Skip to main content
Population Review

Rank #148 by World Population

🇵🇬Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea has a population of 10,389,635, ranking #148 in the world. The capital is Port Moresby. Located in East Asia & Pacific.

World Bank: Lower middle income

10,389,635

Population

#148

World Rank

66.1

Life Expectancy

$2,966

GDP Per Capita

Papua New Guinea, #148 by world population

Papua New Guinea Population History (1960-2024)

The country of Papua New Guinea had a population of 1,995,110 in 1960 and 10,576,502 in 2024, a 5.3× growth over 64 years. The peak was 10,576,502 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 2.64%.

2024 · 11M19602024
Papua New Guinea population, 1960–2024 · Source: U.S. Census Bureau — decennial census & Population Estimates

10,576,502

Population (2024)

1,995,110

Population (1960)

10,576,502

Peak (2024)

2.64%

Avg Annual Growth

YearPopulation
19601,995,110
19612,046,127
19622,093,919
19632,141,376
19642,188,325
19652,235,820
19662,285,774
19672,337,532
19682,390,803
19692,446,927
19702,505,628
19712,566,421
19722,628,432
19732,690,629
19742,752,671
19752,814,820
19762,877,327
19772,940,327
19783,003,714
19793,067,341
19803,131,512
19813,197,019
19823,264,291
19833,333,633
19843,405,198
19853,478,936
19863,554,793
19873,632,543
19883,711,880
19893,796,078
19903,896,481
19914,021,837
19924,166,699
19934,320,872
19944,480,208
19954,644,278
19964,813,361
19974,987,883
19985,166,390
19995,349,333
20005,537,064
20015,728,435
20025,924,003
20036,123,997
20046,328,041
20056,535,905
20066,747,720
20076,963,345
20087,183,002
20097,406,438
20107,633,523
20117,859,346
20128,081,390
20138,302,698
20148,523,441
20158,743,246
20168,961,718
20179,178,714
20189,394,513
20199,609,010
20209,815,746
202110,012,896
202210,203,169
202310,389,635
202410,576,502

Demographics

Population10,389,635
Population Growth Rate1.81%
Urban Population15.1%
Fertility Rate3.10 births/woman
Life Expectancy66.1 years
Infant Mortality Rate32.2 per 1,000
Literacy Rate-

Economy & Trade

$2,966

GDP Per Capita

2.6%

Unemployment Rate

Lower middle income

Income Level

39,000

Tourism Arrivals

Health & Education

2.9%

Health Expenditure (% GDP)

0.06

Physicians per 1,000

0.8%

Education Expenditure (% GDP)

32.2

Infant Mortality (per 1,000)

Development & Connectivity

20.5%

Electricity Access

18.3%

Internet Users

48

Mobile Subs per 100

22.9

People per km2

-787

Net Migration

Environment

79.0%

Forest Area

Other Countries in East Asia & Pacific

American SamoaAustraliaBrunei DarussalamCambodiaChina

Papua New Guinea in global context

Papua New Guinea is one of 212 countries tracked. See how it ranks globally, regional shares of world population, and projections to 2050 / 2100.

World Population 2026: Top 10 Countries, Regions & Trends →

Other related entities

American Samoa (47,521)Australia (26,659,922)Brunei Darussalam (458,949)Cambodia (17,423,880)China (1,410,710,000)All countries →

Country rankings

Populated Countries in the WorldCountries With Highest GDP Per CapitaCountries With Highest Life ExpectancyCountries With Highest Fertility RatesCountries With Highest Literacy RatesUrbanized Countries in the WorldFastest Growing Countries by PopulationCountries With Highest Infant MortalityCountries With Highest Income InequalityCountries With Most International TourismAll rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Papua New Guinea has a population of 10,389,635, ranking #148 in the world. The annual population growth rate is 1.81%.

Life expectancy in Papua New Guinea is 66.1 years. The infant mortality rate is 32.2 per 1,000 live births.

Papua New Guinea's GDP per capita is $2,966. It is classified as a lower middle income country by the World Bank.

15.1% of Papua New Guinea's population lives in urban areas. The overall population density is 22.9 people per square kilometer.

Literacy data for Papua New Guinea is available from the World Bank.

Sources: World Bank Open Data

International data from the World Bank Open Data API. Population figures are latest available estimates. GDP per capita in current US dollars.

With 10,389,635 residents, Papua New Guinea is a country in East Asia & Pacific. The population is expanding fast — roughly 1.8% annually.

Papua New Guinea is a lower-income economy, with GDP per capita of about $2,966. Life expectancy is 66.1 years, below the global average, with a fertility rate of 3.1 births per woman, and 15.1% of the population lives in urban areas.

Source: World Bank Open Data, 2026.