Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 376 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
376 thousands
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
125th
of 233 countries
All-time high
376 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
25.95 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in Papua New Guinea, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Papua New Guinea recorded 376 thousands for population aged 65 years or older in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 54.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in Papua New Guinea peaked at 376 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 25.95 thousands, in 1970.
That places Papua New Guinea 125th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 25.95 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 26.74 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 27.61 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 28.22 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 29.02 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 30.05 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 31.35 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 32.95 thousands | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 34.91 thousands | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 37.25 thousands | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 40.02 thousands | +7.4% |
| 1981 | 43.26 thousands | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 46.83 thousands | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 50.67 thousands | +8.2% |
| 1984 | 54.73 thousands | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 58.98 thousands | +7.8% |
| 1986 | 63.36 thousands | +7.4% |
| 1987 | 67.8 thousands | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 72.26 thousands | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 76.62 thousands | +6.0% |
| 1990 | 81.19 thousands | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 86.82 thousands | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 92.28 thousands | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 97.69 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 103.07 thousands | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 108.47 thousands | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 113.89 thousands | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 119.41 thousands | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 125 thousands | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 130.56 thousands | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 136.34 thousands | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 142.17 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 148.8 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 155.4 thousands | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 161.99 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 168.57 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 175.15 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 181.81 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 188.65 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 195.73 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 203.13 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 210.88 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 218.74 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 226.59 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 234.98 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 243.78 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 253.63 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 264 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 275.07 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 286.92 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 299.36 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 311.29 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 323.72 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 338.88 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 356.87 thousands | +5.3% |
| 2025 | 376 thousands | +5.4% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 376 thousands is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 516.96 thousands, 73% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 376 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 105.87 thousands, 3.6× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.41 thousands | 25.95 thousands | 37.25 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 57.45 thousands | 40.02 thousands | 76.62 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 105.84 thousands | 81.19 thousands | 130.56 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 165.46 thousands | 136.34 thousands | 195.73 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 241.77 thousands | 203.13 thousands | 286.92 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 334.35 thousands | 299.36 thousands | 376 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More population data for Papua New Guinea
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0564 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.3478 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0564 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0669 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 14,910 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.58 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5424 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 41.16 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.15 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 65 years or older in Papua New Guinea?
- Population aged 65 years or older in Papua New Guinea was 376 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 376 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.95 thousands in 1970.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 125th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release