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.

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.

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

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

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.

This is a subset of Population projections

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

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: % 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;

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

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

1) At administrative level 1 these tables do not refer to the National Capital District or to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The National Capital District is combined with the Central Province and Bougainville is combined with the North Solomons province.

2) The administrative unit P-codes found in these tables do not completely correspond with the P-codes found in the shapefiles available on HDX (here)[https://data.humdata.org/dataset/papua-new-guinea-admin-level-0-international-boundaries].

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

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

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.

Historical dataset showing Papua New Guinea population growth rate by year from 1961 to 2023.

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.

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;

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

Papua New Guinea: Rural population, percent of total population: The latest value from 2024 is 86.12 percent, a decline from 86.28 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 38.30 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Papua New Guinea from 1960 to 2024 is 87.94 percent. The minimum value, 85.01 percent, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 96.28 percent was recorded in 1960.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for Papua New Guinea (SLEMPTOTLSPZSPNG) from 1991 to 2024 about Papua New Guinea, employment-population ratio, population, and employment.