The total population of Papua New Guinea was estimated at 12.54 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the total population rose by 9.58 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The total population will steadily rise by 1.67 million people over the period from 2024 to 2030, reflecting a clear upward trend.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Papua New Guinea (POPTOTPGA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about Papua New Guinea and population.

In 2023, the annual population growth in Papua New Guinea stood at 1.81 percent. Between 1961 and 2023, the figure dropped by 0.71 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

The total population in Papua New Guinea was estimated at 10.6 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Papua New Guinea Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Actual value and historical data chart for Papua New Guinea Rural Population Percent Of Total Population

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Papua New Guinea (SPPOPGROWPNG) from 1961 to 2024 about Papua New Guinea, population, and rate.

Historical dataset showing total population for Papua New Guinea by year from 1950 to 2025.

Complete population data for Papua New Guinea showing how many people live in Papua New Guinea from 1960 to 2024

Monthly and long-term Papua New Guinea Population data: historical series and analyst forecasts curated by FocusEconomics.

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Population projections for Pacific Island Countries and territories from 1950 to 2050, by sex and by 5-years age groups.

This project was initiated in 2021 to generate modelled population estimates for Papua New Guinea (PNG) to support their census preparations. It was powered by the Australian Government through the PNGAus partnership, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)and the PNG National Statistical Office. The project team combined recent 2019-2021 malaria bednet campaign data, urban structural listing 2021 data, and geospatial covariates to model and estimate population numbers at census unit level, and aggregate at other relevant administrative units (e.g., national, province, and districts) using a Bayesian statistical hierarchical modelling framework. The approach facilitated simultaneous accounting for the multiple levels of variability within the data hierarchy. It also allowed the quantification of uncertainties in parameter estimates. These model-based population estimates can be considered as most accurately representing the years 2020-21. This time period corresponds to the malaria survey and urban structural listing survey observations (2019-2021; median year: 2020) and the period of the satellite imagery used to generate settlement footprints (2021). Although the methods were robust enough to explicitly account for key random biases within the datasets, it is noted that systematic biases, which may arise from sources other than random errors within the observed data collection process, are most likely to remain. These data were produced by the WorldPop Research Group at the University of Southampton in collaboration with the National Statistical Office of PNG and UNFPA under the project called “Population-modelled estimation for Papua New Guinea in collaboration with the National Statistical Office, 2021-22” (PNG40-0000004504). The final statistical modelling was designed, developed, and implemented by Chris Nnanatu. Data processing was done by Amy Bonnie with additional support from Tom Abbott, Tom McKeen, Heather Chamberlain, Ortis Yankey, Duygu Cihan and Assane Gadiaga. Project oversight was done by Attila Lazar and Andy Tatem. Household survey listing data were provided by the National Statistical Office, and the settlement footprint was generated by Planet.

The population density in Papua New Guinea was ***** people in 2022. In a steady upward trend, the population density rose by ***** people from 1961.

Papua New Guinea PG: Rural Population Growth data was reported at 1.975 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.020 % for 2016. Papua New Guinea PG: Rural Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.399 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.812 % in 1998 and a record low of 1.109 % in 1971. Papua New Guinea PG: Rural Population Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Papua New Guinea – Table PG.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Yearly (annual) dataset of the Papua New Guinea Population, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1960-12-31 to 2024-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Historical dataset showing Papua New Guinea population density by year from 1961 to 2022.

Papua New Guinea PG: Rural Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 86.898 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 86.950 % for 2016. Papua New Guinea PG: Rural Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 86.947 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 96.275 % in 1960 and a record low of 85.006 % in 1990. Papua New Guinea PG: Rural Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Papua New Guinea – Table PG.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Papua New Guinea PG: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data was reported at 0.338 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.371 % for 2010. Papua New Guinea PG: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.480 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.787 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.338 % in 2015. Papua New Guinea PG: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Papua New Guinea – Table PG.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.; ; United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2008 Revision.; Weighted average;

Papua New Guinea PG: Population: Growth data was reported at 2.034 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.064 % for 2016. Papua New Guinea PG: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.523 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.807 % in 1982 and a record low of 2.009 % in 1960. Papua New Guinea PG: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Papua New Guinea – Table PG.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Papua New Guinea PG: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 18.220 Person/sq km in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 17.853 Person/sq km for 2016. Papua New Guinea PG: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 9.287 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.220 Person/sq km in 2017 and a record low of 4.531 Person/sq km in 1961. Papua New Guinea PG: Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Papua New Guinea – Table PG.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted average;

Papua New Guinea PG: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 2.432 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.356 % for 2016. Papua New Guinea PG: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 3.910 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.272 % in 1967 and a record low of 1.242 % in 1992. Papua New Guinea PG: Urban Population Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Papua New Guinea – Table PG.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;