Papua New Guinea Population Clock
Papua New Guinea has an estimated population of about 10.8 million, which makes it the 91st most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing steadily, at 1.75% a year.
The capital is Port Moresby.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2016–2025 (World Bank)
How Papua New Guinea's population is changing
Papua New Guinea records about 716 births and 193 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 523 people per day, or about 191,026 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 284 over the reported period, with more people leaving than arriving. That is small next to its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Papua New Guinea would take roughly 40 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2016 to 2025, the population rose from 8.96 million to 10.8 million — a gain of 1.80 million, or 20.1%.
Where people live in Papua New Guinea
With about 23 people per square kilometre, Papua New Guinea is sparsely populated, well below the world average of 62. That ranks 98th of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Niger and Brazil.
Papua New Guinea covers about 452,860 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 10.8 million into that density figure.
About 15.8% of people live in urban areas, making Papua New Guinea predominantly rural, below the world average of 57.8%. That works out to roughly 1.70 million town and city dwellers and 9.06 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has a young population: about 33.1% are under 15 and 3.6% are 65 or older. Children outnumber over-65s by roughly 9.2 to one.
The total fertility rate is about 3.07 births per woman, above the ~2.1 replacement level, which is what sustains growth from births alone. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 66.3 years, roughly 7.2 years below the global average of 73.5.
Papua New Guinea at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10.8 million | 2025 |
| World rank by population | #91 | 2025 |
| Annual growth rate | 1.75% | 2025 |
| Population density | 23 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 452,860 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 15.8% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 66.3 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 3.07 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 33.1% | 2025 |
| Population 65 and over | 3.6% | 2025 |
| Net migration | -284 | 2025 |
| Births per day | 716 | 2025 |
| Deaths per day | 193 | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Papua New Guinea?
Is Papua New Guinea's population growing or shrinking?
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Where do these Papua New Guinea figures come from?
Current local time in Papua New Guinea
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2025. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank