Urban and rural population in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Urban and rural population was 1.70 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban and rural population in Papua New Guinea, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Papua New Guinea stood at 1.70 million. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 46.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Papua New Guinea peaked at 1.70 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 26,238, in 1950.
Papua New Guinea ranks 140th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 38,950 | 26,238 | 61,073 | 10 |
| 1960s | 125,873 | 69,084 | 221,465 | 10 |
| 1970s | 345,176 | 256,501 | 401,044 | 10 |
| 1980s | 487,222 | 408,931 | 580,960 | 10 |
| 1990s | 658,796 | 599,110 | 712,304 | 10 |
| 2000s | 843,997 | 732,159 | 963,461 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 million | 992,525 | 1.34 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.54 million | 1.39 million | 1.70 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More population data for Papua New Guinea
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.048 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.15 million (2100)
- Population density 41.16 (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.048 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 3.07 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 7,732 (2024)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 3.07 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 3.07 (2024)
- Natural population growth 1.81 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 3.1 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Papua New Guinea?
- Urban and rural population in Papua New Guinea was 1.70 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.70 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 26,238 in 1950.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for urban and rural population?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 140th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).