Rural population in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Rural population was 86.1% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
86.1%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
1st
of 214 countries
All-time high
90.2%
in 1970
All-time low
85.0%
in 1990
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Rural population in Papua New Guinea, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Papua New Guinea is 86.1%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Papua New Guinea peaked at 90.2% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 85.0%, in 1990.
That places Papua New Guinea 1st out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Rural population in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 90.2% | — |
| 1971 | 88.9% | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 88.7% | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 88.5% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 88.3% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 88.1% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 87.9% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 87.6% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 87.4% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 87.2% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 87.0% | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 86.8% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 86.6% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 86.4% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 86.2% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 86.0% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 85.8% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 85.6% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 85.4% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 85.2% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 85.0% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 85.2% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 85.4% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 85.6% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 85.7% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 85.9% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 86.1% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 86.3% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 86.5% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 86.6% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 86.8% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 86.8% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 86.8% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 86.9% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 86.9% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 86.9% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 86.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 86.9% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 86.9% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 87.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 87.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 87.0% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 87.0% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 87.0% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 87.0% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 87.0% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 87.0% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 86.9% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 86.8% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 86.8% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 86.7% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 86.5% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 86.4% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 86.3% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 86.1% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 88.3% | 87.2% | 90.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 86.1% | 85.2% | 87.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 85.8% | 85.0% | 86.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 86.9% | 86.8% | 87.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.9% | 86.8% | 87.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.4% | 86.1% | 86.7% | 5 |
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 rural population in Papua New Guinea?
- Rural population in Papua New Guinea was 86.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 90.2% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.0% in 1990.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for rural population?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 1st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release