The population of Papua New Guinea is expected to grow by 173,000 in 2025 and reach 9,788,000 in 2026. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 200 people yearly. On average there are 241,619 births and 68,077 deaths in Papua New Guinea per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 1.81 percent per year. The population density of Papua New Guinea has changed from 7.3 in 1980 to 20.5 in 2023.
| Current population | 9,669,775 people at present (Sunday 27th of April 2025) | |
| Median Age | 27.0 years |
| Life expectancy | 66.9 years | |
| Population density | 21.2 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9,614,000 | 173,000 (1.8%) | -200 | 27.0 | 3.27 | 21 | 1,341,000 (13.9%) |
| 2024 | 9,441,000 | 172,000 (1.8%) | -200 | 26.9 | 21 | 1,302,000 (13.8%) | |
| 2023 | 9,269,000 | 172,000 (1.9%) | -200 | 26.7 | 21 | 1,265,000 (13.6%) | |
| 2022 | 9,097,000 | 171,000 (1.9%) | -200 | 26.5 | 20 | 1,230,000 (13.5%) | |
| 2021 | 8,926,000 | 170,000 (1.9%) | -200 | 26.4 | 20 | 1,196,000 (13.4%) | |
| 2020 | 8,756,000 | 169,000 (1.9%) | -200 | 26.2 | 3.47 | 19 | 1,165,000 (13.3%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -200 | 26.1 | 3.52 | 19 | 1,135,000 (13.2%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -200 | 25.9 | 3.57 | 19 | 1,107,000 (13.1%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -200 | 25.8 | 3.61 | 18 | 1,080,000 (13.1%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -200 | 25.6 | 3.66 | 18 | 1,054,202 (13.0%) |
| 2015 | 7,919,825 | 164,040 (2.1%) | -200 | 25.5 | 3.71 | 17 | 1,029,973 (13.0%) |
| 2010 | 7,108,239 | 160,792 (2.3%) | -200 | 24.7 | 3.99 | 16 | 925,422 (13.0%) |
| 2005 | 6,314,709 | 153,192 (2.4%) | -200 | 24.2 | 4.26 | 14 | 827,795 (13.1%) |
| 2000 | 5,572,222 | 141,743 (2.5%) | -200 | 23.7 | 4.53 | 12 | 735,756 (13.2%) |
| 1995 | 4,894,276 | 123,670 (2.5%) | -399 | 23.4 | 4.67 | 11 | 689,163 (14.1%) |
| 1990 | 4,313,059 | 107,405 (2.5%) | -399 | 23.0 | 4.80 | 10 | 646,700 (15.0%) |
| 1985 | 3,794,720 | 100,679 (2.7%) | -399 | 22.6 | 5.21 | 8 | 531,185 (14.0%) |
| 1980 | 3,304,473 | 91,113 (2.8%) | -600 | 22.4 | 5.69 | 7 | 431,135 (13.0%) |
| 1975 | 2,878,156 | 75,913 (2.6%) | -800 | 22.4 | 6.00 | 6 | 343,364 (11.9%) |
| 1970 | 2,527,586 | 63,038 (2.5%) | -1,000 | 22.6 | 6.16 | 6 | 247,602 (9.8%) |
| 1965 | 2,236,206 | 49,866 (2.2%) | 400 | 22.8 | 6.26 | 5 | 122,320 (5.5%) |
| 1960 | 2,010,677 | 41,270 (2.0%) | -1,199 | 23.1 | 6.28 | 4 | 74,898 (3.7%) |
In 2024 the population of Papua New Guinea was 9,441,000 and the average age increased from 23.1 in 1960 to 26.9. Urban population has increased from 735,756 (13.2%) in 2000 to 1,341,000 (13.9%) in the current year. The population density of Papua New Guinea has changed from 7.3 in 1980 to 20.5 in 2023.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -200 | 26.2 | 3.47 | 19 | 1,165,000 (13.3%) |
| 2025 | 9,614,000 | 173,000 (1.8%) | -200 | 27.0 | 3.27 | 21 | 1,341,000 (13.9%) |
| 2030 | 10,487,000 | 175,000 (1.7%) | -200 | 27.8 | 3.09 | 23 | 1,569,000 (15.0%) |
| 2035 | 11,362,000 | 175,000 (1.5%) | -200 | 28.6 | 2.94 | 25 | 1,865,000 (16.4%) |
| 2040 | 12,224,000 | 171,000 (1.4%) | -200 | 29.4 | 2.81 | 27 | 2,239,000 (18.3%) |
| 2045 | 13,064,000 | 165,000 (1.3%) | -200 | 30.3 | 2.70 | 29 | 2,670,000 (20.4%) |
| 2050 | 13,871,000 | 158,000 (1.1%) | -200 | 31.1 | 2.59 | 31 | 3,153,000 (22.7%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 70.0 (67.0 years for male and 73.1 years for females). Population density will go up to 30.6 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Papua New Guinea constitutes of 4,725,000 women and 4,889,000 men, which means there are 1,035 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 43.3% of population (4,166,708) is 19 or younger, 52.2% of population (5,017,547) is between age 20 and 64 and 4.5% of population (429,746) is over 65.