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Papua New Guinea vs Zambia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Papua New Guinea has a population of 10.6M (ranked 92/197), compared with 21.3M in Zambia (ranked 63/197). Papua New Guinea's land area is 174,850 sq mi versus 287,024 sq mi for Zambia (ranked 54th vs. 37th).

By GDP, Papua New Guinea ranks 110/197 ($31.8B) and Zambia ranks 116/197 ($25.3B). By GDP per capita, Papua New Guinea ranks 140/197 ($3,007), while Zambia ranks 169/197 ($1,187).

Main facts and rankings

Papua New Guinea Zambia
Population
11002753
22697916
Population rank 89/197 62/197
GDP
$31.8B
2024
$25.3B
2024
GDP rank 110/197 116/197
GDP per capita
$3,007
2024
$1,187
2024
GDP per capita rank 140/197 169/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,875
2024
$4,215
2024
Government debt
$16.6B
2024
$29.1B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
52.1%
2024
114.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$1,566
2024
$1,365
2024
Government debt per person rank 129/185 134/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,362
2026
$1,349
2026
Land area 174,850 sq mi 287,024 sq mi
Population density
62.6 ppl/mi²
2026
78.5 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.1
2023
4.1
2023
Median age
23.6 years
2024
18.8 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.5 years
2026
66.9 years
2026

Papua New Guinea and Zambia: Comparison Charts

Papua New Guinea and Zambia economies compared

GDP
Papua New Guinea

Zambia
1x
Year GDP
Papua New Guinea Zambia
2024 $31,800,428,266 $25,303,185,342
2023 $30,816,367,067 $27,577,956,471
2022 $31,653,185,953 $29,163,782,140
2021 $26,109,413,521 $22,096,416,932
2020 $23,848,447,850 $18,137,764,931
2019 $24,750,626,030 $23,308,667,781
2018 $24,109,780,708 $26,311,507,274
2017 $22,742,699,138 $25,873,601,261
2016 $20,758,876,953 $20,958,412,538
2015 $21,723,437,010 $21,251,216,799
2014 $23,210,823,987 $27,141,023,558
2013 $21,261,338,065 $28,037,239,463
2012 $21,295,168,666 $25,503,060,420
2011 $17,985,138,066 $23,459,515,276
2010 $14,250,786,675 $20,265,559,484
2009 $11,619,456,449 $15,328,342,304
2008 $11,670,892,801 $17,910,858,638
2007 $9,545,028,944 $14,056,957,976
2006 $8,354,911,041 $12,756,858,899
2005 $4,865,892,972 $8,331,870,169
2004 $3,927,157,867 $6,221,110,219
2003 $3,536,411,824 $4,901,869,764
2002 $2,999,511,040 $4,193,850,445
2001 $3,081,024,212 $4,094,441,301
2000 $3,521,339,699 $3,600,632,111
1999 $3,477,038,204 $3,404,284,891
1998 $3,789,443,015 $3,537,741,942
1997 $4,936,615,299 $4,303,288,480
1996 $5,155,311,077 $3,597,220,962
1995 $4,636,057,476 $3,806,983,413
1994 $5,502,786,070 $3,656,806,166
1993 $4,974,550,286 $3,273,505,344
1992 $4,377,980,510 $3,182,810,841
1991 $3,787,394,958 $3,376,806,697
1990 $3,219,729,083 $3,288,381,797
1989 $3,546,472,566 $3,994,673,161
1988 $3,656,177,881 $3,728,878,149
1987 $3,143,851,794 $2,265,250,972
1986 $2,647,995,602 $1,664,413,508
1985 $2,423,339,172 $2,252,454,500
1984 $2,552,662,617 $2,719,518,933
1983 $2,562,351,551 $3,321,048,451
1982 $2,368,719,683 $3,871,117,093
1981 $2,498,190,847 $4,008,126,497
1980 $2,545,808,456 $3,884,530,854
1979 $2,293,760,511 $3,353,445,378
1978 $1,947,878,831 $2,811,032,473
1977 $1,640,746,619 $2,515,296,940
1976 $1,511,843,235 $2,742,859,263
1975 $1,356,603,608 $2,442,672,141
1974 $1,467,417,672 $2,910,981,262
1973 $1,299,079,410 $2,434,255,237
1972 $858,761,926 $1,872,416,680
1971 $717,750,278 $1,653,259,341
1970 $645,568,215 $1,788,779,285
1969 $551,263,864 $1,926,399,230
1968 $485,184,190 $1,573,739,371
1967 $441,728,183 $1,340,639,464
1966 $390,992,063 $1,238,999,505
1965 $344,176,055 $1,061,199,576
1964 $305,312,049 $822,639,671
1963 $275,968,044 $704,339,719
1962 $261,184,042 $679,279,729
1961 $244,832,039 $682,359,727
1960 $230,496,037 $698,739,721

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/zambia | CC BY

Papua New Guinea and Zambia economies compared

GDP per capita
Papua New Guinea

Zambia
1x
Year GDP per capita
Papua New Guinea Zambia
2024 $3,007 $1,187
2023 $2,966 $1,331
2022 $3,102 $1,447
2021 $2,608 $1,127
2020 $2,430 $952
2019 $2,576 $1,259
2018 $2,566 $1,464
2017 $2,478 $1,483
2016 $2,316 $1,239
2015 $2,485 $1,296
2014 $2,723 $1,707
2013 $2,561 $1,821
2012 $2,635 $1,710
2011 $2,288 $1,625
2010 $1,867 $1,451
2009 $1,569 $1,136
2008 $1,625 $1,376
2007 $1,371 $1,119
2006 $1,238 $1,052
2005 $744 $711
2004 $621 $549
2003 $577 $446
2002 $506 $394
2001 $538 $397
2000 $636 $359
1999 $650 $350
1998 $733 $373
1997 $990 $466
1996 $1,071 $400
1995 $998 $433
1994 $1,228 $426
1993 $1,151 $391
1992 $1,051 $389
1991 $942 $423
1990 $826 $422
1989 $934 $526
1988 $985 $504
1987 $865 $315
1986 $745 $238.2
1985 $697 $332
1984 $750 $413
1983 $769 $520
1982 $726 $627
1981 $781 $670
1980 $813 $669
1979 $748 $595
1978 $648 $514
1977 $558 $474
1976 $525 $533
1975 $482 $490
1974 $533 $601
1973 $483 $518
1972 $327 $410
1971 $279.7 $372
1970 $257.6 $414
1969 $225.3 $459
1968 $202.9 $387
1967 $189 $341
1966 $171.1 $325
1965 $153.9 $287.4
1964 $139.5 $230
1963 $128.9 $203.2
1962 $124.7 $202.3
1961 $119.7 $209.7
1960 $115.5 $221.6

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/zambia | CC BY

Papua New Guinea vs. Zambia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Papua New Guinea

Zambia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Papua New Guinea Zambia
2026 66.5 66.9
2025 66.4 66.7
2024 66.3 66.5
2023 66.1 66.3
2022 65.3 65.3
2021 64.4 62.4
2020 65.1 63.4
2019 65.3 62.9
2018 65.1 62.1
2017 64.9 61.6
2016 64.7 61.1
2015 64.5 60.7
2014 64.2 60.1
2013 63.9 59.4
2012 63.6 58.7
2011 63.4 57.8
2010 63.1 56.9
2009 62.8 55.9
2008 62.5 54.8
2007 62.2 53.7
2006 62 52.7
2005 61.9 51.6
2004 61.8 50.5
2003 61.7 49.6
2002 61.6 48.5
2001 61.6 47.4
2000 61.6 46.6
1999 61.5 45.9
1998 60.4 45.7
1997 61.3 45.7
1996 61.1 45.8
1995 60.9 46.1
1994 60.7 46.3
1993 60.5 46.7
1992 60.3 47
1991 59.9 47.4
1990 59.8 48.2
1989 59.6 48.9
1988 59.4 49.7
1987 59.2 50.4
1986 59 51.1
1985 58.8 52
1984 58.6 52.9
1983 58.3 53.7
1982 58.1 54.4
1981 57.8 55
1980 57.4 55.5
1979 57 56
1978 56.5 56.3
1977 56 56.3
1976 55.5 56.1
1975 55 55.7
1974 54.4 55.4
1973 53.9 54.9
1972 53.3 54.4
1971 52.6 53.9
1970 52.1 53.4
1969 51.5 53
1968 50.9 52.7
1967 50.2 52.5
1966 49.6 52.3
1965 48.9 52.1
1964 48.3 51.2
1963 47.7 51.6
1962 46.7 51.3
1961 46.4 51
1960 45.8 50.6
1959 45.1 50.3
1958 44.6 49.9
1957 43.9 49.5
1956 43.3 49.1
1955 42.6 48.8
1954 42 48.4
1953 41.3 48
1952 40.7 47.6
1951 35.5 47.2
1950 39.4 46.8

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/zambia | CC BY

Papua New Guinea and Zambia population clocks and comparison

Population
Papua New Guinea

Zambia
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea Zambia
2024 10,576,502 21,314,956
2023 10,389,635 20,723,965
2022 10,203,169 20,152,938
2021 10,012,896 19,603,607
2020 9,815,746 19,059,395
2019 9,609,010 18,513,839
2018 9,394,513 17,973,569
2017 9,178,714 17,441,320
2016 8,961,718 16,914,423
2015 8,743,246 16,399,089
2014 8,523,441 15,895,315
2013 8,302,698 15,398,997
2012 8,081,390 14,913,629
2011 7,859,346 14,437,796
2010 7,633,523 13,965,594
2009 7,406,438 13,490,389
2008 7,183,002 13,021,324
2007 6,963,345 12,565,085
2006 6,747,720 12,129,553
2005 6,535,905 11,718,819
2004 6,328,041 11,338,198
2003 6,123,997 10,983,595
2002 5,924,003 10,647,949
2001 5,728,435 10,325,185
2000 5,537,064 10,017,631
1999 5,349,333 9,740,005
1998 5,166,390 9,482,408
1997 4,987,883 9,237,063
1996 4,813,361 9,004,053
1995 4,644,278 8,785,763
1994 4,480,208 8,576,269
1993 4,320,872 8,373,921
1992 4,166,699 8,176,680
1991 4,021,837 7,981,650
1990 3,896,481 7,786,169
1989 3,796,078 7,589,216
1988 3,711,880 7,391,440
1987 3,632,543 7,191,282
1986 3,554,793 6,986,471
1985 3,478,936 6,780,953
1984 3,405,198 6,580,490
1983 3,333,633 6,381,038
1982 3,264,291 6,178,637
1981 3,197,019 5,983,289
1980 3,131,512 5,802,833
1979 3,067,341 5,631,728
1978 3,003,714 5,465,374
1977 2,940,327 5,302,480
1976 2,877,327 5,143,842
1975 2,814,820 4,990,086
1974 2,752,671 4,842,746
1973 2,690,629 4,702,693
1972 2,628,432 4,569,309
1971 2,566,421 4,442,525
1970 2,505,628 4,321,718
1969 2,446,927 4,197,116
1968 2,390,803 4,065,593
1967 2,337,532 3,936,343
1966 2,285,774 3,812,003
1965 2,235,820 3,692,086
1964 2,188,325 3,577,017
1963 2,141,376 3,465,907
1962 2,093,919 3,358,099
1961 2,046,127 3,254,086
1960 1,995,110 3,153,729

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/zambia | CC BY

Fertility rates in Papua New Guinea and Zambia

Fertility rate
Papua New Guinea

Zambia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Papua New Guinea Zambia
2023 3.1 4.1
2022 3.17 4.18
2021 3.22 4.25
2020 3.27 4.32
2019 3.32 4.42
2018 3.38 4.49
2017 3.43 4.57
2016 3.5 4.67
2015 3.56 4.78
2014 3.63 4.89
2013 3.68 5.01
2012 3.75 5.14
2011 3.82 5.26
2010 3.88 5.36
2009 3.94 5.45
2008 4.01 5.53
2007 4.08 5.61
2006 4.15 5.68
2005 4.22 5.7
2004 4.28 5.7
2003 4.36 5.71
2002 4.42 5.77
2001 4.47 5.85
2000 4.53 5.92
1999 4.59 6
1998 4.63 6.07
1997 4.68 6.12
1996 4.73 6.18
1995 4.78 6.23
1994 4.87 6.26
1993 4.96 6.3
1992 5.03 6.35
1991 5.11 6.46
1990 5.18 6.57
1989 5.24 6.64
1988 5.3 6.7
1987 5.36 6.8
1986 5.42 6.87
1985 5.47 6.93
1984 5.51 6.97
1983 5.56 7.01
1982 5.59 7.04
1981 5.65 7.07
1980 5.71 7.14
1979 5.79 7.22
1978 5.88 7.29
1977 5.96 7.35
1976 6.02 7.39
1975 6.07 7.42
1974 6.11 7.36
1973 6.16 7.34
1972 6.2 7.3
1971 6.23 7.26
1970 6.25 7.22
1969 6.26 7.18
1968 6.25 7.18
1967 6.24 7.15
1966 6.23 7.14
1965 6.2 7.12
1964 6.19 7.09
1963 6.15 7.06
1962 6.14 7.01
1961 6.07 6.98
1960 6.02 6.95

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/zambia | CC BY

Papua New Guinea and Zambia demographics compared

Median age
Papua New Guinea

Zambia
1x
Year Median age, years
Papua New Guinea Zambia
2024 23.6 18.8
2023 23.4 18.6
2022 23.2 18.4
2021 23 18.2
2020 22.8 18
2019 22.6 17.9
2018 22.4 17.7
2017 22.2 17.5
2016 22 17.4
2015 21.9 17.2
2014 21.7 17.1
2013 21.5 17
2012 21.3 16.9
2011 21.2 16.8
2010 21 16.7
2009 20.9 16.6
2008 20.7 16.5
2007 20.6 16.4
2006 20.4 16.3
2005 20.3 16.3
2004 20.2 16.2
2003 20 16.1
2002 19.9 16
2001 19.9 15.9
2000 19.8 15.9
1999 19.7 15.8
1998 19.6 15.8
1997 19.5 15.8
1996 19.4 15.8
1995 19.2 15.8
1994 19.1 15.8
1993 19 15.8
1992 18.9 15.8
1991 18.8 15.7
1990 18.7 15.7
1989 18.6 15.7
1988 18.6 15.6
1987 18.5 15.6
1986 18.5 15.5
1985 18.4 15.5
1984 18.3 15.4
1983 18.3 15.4
1982 18.2 15.3
1981 18.1 15.3
1980 18 15.2
1979 17.8 15.3
1978 17.7 15.3
1977 17.5 15.4
1976 17.4 15.4
1975 17.3 15.5
1974 17.2 15.7
1973 17.2 15.8
1972 17.1 15.9
1971 17.2 16.1
1970 17.3 16.2
1969 17.4 16.4
1968 17.5 16.4
1967 17.6 16.5
1966 17.8 16.5
1965 17.9 16.6
1964 18 16.6
1963 18.1 16.7
1962 18.3 16.8
1961 18.4 16.9
1960 18.5 17

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/papua-new-guinea/zambia | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Papua New Guinea and Zambia.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Papua New Guinea Zambia
GNI, Atlas method
$30.7B
2024
$25.9B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20.4%
2024
25.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
0.78%
2023
4.07%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.31%
2024
1.33%
2024
Armed forces personnel
4,000
2020
16,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.23%
2024
-3.32%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.69%
2022
5.86%
2023
Services, % of GDP
41.5%
2024
57.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
37.2%
2024
35.2%
2024
Economic freedom index
54.3
2026
51.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31%
2009
39.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
1.9%
2009
1.5%
2022
Listed domestic companies
6
2016
20
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$1.68B
2017
$7.77B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.9B
2023
$4.09B
2024
Personal remittances received
$3.87M
2024
$334M
2024
International tourist arrivals
39,000
2020
502,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.04%
2018
n/a
Banked people share n/a
72.7%
2024

Energy

Papua New Guinea Zambia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
801 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$4.8
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
5.47 megatons
2024
11.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.52 tons
2024
0.54 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
18.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
54.6%
2022
83%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
9.18%
2022
Net energy imports use share n/a
9.03%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
704 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
40%
2021
92.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
35.3%
2021
87.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
20.5%
2023
51.1%
2023

Society

Papua New Guinea Zambia
% of world population
0.13%
2024
0.26%
2024
Annual migration change
-284
2025
+6,562
2025
Urban population
15.4%
2024
45.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.4:48.6
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.35 ft
2025
5.5 ft
2025
Average female height
5.15 ft
2025
5.16 ft
2025
Quality of life index
37.6
2026
30.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
26
2025
37
2025
Higher education index
30
2026
47
2026
Homicides per 100K people
9.4
2010
5.25
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
12.6
2019
20.5
2019
Visa free countries
86
2025
74
2025
Adult literacy rate
87.1%
2022
82%
2023
English speaking
70.4%
2023
16%
2023
People using the Internet
24.1%
2023
33%
2023

Health

Papua New Guinea Zambia
Government health expenditure per capita
$85.2
2023
$79.6
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$7.28
2023
$8.18
2023
Life expectancy
66.5 years
2026
66.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
18.2%
2023
47.9%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.06
2023
0.32
2022
Age at first childbirth
21.9 years
2025
19.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
189
2023
85
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
40.3
2023
44.7
2023
Obesity rate
21.2%
2022
11.2%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
14.1%
2024
10.3%
2024
Air quality index
91
2026
30
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
39.6%
2022
14.6%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.13 liters
2020
3.62 liters
2020

Territory

Papua New Guinea Zambia
% of world land
0.3%
2026
0.5%
2026
Land area per capita
16,532 sq mi
2024
13,466 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
5,425 sq mi
2026
92,043 sq mi
2026
Forest area
138,051 sq mi
2026
170,848 sq mi
2026
Roads length
5,809 mi
2011
42,049 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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