Papua New Guinea
- Capital:
- Port Moresby
- Continent:
- Oceania
- Region(s):
- Melanesia
- Largest Cities:
- Port Moresby, Lae, Wewak
- Abbreviation:
- PNG
10,947,848
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
10,947,848
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
Papua New Guinea's population is projected to be 18,601,774 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10,947,848 | 1.8% | 89 |
| 2025 | 10,762,817 | 1.86% | 90 |
| 2020 | 9,815,746 | 2.15% | 93 |
| 2019 | 9,609,010 | 2.28% | 94 |
| 2018 | 9,394,513 | 2.35% | 95 |
| 2017 | 9,178,714 | 2.42% | 96 |
| 2015 | 8,743,246 | 2.75% | 95 |
| 2010 | 7,633,523 | 3.15% | 97 |
| 2005 | 6,535,905 | 3.37% | 101 |
| 2000 | 5,537,064 | 3.58% | 102 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10,947,848 | 1.8% | 89 |
| 2032 | 12,023,128 | 1.55% | 88 |
| 2037 | 12,879,740 | 1.39% | 86 |
| 2042 | 13,696,147 | 1.24% | 86 |
| 2047 | 14,469,221 | 1.1% | 85 |
| 2052 | 15,184,631 | 0.97% | 85 |
| 2057 | 15,830,065 | 0.84% | 84 |
| 2062 | 16,404,572 | 0.72% | 84 |
| 2067 | 16,912,869 | 0.61% | 83 |
| 2072 | 17,352,715 | 0.52% | 83 |
18K
100K
250K
500K
Port Moresby has a metropolitan area population of 594,535, comprising 5.43%% of Papua New Guinea's total population.
| Rank | City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | % of National Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Moresby | 594,535 | 5.43% |
| 2 | Lae | 192,479 | 1.76% |
| 3 | Wewak | 59,807 | 0.55% |
| 4 | Kimbe | 44,110 | 0.4% |
| 5 | Madang | 41,627 | 0.38% |
| 6 | Mount Hagen | 32,547 | 0.3% |
| 7 | Goroka | 29,330 | 0.27% |
| 8 | Vanimo | 22,723 | 0.21% |
| 9 | Popondetta | 20,124 | 0.18% |
| 10 | Daru | 18,770 | 0.17% |
As of 2026, Papua New Guinea has a total population of 10,947,848, ranking as the 89th most populous nation in the world.
Papua New Guinea has a net population change of approximately 505 people per day, driven by 705 births, 199 deaths, and net emigration of 1 people.
Papua New Guinea represents 0.14% of the total global population and 23.23% of Oceania's population.
Papua New Guinea has a population density of 24.2 people per km² (approximately 62.6 per mi²), making it the 191st most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 12.31% of the population resides in urban areas, a figure that is increasing annually.
*Rates last updated: June 8, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in Papua New Guinea is Melanesian .
As of 2026, Protestant is the largest religion in Papua New Guinea, comprising 64.3% of the population.