Population of Papua New Guinea

As of July 2026, the population of Papua New Guinea is 10.9 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 185 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.73%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 20.8 years in 2016 to 22.9 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 66.6 years and population density is 24 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Papua New Guinea peaked in 1992, reaching around 3.68% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.7% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 226.33 thousand in 2010 to nearly 184.7 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Papua New Guinea, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 61.9 years in 2006 to 66.6 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 5 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Papua New Guinea

The cities of Papua New Guinea are small, with the 5 most populated adding up to around 462.1 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Port Moresby, National Capital, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 283.7 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Lae, Morobe Province with 76.3 thousand and Arawa, Bougainville with 40.3 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Papua New Guinea: