The population of Papua New Guinea is expected to grow by 185,031 in 2026 and reach 11,131,272 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 534 people yearly. On average there are 258,373 births and 72,854 deaths in Papua New Guinea per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 1.70 percent per year. The population density of Papua New Guinea has changed from 6.9 in 1980 to 23.4 in 2024.
| Current population | 11,102,125 people at present (Tuesday 3rd of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 27.0 years |
| Life expectancy | 66.5 years | |
| Population density | 24.2 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10,947,848 | 185,031 (1.7%) | -534 | 27.0 | 3.00 | 24 | 1,771,190 (16.2%) |
| 2025 | 10,762,817 | 186,315 (1.7%) | -284 | 26.8 | 3.03 | 24 | 1,698,345 (15.8%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -707 | 26.6 | 3.07 | 23 | 1,629,435 (15.4%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -787 | 26.4 | 3.10 | 23 | 1,564,482 (15.1%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -787 | 26.2 | 3.17 | 23 | 1,503,525 (14.7%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 10,703 | 26.0 | 3.22 | 22 | 1,445,846 (14.4%) |
| 2020 | 9,815,746 | 206,736 (2.1%) | 10,703 | 25.9 | 3.27 | 22 | 1,390,927 (14.2%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 22,978 | 25.7 | 3.32 | 21 | 1,338,326 (13.9%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 24,684 | 25.5 | 3.38 | 21 | 1,288,229 (13.7%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 26,513 | 25.3 | 3.43 | 20 | 1,241,418 (13.5%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 28,473 | 25.2 | 3.50 | 20 | 1,197,766 (13.4%) |
| 2015 | 8,743,246 | 219,805 (2.5%) | 30,580 | 25.0 | 3.56 | 19 | 1,157,093 (13.2%) |
| 2010 | 7,633,523 | 227,085 (3.0%) | 50,106 | 24.3 | 3.88 | 17 | 992,525 (13.0%) |
| 2005 | 6,535,905 | 207,864 (3.2%) | 46,014 | 23.8 | 4.22 | 14 | 854,301 (13.1%) |
| 2000 | 5,537,064 | 187,731 (3.4%) | 41,855 | 23.3 | 4.53 | 12 | 732,159 (13.2%) |
| 1995 | 4,644,278 | 164,070 (3.5%) | 40,962 | 22.9 | 4.78 | 10 | 666,648 (14.4%) |
| 1990 | 3,896,481 | 100,403 (2.6%) | 2,398 | 22.5 | 5.18 | 9 | 599,110 (15.4%) |
| 1985 | 3,478,936 | 73,738 (2.1%) | -25,470 | 22.3 | 5.47 | 8 | 492,991 (14.2%) |
| 1980 | 3,131,512 | 64,171 (2.1%) | -25,638 | 22.1 | 5.71 | 7 | 408,931 (13.1%) |
| 1975 | 2,814,820 | 62,149 (2.2%) | -23,562 | 21.5 | 6.07 | 6 | 366,518 (13.0%) |
| 1970 | 2,505,628 | 58,701 (2.3%) | -18,773 | 21.2 | 6.25 | 6 | 256,501 (10.2%) |
| 1965 | 2,235,820 | 47,495 (2.1%) | -18,532 | 21.5 | 6.20 | 5 | 121,126 (5.4%) |
| 1960 | 1,995,110 | 51,017 (2.5%) | -2,034 | 21.5 | 6.02 | 4 | 69,084 (3.5%) |
In 2025 the population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 and the average age increased from 21.5 in 1960 to 26.8. Urban population has increased from 732,159 (13.2%) in 2000 to 1,771,190 (16.2%) in the current year. The population density of Papua New Guinea has changed from 6.9 in 1980 to 23.4 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 10,703 | 25.9 | 3.27 | 22 | 1,390,927 (14.2%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -284 | 26.8 | 3.03 | 24 | 1,698,345 (15.8%) |
| 2030 | 11,671,424 | 178,621 (1.5%) | -1,184 | 27.9 | 2.84 | 26 | 2,102,863 (18.0%) |
| 2035 | 12,540,603 | 171,347 (1.4%) | -2,615 | 28.9 | 2.70 | 28 | 2,613,168 (20.8%) |
| 2040 | 13,376,160 | 163,490 (1.2%) | -2,220 | 29.9 | 2.56 | 30 | 3,236,505 (24.2%) |
| 2045 | 14,165,588 | 155,655 (1.1%) | 0 | 30.9 | 2.46 | 31 | 3,973,076 (28.0%) |
| 2050 | 14,906,590 | 142,987 (1.0%) | -1,787 | 31.8 | 2.37 | 33 | 4,821,763 (32.3%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 69.2 (66.3 years for male and 72.3 years for females). Population density will go up to 32.9 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 1.72% (186,315 residents, including 69,318 deaths). The demographics of Papua New Guinea constitutes of 5,327,407 women and 5,620,441 men, which means there are 1,055 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 42.6% of population (4,665,973) is 19 or younger, 53.7% of population (5,877,900) is between age 20 and 64 and 3.7% of population (407,260) is over 65.