Population in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Population was 10.39 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
10.39 million people
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
93rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
10.39 million people
in 2023
All-time low
1.54 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Papua New Guinea, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Papua New Guinea stood at 10.39 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Papua New Guinea peaked at 10.39 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.54 million people, in 1950.
That places Papua New Guinea 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, 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 in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.54 million people | — |
| 1951 | 1.57 million people | +2.0% |
| 1952 | 1.61 million people | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 1.65 million people | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 1.69 million people | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 1.74 million people | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 1.79 million people | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 1.84 million people | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 1.89 million people | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 1.94 million people | +2.8% |
| 1960 | 2.00 million people | +2.8% |
| 1961 | 2.05 million people | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 2.09 million people | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 2.14 million people | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 2.19 million people | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 2.24 million people | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 2.29 million people | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 2.34 million people | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 2.39 million people | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 2.45 million people | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 2.51 million people | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 2.57 million people | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 2.63 million people | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 2.69 million people | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 2.75 million people | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 2.81 million people | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 2.88 million people | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 2.94 million people | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 3.00 million people | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 3.07 million people | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 3.13 million people | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 3.20 million people | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 3.26 million people | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 3.33 million people | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 3.41 million people | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 3.48 million people | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 3.55 million people | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 3.63 million people | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 3.71 million people | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 3.80 million people | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 3.90 million people | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 4.02 million people | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 4.17 million people | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 4.32 million people | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 4.48 million people | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 4.64 million people | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 4.81 million people | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 4.99 million people | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 5.17 million people | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 5.35 million people | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 5.54 million people | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 5.73 million people | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 5.92 million people | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 6.12 million people | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 6.33 million people | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 6.54 million people | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 6.75 million people | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 6.96 million people | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 7.18 million people | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 7.41 million people | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 7.63 million people | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 7.86 million people | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 8.08 million people | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 8.30 million people | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 8.52 million people | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 8.74 million people | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 8.96 million people | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 9.18 million people | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 9.39 million people | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 9.61 million people | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 9.82 million people | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 10.01 million people | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 10.20 million people | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 10.39 million people | +1.8% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 10.39 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million people, 85% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 10.39 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million people, 7.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.73 million people | 1.54 million people | 1.94 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.22 million people | 2.00 million people | 2.45 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.78 million people | 2.51 million people | 3.07 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.45 million people | 3.13 million people | 3.80 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.58 million people | 3.90 million people | 5.35 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.45 million people | 5.54 million people | 7.41 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.63 million people | 7.63 million people | 9.61 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.11 million people | 9.82 million people | 10.39 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More population data for Papua New Guinea
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0669 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0564 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.15 million people (2100)
- Population density 41.16 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5424 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.58 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Papua New Guinea?
- Population in Papua New Guinea was 10.39 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 10.39 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.54 million people in 1950.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for population?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.