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Population in Australia compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Australia was 27,196,812 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Australia's population is 27,799,169 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Australia's population is 2.53 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Australia is ranked the 55th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.34% for Australia vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Australia has had an average growth rate of +1.49% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Australia has increased from 20.5M people to 27.8M (35.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Australia vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Australia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Australia Papua New Guinea
2100 44,031,396 18,802,138
2099 43,809,392 18,790,040
2098 43,581,416 18,776,265
2097 43,339,542 18,758,897
2096 43,103,046 18,737,707
2095 42,875,281 18,714,219
2094 42,654,231 18,687,257
2093 42,420,140 18,658,233
2092 42,183,554 18,625,772
2091 41,942,760 18,590,001
2090 41,703,255 18,549,501
2089 41,471,675 18,510,463
2088 41,232,214 18,468,827
2087 41,005,392 18,424,378
2086 40,785,916 18,376,043
2085 40,573,592 18,325,641
2084 40,363,192 18,274,394
2083 40,140,606 18,218,709
2082 39,925,452 18,163,177
2081 39,703,018 18,104,285
2080 39,490,533 18,039,008
2079 39,277,415 17,975,778
2078 39,063,163 17,908,670
2077 38,847,269 17,840,781
2076 38,637,253 17,771,791
2075 38,425,571 17,699,428
2074 38,212,169 17,625,044
2073 38,002,408 17,548,128
2072 37,795,438 17,466,649
2071 37,589,598 17,381,598
2070 37,376,868 17,295,105
2069 37,159,014 17,205,503
2068 36,939,616 17,112,154
2067 36,721,604 17,015,090
2066 36,504,952 16,915,436
2065 36,297,175 16,812,946
2064 36,095,981 16,708,669
2063 35,883,588 16,604,296
2062 35,673,924 16,497,292
2061 35,465,080 16,386,905
2060 35,260,552 16,270,535
2059 35,055,719 16,152,614
2058 34,839,385 16,032,684
2057 34,630,577 15,909,649
2056 34,422,531 15,784,519
2055 34,208,970 15,656,542
2054 33,996,776 15,523,143
2053 33,788,097 15,389,244
2052 33,580,016 15,250,715
2051 33,366,925 15,110,389
2050 33,152,099 14,968,530
2049 32,937,633 14,821,865
2048 32,711,001 14,673,459
2047 32,496,856 14,522,926
2046 32,269,549 14,370,120
2045 32,047,969 14,213,585
2044 31,829,535 14,056,036
2043 31,610,306 13,897,765
2042 31,387,780 13,738,690
2041 31,168,179 13,577,382
2040 30,952,283 13,413,396
2039 30,740,454 13,247,486
2038 30,521,772 13,079,352
2037 30,307,856 12,909,735
2036 30,085,861 12,738,223
2035 29,862,898 12,566,543
2034 29,641,453 12,392,476
2033 29,418,053 12,218,246
2032 29,191,922 12,042,345
2031 28,959,421 11,865,316
2030 28,722,798 11,685,599
2029 28,484,745 11,504,890
2028 28,236,324 11,322,573
2027 27,984,287 11,138,409
2026 27,730,530 10,952,454
2025 27,466,430 10,765,048
2024 27,196,812 10,576,502
2023 26,659,922 10,389,635
2022 26,018,721 10,203,169
2021 25,685,412 10,012,896
2020 25,649,248 9,815,746
2019 25,334,826 9,609,010
2018 24,963,258 9,394,513
2017 24,592,588 9,178,714
2016 24,190,907 8,961,718
2015 23,815,995 8,743,246
2014 23,475,686 8,523,441
2013 23,128,129 8,302,698
2012 22,733,465 8,081,390
2011 22,340,024 7,859,346
2010 22,031,750 7,633,523
2009 21,691,653 7,406,438
2008 21,249,199 7,183,002
2007 20,827,622 6,963,345
2006 20,450,966 6,747,720
2005 20,176,844 6,535,905
2004 19,932,722 6,328,041
2003 19,720,737 6,123,997
2002 19,495,210 5,924,003
2001 19,274,701 5,728,435
2000 19,028,802 5,537,064
1999 18,812,264 5,349,333
1998 18,607,584 5,166,390
1997 18,423,037 4,987,883
1996 18,224,767 4,813,361
1995 18,004,882 4,644,278
1994 17,805,468 4,480,208
1993 17,634,808 4,320,872
1992 17,478,635 4,166,699
1991 17,284,036 4,021,837
1990 17,065,128 3,896,481
1989 16,814,416 3,796,078
1988 16,532,164 3,711,880
1987 16,263,874 3,632,543
1986 16,018,350 3,554,793
1985 15,788,312 3,478,936
1984 15,579,391 3,405,198
1983 15,393,472 3,333,633
1982 15,184,247 3,264,291
1981 14,923,260 3,197,019
1980 14,692,000 3,131,512
1979 14,514,000 3,067,341
1978 14,358,000 3,003,714
1977 14,192,000 2,940,327
1976 14,033,000 2,877,327
1975 13,893,000 2,814,820
1974 13,723,000 2,752,671
1973 13,380,000 2,690,629
1972 13,177,000 2,628,432
1971 12,937,000 2,566,421
1970 12,507,000 2,505,628
1969 12,263,000 2,446,927
1968 12,009,000 2,390,803
1967 11,799,000 2,337,532
1966 11,651,000 2,285,774
1965 11,388,000 2,235,820
1964 11,167,000 2,188,325
1963 10,950,000 2,141,376
1962 10,742,000 2,093,919
1961 10,483,000 2,046,127
1960 10,276,477 1,995,110

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Australia increased by 3,739,941 people (a 18.3% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Australia gained 3,608,262 people (a 14.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Australia was ranked 54th most populous country in 2006 and is 55th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Australia's population will grow by 19.3% to 33,152,099 people with a rank change from 55th to 59th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Australia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 44M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Australia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Australia Papua New Guinea
2100 0.51% 0.06%
2099 0.52% 0.07%
2098 0.56% 0.09%
2097 0.55% 0.11%
2096 0.53% 0.13%
2095 0.52% 0.14%
2094 0.55% 0.16%
2093 0.56% 0.17%
2092 0.57% 0.19%
2091 0.57% 0.22%
2090 0.56% 0.21%
2089 0.58% 0.23%
2088 0.55% 0.24%
2087 0.54% 0.26%
2086 0.52% 0.28%
2085 0.52% 0.28%
2084 0.55% 0.31%
2083 0.54% 0.31%
2082 0.56% 0.33%
2081 0.54% 0.36%
2080 0.54% 0.35%
2079 0.55% 0.37%
2078 0.56% 0.38%
2077 0.54% 0.39%
2076 0.55% 0.41%
2075 0.56% 0.42%
2074 0.55% 0.44%
2073 0.55% 0.47%
2072 0.55% 0.49%
2071 0.57% 0.5%
2070 0.59% 0.52%
2069 0.59% 0.55%
2068 0.59% 0.57%
2067 0.59% 0.59%
2066 0.57% 0.61%
2065 0.56% 0.62%
2064 0.59% 0.63%
2063 0.59% 0.65%
2062 0.59% 0.67%
2061 0.58% 0.72%
2060 0.58% 0.73%
2059 0.62% 0.75%
2058 0.6% 0.77%
2057 0.6% 0.79%
2056 0.62% 0.82%
2055 0.62% 0.86%
2054 0.62% 0.87%
2053 0.62% 0.91%
2052 0.64% 0.93%
2051 0.65% 0.95%
2050 0.65% 0.99%
2049 0.69% 1.01%
2048 0.66% 1.04%
2047 0.7% 1.06%
2046 0.69% 1.1%
2045 0.69% 1.12%
2044 0.69% 1.14%
2043 0.71% 1.16%
2042 0.7% 1.19%
2041 0.7% 1.22%
2040 0.69% 1.25%
2039 0.72% 1.29%
2038 0.71% 1.31%
2037 0.74% 1.35%
2036 0.75% 1.37%
2035 0.75% 1.4%
2034 0.76% 1.43%
2033 0.77% 1.46%
2032 0.8% 1.49%
2031 0.82% 1.54%
2030 0.84% 1.57%
2029 0.88% 1.61%
2028 0.9% 1.65%
2027 0.92% 1.7%
2026 0.96% 1.74%
2025 0.99% 1.78%
2024 2.01% 1.8%
2023 2.46% 1.83%
2022 1.3% 1.9%
2021 0.14% 2.01%
2020 1.24% 2.15%
2019 1.49% 2.28%
2018 1.51% 2.35%
2017 1.66% 2.42%
2016 1.57% 2.5%
2015 1.45% 2.58%
2014 1.5% 2.66%
2013 1.74% 2.74%
2012 1.76% 2.83%
2011 1.4% 2.96%
2010 1.57% 3.07%
2009 2.08% 3.11%
2008 2.02% 3.15%
2007 1.84% 3.2%
2006 1.36% 3.24%
2005 1.22% 3.28%
2004 1.07% 3.33%
2003 1.16% 3.38%
2002 1.14% 3.41%
2001 1.29% 3.46%
2000 1.15% 3.51%
1999 1.1% 3.54%
1998 1% 3.58%
1997 1.09% 3.63%
1996 1.22% 3.64%
1995 1.12% 3.66%
1994 0.97% 3.69%
1993 0.89% 3.7%
1992 1.13% 3.6%
1991 1.28% 3.22%
1990 1.49% 2.64%
1989 1.71% 2.27%
1988 1.65% 2.18%
1987 1.53% 2.19%
1986 1.46% 2.18%
1985 1.34% 2.17%
1984 1.21% 2.15%
1983 1.38% 2.12%
1982 1.75% 2.1%
1981 1.57% 2.09%
1980 1.23% 2.09%
1979 1.09% 2.12%
1978 1.17% 2.16%
1977 1.13% 2.19%
1976 1.01% 2.22%
1975 1.24% 2.26%
1974 2.56% 2.31%
1973 1.54% 2.37%
1972 1.86% 2.42%
1971 3.44% 2.43%
1970 1.99% 2.4%
1969 2.12% 2.35%
1968 1.78% 2.28%
1967 1.27% 2.26%
1966 2.31% 2.23%
1965 1.98% 2.17%
1964 1.98% 2.19%
1963 1.94% 2.27%
1962 2.47% 2.34%
1961 2.01% 2.56%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Australia grew by 2.01%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Australia Papua New Guinea
Current population
27799169
11002753
Population rank 55/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.34% 0.13%
One net population change
58.7 seconds
2.81 minutes
One birth every
1.83 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
2.86 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,471 +512
Annual growth/decline +536,890 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +2.01% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 51/197 59/197
One migration net change every
3.84 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change +137,109 -284
Net migration rank 11/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 8,111,404 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 9/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 30.4% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 18/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Australia
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Australia Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 137,109 - -284
2024 - 138,510 - -707
2023 103,974 140,232 187,637 -787
2022 111,881 140,972 186,861 -787
2021 138,701 116,768 183,766 10,703
2020 133,376 44,447 189,130 10,703
2019 136,808 207,142 190,662 22,978
2018 157,269 226,412 190,662 24,684
2017 150,015 255,023 189,715 26,513
2016 152,403 254,648 189,281 28,473
2015 150,041 212,350 188,600 30,580
2014 154,940 200,177 187,592 32,840
2013 159,584 215,823 185,790 35,280
2012 161,408 235,776 183,658 37,893
2011 156,380 197,657 181,842 40,690
2010 158,628 166,752 178,998 50,106
2009 160,518 235,628 175,421 49,647
2008 155,119 275,773 172,823 48,985
2007 154,124 249,873 169,306 48,203
2006 132,931 191,985 166,540 47,191
2005 129,132 131,371 163,888 46,014
2004 115,610 110,072 161,023 44,811
2003 118,325 104,437 158,611 43,639
2002 116,971 108,852 155,091 42,657
2001 117,575 117,552 151,431 41,962
2000 119,882 111,186 147,496 41,855
1999 118,517 92,900 143,592 42,519
1998 120,949 81,310 136,677 43,091
1997 121,592 67,661 134,458 42,787
1996 125,751 82,965 129,802 41,994
1995 131,436 80,456 125,410 40,962
1994 131,761 51,941 122,113 39,669
1993 137,551 23,833 118,668 38,220
1992 139,829 40,767 114,818 36,622
1991 138,273 68,847 111,453 26,830
1990 143,347 100,093 110,033 2,398
1989 127,789 144,042 108,199 -19,824
1988 127,298 153,330 106,256 -26,232
1987 128,484 136,421 104,367 -25,720
1986 123,342 113,061 102,346 -25,495
1985 143,674 98,327 100,333 -25,470
1984 123,077 79,617 98,103 -25,487
1983 130,844 73,251 95,982 -25,465
1982 126,030 111,722 93,522 -25,355
1981 125,356 121,921 91,767 -25,383
1980 117,536 89,189 90,266 -25,638
1979 116,112 52,137 89,330 -25,618
1978 116,299 45,832 88,747 -25,208
1977 117,793 44,946 87,954 -24,722
1976 115,070 32,792 86,965 -24,198
1975 123,648 25,336 85,809 -23,562
1974 128,996 56,167 84,829 -22,771
1973 136,476 62,928 83,821 -21,803
1972 155,488 54,895 82,672 -20,303
1971 165,593 223,991 80,599 -18,945
1970 145,081 256,295 78,712 -18,773
1969 143,477 108,770 76,454 -18,994
1968 132,099 100,963 73,983 -19,188
1967 126,249 80,904 71,519 -19,767
1966 126,996 110,864 69,206 -17,454
1965 122,990 118,891 66,693 -18,532
1964 128,420 91,588 64,558 -17,730
1963 140,161 73,237 62,260 -15,189
1962 143,943 58,315 59,974 -12,141
1961 150,955 64,495 58,151 -10,409
1960 141,816 85,707 56,326 -2,034

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 43.6% of the population change in Australia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,389,408 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,798,171 people). In Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 8,111,404 residents or 30.4% of the population were not native-born in Australia, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Australia
City Population
Sydney 5.45M
Melbourne 5.35M
Brisbane 2.71M
Perth 2.14M
Adelaide 1.39M
Gold Coast 608K
Canberra 381K
Sunshine Coast 284K
Wollongong 262K
Ipswich 233K
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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