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.

The annual population growth in Papua New Guinea decreased to 1.81 percent compared to the previous year. As a result, the population growth in Papua New Guinea saw its lowest number in 2023 with 1.81 percent. Population growth deals with the annual change in total population, and is affected by factors such as fertility, mortality, and migration.Find more key insights for the annual population growth in countries like New Zealand and Solomon Islands.

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 July of 2025.

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.

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

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, male (% of male population) in Papua New Guinea was reported at 3.3591 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Papua New Guinea - Population ages 65 and above, male (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2022, the population density in Papua New Guinea increased by *** inhabitants per square kilometer (+**** percent) compared to 2021. While the growth is slowing down, with ***** inhabitants per square kilometer, the population density is at its peak in the observed period. Notably, the population density continuously increased over the last years.Population density is calculated by dividing the total population by the total land area, to show the average number of people living there per square kilometer of land.

Population growth (annual %) in Papua New Guinea was reported at 1.811 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Papua New Guinea - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

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].

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, employment, and population.

This statistic shows the age structure in Papua New Guinea from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, about 33.8 percent of Papua New Guinea's total population were aged 0 to 14 years.

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;

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.

Individuals using the Internet (% of population) in Papua New Guinea was reported at 24.1 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Papua New Guinea - Individuals using the Internet (% of population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Papua New Guinea administrative level 0-3 2011 population statistics.
(Please see caveats.)

REFERENCE YEAR: 2011

See caveats

These population statistics .csv tables are suitable for database or GIS linkage to the shapefiles available in the Papua New Guinea - Subnational Administrative Boundaries HDX dataset.

Source: National Statistics Office 2011 Census results

Papua New Guinea population density for 2022 was 22.53, a 1.9% increase from 2021.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Papua New Guinea population density for 2021 was <strong>22.11</strong>, a <strong>2.01% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Papua New Guinea population density for 2020 was <strong>21.68</strong>, a <strong>2.15% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>Papua New Guinea population density for 2019 was <strong>21.22</strong>, a <strong>2.28% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
</ul>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.

In 2023, the share of urban population in Papua New Guinea remained nearly unchanged at around 13.72 percent. Still, the share reached its highest value in the observed period in 2023. A population may be defined as urban depending on the size (population or area) or population density of the village, town, or city. The urbanization rate then refers to the share of the total population who live in an urban setting. International comparisons may be inconsistent due to differing parameters for what constitutes an urban center.Find more key insights for the share of urban population in countries like Solomon Islands and Tonga.

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.