The total population of Papua New Guinea was estimated at about 12.54 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the total population rose by approximately 9.58 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The total population will steadily rise by around 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.

Rural population (% of total population) in Papua New Guinea was reported at 86.12 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Papua New Guinea - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

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.

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.

Population ages 65 and above, female (% of female population) in Papua New Guinea was reported at 3.4682 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Papua New Guinea - Population ages 65 and above, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Population ages 0-14, male (% of male population) in Papua New Guinea was reported at 33.77 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Papua New Guinea - Population ages 0-14, male (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

The share of urban population in Papua New Guinea stood at 13.72 percent in 2023. Between 1960 and 2023, the share rose by 9.99 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

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

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

This statistic shows the median age of the population in Papua New Guinea from 1950 to 2100*.The median age is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. In 2020, the median age of the Papua New Guinean population was 21.7 years.

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].

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;

Population ages 65 and above, total in Papua New Guinea was reported at 366435 Persons in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Papua New Guinea - Total Population for Age 65 and above (only 2005 and 2010) (in number of people) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Population Ages 0 to 14 for Papua New Guinea (SPPOP0014TOZSPNG) from 1960 to 2024 about 0 to 14 years, Papua New Guinea, and population.

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.

Population ages 05-09, male (% of male population) in Papua New Guinea was reported at 11.28 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Papua New Guinea - Population ages 5-9, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.