 1.98 |
| 2085 * | 1.98 |
| 2086 * | 1.97 |
| 2087 * | 1.97 |
| 2088 * | 1.96 |
| 2089 * | 1.95 |
| 2090 * | 1.94 |
| 2091 * | 1.94 |
| 2092 * | 1.93 |
| 2093 * | 1.92 |
| 2094 * | 1.92 |
| 2095 * | 1.91 |
| 2096 * | 1.91 |
| 2097 * | 1.90 |
| 2098 * | 1.89 |
| 2099 * | 1.89 |
| 2100 * | 1.88 |
* UN projection
Births and deaths each year
Births outnumber deaths throughout the projection.
- Births
- Deaths
- UN estimate
- UN projection
229k 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | Births | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 70,878 | 33,095 |
| 1951 | 73,302 | 39,397 |
| 1952 | 75,413 | 33,333 |
| 1953 | 77,760 | 33,507 |
| 1954 | 79,275 | 33,628 |
| 1955 | 81,357 | 33,677 |
| 1956 | 83,090 | 33,736 |
| 1957 | 84,983 | 33,763 |
| 1958 | 86,703 | 33,762 |
| 1959 | 88,147 | 33,787 |
| 1960 | 90,039 | 33,713 |
| 1961 | 91,837 | 33,686 |
| 1962 | 94,032 | 34,058 |
| 1963 | 95,664 | 33,403 |
| 1964 | 97,772 | 33,214 |
| 1965 | 99,658 | 32,964 |
| 1966 | 101,912 | 32,706 |
| 1967 | 103,904 | 32,385 |
| 1968 | 106,077 | 32,093 |
| 1969 | 108,257 | 31,802 |
| 1970 | 110,231 | 31,519 |
| 1971 | 112,038 | 31,438 |
| 1972 | 113,724 | 31,053 |
| 1973 | 114,487 | 30,666 |
| 1974 | 115,114 | 30,284 |
| 1975 | 115,784 | 29,976 |
| 1976 | 116,660 | 29,697 |
| 1977 | 117,426 | 29,471 |
| 1978 | 118,071 | 29,322 |
| 1979 | 118,552 | 29,222 |
| 1980 | 119,454 | 29,188 |
| 1981 | 121,065 | 29,299 |
| 1982 | 123,065 | 29,543 |
| 1983 | 125,964 | 29,983 |
| 1984 | 128,393 | 30,289 |
| 1985 | 131,041 | 30,710 |
| 1986 | 133,480 | 31,134 |
| 1987 | 135,915 | 31,549 |
| 1988 | 138,329 | 32,074 |
| 1989 | 140,665 | 32,463 |
| 1990 | 142,993 | 32,961 |
| 1991 | 145,117 | 33,663 |
| 1992 | 149,107 | 34,286 |
| 1993 | 153,926 | 35,257 |
| 1994 | 158,228 | 36,113 |
| 1995 | 162,491 | 37,081 |
| 1996 | 168,046 | 38,243 |
| 1997 | 173,775 | 39,316 |
| 1998 | 179,540 | 42,863 |
| 1999 | 185,416 | 41,823 |
| 2000 | 190,600 | 43,107 |
| 2001 | 195,992 | 44,564 |
| 2002 | 201,313 | 46,224 |
| 2003 | 206,224 | 47,615 |
| 2004 | 210,128 | 49,105 |
| 2005 | 214,461 | 50,577 |
| 2006 | 218,370 | 51,830 |
| 2007 | 222,279 | 52,971 |
| 2008 | 226,613 | 53,796 |
| 2009 | 230,148 | 54,723 |
| 2010 | 234,608 | 55,608 |
| 2011 | 238,169 | 56,326 |
| 2012 | 240,841 | 57,184 |
| 2013 | 243,715 | 57,929 |
| 2014 | 246,323 | 58,727 |
| 2015 | 248,091 | 59,487 |
| 2016 | 249,721 | 60,439 |
| 2017 | 251,143 | 61,421 |
| 2018 | 253,242 | 62,576 |
| 2019 | 254,314 | 63,649 |
| 2020 | 256,111 | 66,981 |
| 2021 | 256,149 | 72,384 |
| 2022 | 256,716 | 69,848 |
| 2023 | 255,331 | 67,700 |
| 2024 * | 256,911 | 69,320 |
| 2025 * | 256,974 | 70,935 |
| 2026 * | 257,492 | 72,657 |
| 2027 * | 257,989 | 74,369 |
| 2028 * | 258,648 | 76,204 |
| 2029 * | 258,870 | 78,037 |
| 2030 * | 259,323 | 80,015 |
| 2031 * | 259,772 | 81,973 |
| 2032 * | 260,820 | 83,962 |
| 2033 * | 261,747 | 86,031 |
| 2034 * | 262,514 | 88,178 |
| 2035 * | 263,138 | 90,363 |
| 2036 * | 263,823 | 92,573 |
| 2037 * | 264,263 | 94,810 |
| 2038 * | 265,139 | 97,170 |
| 2039 * | 265,910 | 99,493 |
| 2040 * | 266,669 | 101,905 |
| 2041 * | 267,243 | 104,252 |
| 2042 * | 267,307 | 106,754 |
| 2043 * | 268,035 | 109,265 |
| 2044 * | 268,709 | 111,678 |
| 2045 * | 269,312 | 114,154 |
| 2046 * | 269,520 | 116,736 |
| 2047 * | 269,444 | 119,079 |
| 2048 * | 269,372 | 121,581 |
| 2049 * | 269,220 | 124,141 |
| 2050 * | 269,079 | 126,694 |
| 2051 * | 268,887 | 129,213 |
| 2052 * | 268,661 | 131,692 |
| 2053 * | 268,094 | 134,189 |
| 2054 * | 267,571 | 136,710 |
| 2055 * | 267,079 | 139,235 |
| 2056 * | 266,612 | 141,652 |
| 2057 * | 266,064 | 144,119 |
| 2058 * | 265,407 | 146,534 |
| 2059 * | 264,812 | 149,012 |
| 2060 * | 263,937 | 151,435 |
| 2061 * | 263,352 | 153,935 |
| 2062 * | 262,767 | 156,362 |
| 2063 * | 262,096 | 158,712 |
| 2064 * | 261,846 | 160,960 |
| 2065 * | 261,240 | 163,314 |
| 2066 * | 260,813 | 165,602 |
| 2067 * | 260,107 | 167,823 |
| 2068 * | 259,524 | 170,004 |
| 2069 * | 259,123 | 172,180 |
| 2070 * | 258,434 | 174,297 |
| 2071 * | 257,697 | 176,286 |
| 2072 * | 257,114 | 178,429 |
| 2073 * | 255,946 | 180,520 |
| 2074 * | 255,318 | 182,475 |
| 2075 * | 254,346 | 184,120 |
| 2076 * | 253,936 | 185,983 |
| 2077 * | 253,453 | 187,892 |
| 2078 * | 252,835 | 189,624 |
| 2079 * | 252,039 | 191,363 |
| 2080 * | 250,943 | 193,003 |
| 2081 * | 250,200 | 194,717 |
| 2082 * | 249,512 | 196,326 |
| 2083 * | 248,590 | 197,984 |
| 2084 * | 247,823 | 199,486 |
| 2085 * | 246,907 | 200,958 |
| 2086 * | 246,191 | 202,398 |
| 2087 * | 245,222 | 203,682 |
| 2088 * | 244,166 | 204,907 |
| 2089 * | 242,728 | 206,199 |
| 2090 * | 241,437 | 207,406 |
| 2091 * | 240,175 | 208,802 |
| 2092 * | 239,238 | 210,009 |
| 2093 * | 238,122 | 211,269 |
| 2094 * | 236,975 | 212,647 |
| 2095 * | 235,903 | 213,724 |
| 2096 * | 234,875 | 214,778 |
| 2097 * | 233,371 | 216,113 |
| 2098 * | 232,135 | 217,167 |
| 2099 * | 230,779 | 218,193 |
| 2100 * | 229,406 | 218,963 |
* UN projection
Economy of Papua New Guinea
GDP by country →- GDP 2026
- $36.3 billion 114th largest economy
- GDP per person
- $3,418 US$, market rates
- GDP per person (PPP)
- Int$ 4,923 at purchasing power parity
- Economic growth
- +3.1% real GDP
- Inflation
- 4.8% consumer prices
- Unemployment
- – of the labour force
- Government debt
- 46.8% of GDP
- Share of world GDP
- 0.0%
- IMF estimate
- IMF projection
45.8B 2026
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | GDP, US$ |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4,757,000,000 |
| 1991 | 5,596,000,000 |
| 1992 | 6,466,000,000 |
| 1993 | 7,349,000,000 |
| 1994 | 8,077,000,000 |
| 1995 | 7,149,000,000 |
| 1996 | 7,608,000,000 |
| 1997 | 7,272,000,000 |
| 1998 | 5,558,000,000 |
| 1999 | 5,072,000,000 |
| 2000 | 5,169,000,000 |
| 2001 | 4,531,000,000 |
| 2002 | 4,387,000,000 |
| 2003 | 5,488,000,000 |
| 2004 | 6,279,000,000 |
| 2005 | 7,339,000,000 |
| 2006 | 8,355,000,000 |
| 2007 | 9,545,000,000 |
| 2008 | 11,671,000,000 |
| 2009 | 11,619,000,000 |
| 2010 | 14,251,000,000 |
| 2011 | 17,985,000,000 |
| 2012 | 21,295,000,000 |
| 2013 | 21,261,000,000 |
| 2014 | 23,211,000,000 |
| 2015 | 21,723,000,000 |
| 2016 | 20,759,000,000 |
| 2017 | 22,743,000,000 |
| 2018 | 24,110,000,000 |
| 2019 | 24,751,000,000 |
| 2020 | 23,848,000,000 |
| 2021 | 26,113,000,000 |
| 2022 | 31,653,000,000 |
| 2023 | 30,729,000,000 |
| 2024 | 30,756,000,000 |
| 2025 | 33,098,000,000 |
| 2026 * | 36,296,000,000 |
| 2027 * | 37,766,000,000 |
| 2028 * | 39,539,000,000 |
| 2029 * | 41,257,000,000 |
| 2030 * | 43,258,000,000 |
| 2031 * | 45,797,000,000 |
* IMF projection
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026). 2026 and later are IMF projections. GDP per capita by country · Richest countries
CO₂ emissions of Papua New Guinea
CO₂ by country →- CO₂ emissions 2024
- 8.3 million tonnes 117th largest emitter
- Per person
- 0.79 t world: 4.73 t
- Share of world CO₂
- 0.02% 0.13% of its people
- Change since 1990
- +287% +67% since 2005
8.3 2024
› Show the numbers as a table
| Year | CO₂, million tonnes |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.06 |
| 1951 | 0.06 |
| 1952 | 0.08 |
| 1953 | 0.10 |
| 1954 | 0.10 |
| 1955 | 0.13 |
| 1956 | 0.13 |
| 1957 | 0.15 |
| 1958 | 0.15 |
| 1959 | 0.16 |
| 1960 | 0.18 |
| 1961 | 0.20 |
| 1962 | 0.20 |
| 1963 | 0.26 |
| 1964 | 0.27 |
| 1965 | 0.30 |
| 1966 | 0.34 |
| 1967 | 0.44 |
| 1968 | 0.50 |
| 1969 | 0.56 |
| 1970 | 0.69 |
| 1971 | 0.82 |
| 1972 | 1.27 |
| 1973 | 1.34 |
| 1974 | 1.59 |
| 1975 | 1.53 |
| 1976 | 1.57 |
| 1977 | 1.58 |
| 1978 | 1.67 |
| 1979 | 1.79 |
| 1980 | 1.83 |
| 1981 | 1.93 |
| 1982 | 1.95 |
| 1983 | 2.01 |
| 1984 | 2.04 |
| 1985 | 2.12 |
| 1986 | 2.06 |
| 1987 | 2.33 |
| 1988 | 2.20 |
| 1989 | 2.03 |
| 1990 | 2.15 |
| 1991 | 2.17 |
| 1992 | 2.19 |
| 1993 | 2.19 |
| 1994 | 2.19 |
| 1995 | 2.05 |
| 1996 | 2.20 |
| 1997 | 2.61 |
| 1998 | 3.54 |
| 1999 | 2.55 |
| 2000 | 2.94 |
| 2001 | 3.34 |
| 2002 | 3.67 |
| 2003 | 4.05 |
| 2004 | 4.69 |
| 2005 | 4.98 |
| 2006 | 5.05 |
| 2007 | 6.58 |
| 2008 | 5.54 |
| 2009 | 5.26 |
| 2010 | 4.71 |
| 2011 | 5.30 |
| 2012 | 4.37 |
| 2013 | 4.53 |
| 2014 | 6.12 |
| 2015 | 6.32 |
| 2016 | 7.02 |
| 2017 | 6.55 |
| 2018 | 7.60 |
| 2019 | 7.58 |
| 2020 | 7.91 |
| 2021 | 7.87 |
| 2022 | 8.44 |
| 2023 | 8.36 |
| 2024 | 8.35 |
By source, 2024
- Oil80.5%
- Gas19.3%
- Flaring0.2%
Fossil fuels and industry, territorial; Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ per capita by country · Historical emissions
Compare with Oceania
| Country | Population 2026 | Growth | Fertility | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea | 10.9 million | +1.68% | 2.99 | 23.0 |
| Australia | 27.2 million | +0.91% | 1.64 | 38.5 |
| New Zealand | 5.3 million | +0.65% | 1.64 | 38.0 |
| Timor Leste | 1.4 million | +1.31% | 2.50 | 22.1 |
| Fiji | 937 thousand | +0.43% | 2.23 | 28.3 |
| Solomon Islands | 858 thousand | +2.30% | 3.42 | 20.9 |
| Vanuatu | 343 thousand | +2.16% | 3.50 | 20.3 |
| New Caledonia | 298 thousand | +0.83% | 1.93 | 34.8 |
| French Polynesia | 283 thousand | +0.21% | 1.47 | 36.7 |
All 237 countries · Fertility rate by country · Birth rate by country · Median age by country · Life expectancy by country · Population growth rate by country · Population density by country · Largest countries by area · Death rate by country · Infant mortality rate by country · Elderly population by country · Net migration rate by country · Urban population by country · Sex ratio by country
Air quality in Papua New Guinea today
Hourly AQI and a 48-hour forecast for Port Moresby.
Questions
What is the population of Papua New Guinea in 2026?
10,947,848 on 1 July 2026, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 (medium-variant projection). That is 10.9 million people, +1.72% on 2025.
Is Papua New Guinea's population growing or shrinking?
Growing: 185,031 more people in 2026 than in 2025, with 705 births and 199 deaths a day and net migration of −534 a year.
When will Papua New Guinea's population peak?
Not this century on the UN's medium projection: 14.9 million in 2050 and 18.6 million in 2100, still rising.
What is the fertility rate in Papua New Guinea?
2.99 births per woman in 2026. A population replaces itself at about 2.1.
How many babies are born in Papua New Guinea every day?
About 705 a day (257 thousand in 2026), against about 199 deaths a day.
What is the life expectancy in Papua New Guinea?
66.5 years at birth in 2026: 69.5 for women and 64.0 for men, against a world average of 73.8.
How many men and women live in Papua New Guinea?
About 5.6 million men and 5.3 million women in 2026, or 105.5 men for every 100 women.
What is the population density of Papua New Guinea?
24 people per km² of land in 2026, on a total area of 462,840 km². The world average is 64.
What was the population of Papua New Guinea in 2000?
5,537,064 (5.5 million), the UN estimate for 1 July 2000. It has grown by 98% since, to 10.9 million in 2026.
What will the population of Papua New Guinea be in 2050?
About 14.9 million on the UN's medium projection (14,906,590), +36.2% from 2026; 18.6 million by 2100.
What are the largest cities in Papua New Guinea?
Port Moresby (419 thousand), Mendi (136 thousand), Lae (122 thousand), Mount Hagen (109 thousand), Goroka (97 thousand). UN figures for 2026, counting each city’s whole built-up area.
What is the GDP of Papua New Guinea in 2026?
$36.3 billion at current prices, the 114th largest economy in the world, on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (October 2026) figures; real growth of +3.1%.
What is Papua New Guinea's GDP per capita?
$3,418 per person at market exchange rates in 2026, or Int$ 4,923 at purchasing power parity, which adjusts for local prices.
How much CO₂ does Papua New Guinea emit?
8.3 million tonnes from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.79 t per person and 0.02% of the world total; oil is the largest source (80%).
Source and method
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant. Figures for 1950–2023 are UN estimates; later years are the medium-variant projection, which assumes fertility, mortality and migration follow their most likely paths. National statistics offices publish their own counts, which can differ. Reuse under CC BY 3.0 IGO. How we use the data.