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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Australia was 27,614,411 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Australia's population is 28,010,980 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Australia's population is 2.54 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 +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Australia has increased from 20.5M people to 28M (37% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% 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 44,268,623 18,798,240
2099 44,045,424 18,786,145
2098 43,816,219 18,772,372
2097 43,573,042 18,755,008
2096 43,335,272 18,733,822
2095 43,106,279 18,710,340
2094 42,884,039 18,683,383
2093 42,648,686 18,654,365
2092 42,410,825 18,621,911
2091 42,168,735 18,586,147
2090 41,927,939 18,545,656
2089 41,695,112 18,506,626
2088 41,454,360 18,464,999
2087 41,226,316 18,420,558
2086 41,005,658 18,372,233
2085 40,792,190 18,321,842
2084 40,580,657 18,270,605
2083 40,356,871 18,214,932
2082 40,140,558 18,159,412
2081 39,916,925 18,100,531
2080 39,703,296 18,035,268
2079 39,489,029 17,972,052
2078 39,273,623 17,904,957
2077 39,056,566 17,837,082
2076 38,845,418 17,768,107
2075 38,632,596 17,695,759
2074 38,418,045 17,621,390
2073 38,207,153 17,544,490
2072 37,999,068 17,463,028
2071 37,792,119 17,377,995
2070 37,578,242 17,291,519
2069 37,359,215 17,201,936
2068 37,138,635 17,108,606
2067 36,919,449 17,011,562
2066 36,701,629 16,911,929
2065 36,492,733 16,809,460
2064 36,290,454 16,705,205
2063 36,076,918 16,600,853
2062 35,866,124 16,493,872
2061 35,656,154 16,383,508
2060 35,450,525 16,267,162
2059 35,244,589 16,149,265
2058 35,027,089 16,029,360
2057 34,817,156 15,906,350
2056 34,607,988 15,781,247
2055 34,393,278 15,653,296
2054 34,179,940 15,519,925
2053 33,970,136 15,386,054
2052 33,760,935 15,247,553
2051 33,546,695 15,107,257
2050 33,330,712 14,965,427
2049 33,115,090 14,818,793
2048 32,887,237 14,670,417
2047 32,671,939 14,519,915
2046 32,443,408 14,367,141
2045 32,220,633 14,210,639
2044 32,001,023 14,053,122
2043 31,780,612 13,894,884
2042 31,556,888 13,735,841
2041 31,336,104 13,574,567
2040 31,119,045 13,410,615
2039 30,906,074 13,244,740
2038 30,686,214 13,076,640
2037 30,471,145 12,907,059
2036 30,247,954 12,735,582
2035 30,023,790 12,563,938
2034 29,801,152 12,389,907
2033 29,576,548 12,215,713
2032 29,349,199 12,039,848
2031 29,115,445 11,862,856
2030 28,877,548 11,683,177
2029 28,638,212 11,502,504
2028 28,388,452 11,320,226
2027 28,135,058 11,136,100
2026 27,879,933 10,950,183
2025 27,614,411 10,762,817
2024 27,194,286 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 3,820,073 people (a 15.8% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% 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% to 33,330,712 people with a rank change from 55th to 59th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Australia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 44.3M 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 1.54% 1.76%
2024 2% 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Australia grew by 1.54%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Australia Papua New Guinea
Current population
28010980
11045681
Population rank 55/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.34% 0.13%
One net population change
1.25 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
1.81 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
2.81 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,151 +510
Annual growth/decline +420,125 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +1.54% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 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 103,773 138,510 187,595 -707
2023 104,641 140,232 187,637 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 43.5% of the population change in Australia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,338,908 people) and 56.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,736,504 people). In Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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