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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 13.7 times bigger than Bhutan's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Bhutan vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Papua New Guinea
2100 695,106 18,802,138
2099 699,983 18,790,040
2098 704,455 18,776,265
2097 709,230 18,758,897
2096 713,930 18,737,707
2095 719,152 18,714,219
2094 724,401 18,687,257
2093 729,500 18,658,233
2092 735,075 18,625,772
2091 741,074 18,590,001
2090 746,937 18,549,501
2089 753,010 18,510,463
2088 758,937 18,468,827
2087 765,235 18,424,378
2086 770,883 18,376,043
2085 776,435 18,325,641
2084 781,892 18,274,394
2083 787,929 18,218,709
2082 793,543 18,163,177
2081 799,530 18,104,285
2080 805,275 18,039,008
2079 811,060 17,975,778
2078 816,530 17,908,670
2077 821,247 17,840,781
2076 825,978 17,771,791
2075 830,808 17,699,428
2074 836,017 17,625,044
2073 841,208 17,548,128
2072 845,861 17,466,649
2071 850,262 17,381,598
2070 853,930 17,295,105
2069 857,808 17,205,503
2068 861,327 17,112,154
2067 864,753 17,015,090
2066 868,260 16,915,436
2065 871,517 16,812,946
2064 873,735 16,708,669
2063 875,674 16,604,296
2062 877,938 16,497,292
2061 880,023 16,386,905
2060 881,913 16,270,535
2059 883,191 16,152,614
2058 884,515 16,032,684
2057 884,612 15,909,649
2056 885,822 15,784,519
2055 886,403 15,656,542
2054 885,903 15,523,143
2053 886,520 15,389,244
2052 886,640 15,250,715
2051 885,551 15,110,389
2050 884,535 14,968,530
2049 883,736 14,821,865
2048 882,640 14,673,459
2047 881,660 14,522,926
2046 880,037 14,370,120
2045 877,677 14,213,585
2044 875,155 14,056,036
2043 872,383 13,897,765
2042 869,248 13,738,690
2041 866,366 13,577,382
2040 863,173 13,413,396
2039 859,926 13,247,486
2038 856,429 13,079,352
2037 852,475 12,909,735
2036 848,122 12,738,223
2035 843,447 12,566,543
2034 839,780 12,392,476
2033 835,308 12,218,246
2032 830,472 12,042,345
2031 825,528 11,865,316
2030 820,888 11,685,599
2029 816,655 11,504,890
2028 812,002 11,322,573
2027 807,474 11,138,409
2026 801,869 10,952,454
2025 796,375 10,765,048
2024 791,524 10,576,502
2023 786,385 10,389,635
2022 780,914 10,203,169
2021 775,442 10,012,896
2020 770,006 9,815,746
2019 764,824 9,609,010
2018 759,759 9,394,513
2017 754,335 9,178,714
2016 747,866 8,961,718
2015 740,618 8,743,246
2014 733,139 8,523,441
2013 725,273 8,302,698
2012 717,279 8,081,390
2011 709,377 7,859,346
2010 701,632 7,633,523
2009 693,988 7,406,438
2008 686,351 7,183,002
2007 678,641 6,963,345
2006 670,799 6,747,720
2005 661,865 6,535,905
2004 650,544 6,328,041
2003 637,663 6,123,997
2002 624,409 5,924,003
2001 610,794 5,728,435
2000 596,863 5,537,064
1999 582,579 5,349,333
1998 569,435 5,166,390
1997 558,697 4,987,883
1996 548,784 4,813,361
1995 547,989 4,644,278
1994 554,497 4,480,208
1993 554,673 4,320,872
1992 577,774 4,166,699
1991 599,784 4,021,837
1990 589,287 3,896,481
1989 573,586 3,796,078
1988 556,986 3,711,880
1987 540,557 3,632,543
1986 524,324 3,554,793
1985 508,392 3,478,936
1984 492,784 3,405,198
1983 477,460 3,333,633
1982 462,485 3,264,291
1981 447,836 3,197,019
1980 433,404 3,131,512
1979 419,200 3,067,341
1978 405,243 3,003,714
1977 391,639 2,940,327
1976 378,490 2,877,327
1975 365,791 2,814,820
1974 353,538 2,752,671
1973 341,705 2,690,629
1972 330,264 2,628,432
1971 319,211 2,566,421
1970 308,528 2,505,628
1969 298,214 2,446,927
1968 288,311 2,390,803
1967 278,852 2,337,532
1966 269,820 2,285,774
1965 261,200 2,235,820
1964 252,987 2,188,325
1963 245,156 2,141,376
1962 237,636 2,093,919
1961 230,602 2,046,127
1960 224,084 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/bhutan/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd 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) Bhutan's population will grow by 10.1% to 884,535 people and will still be ranked 163rd. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.7% 0.06%
2099 -0.63% 0.07%
2098 -0.67% 0.09%
2097 -0.66% 0.11%
2096 -0.73% 0.13%
2095 -0.72% 0.14%
2094 -0.7% 0.16%
2093 -0.76% 0.17%
2092 -0.81% 0.19%
2091 -0.78% 0.22%
2090 -0.81% 0.21%
2089 -0.78% 0.23%
2088 -0.82% 0.24%
2087 -0.73% 0.26%
2086 -0.72% 0.28%
2085 -0.7% 0.28%
2084 -0.77% 0.31%
2083 -0.71% 0.31%
2082 -0.75% 0.33%
2081 -0.71% 0.36%
2080 -0.71% 0.35%
2079 -0.67% 0.37%
2078 -0.57% 0.38%
2077 -0.57% 0.39%
2076 -0.58% 0.41%
2075 -0.62% 0.42%
2074 -0.62% 0.44%
2073 -0.55% 0.47%
2072 -0.52% 0.49%
2071 -0.43% 0.5%
2070 -0.45% 0.52%
2069 -0.41% 0.55%
2068 -0.4% 0.57%
2067 -0.4% 0.59%
2066 -0.37% 0.61%
2065 -0.25% 0.62%
2064 -0.22% 0.63%
2063 -0.26% 0.65%
2062 -0.24% 0.67%
2061 -0.21% 0.72%
2060 -0.14% 0.73%
2059 -0.15% 0.75%
2058 -0.01% 0.77%
2057 -0.14% 0.79%
2056 -0.07% 0.82%
2055 0.06% 0.86%
2054 -0.07% 0.87%
2053 -0.01% 0.91%
2052 0.12% 0.93%
2051 0.11% 0.95%
2050 0.09% 0.99%
2049 0.12% 1.01%
2048 0.11% 1.04%
2047 0.18% 1.06%
2046 0.27% 1.1%
2045 0.29% 1.12%
2044 0.32% 1.14%
2043 0.36% 1.16%
2042 0.33% 1.19%
2041 0.37% 1.22%
2040 0.38% 1.25%
2039 0.41% 1.29%
2038 0.46% 1.31%
2037 0.51% 1.35%
2036 0.55% 1.37%
2035 0.44% 1.4%
2034 0.54% 1.43%
2033 0.58% 1.46%
2032 0.6% 1.49%
2031 0.57% 1.54%
2030 0.52% 1.57%
2029 0.57% 1.61%
2028 0.56% 1.65%
2027 0.7% 1.7%
2026 0.69% 1.74%
2025 0.61% 1.78%
2024 0.65% 1.8%
2023 0.7% 1.83%
2022 0.71% 1.9%
2021 0.71% 2.01%
2020 0.68% 2.15%
2019 0.67% 2.28%
2018 0.72% 2.35%
2017 0.86% 2.42%
2016 0.98% 2.5%
2015 1.02% 2.58%
2014 1.08% 2.66%
2013 1.11% 2.74%
2012 1.11% 2.83%
2011 1.1% 2.96%
2010 1.1% 3.07%
2009 1.11% 3.11%
2008 1.14% 3.15%
2007 1.17% 3.2%
2006 1.35% 3.24%
2005 1.74% 3.28%
2004 2.02% 3.33%
2003 2.12% 3.38%
2002 2.23% 3.41%
2001 2.33% 3.46%
2000 2.45% 3.51%
1999 2.31% 3.54%
1998 1.92% 3.58%
1997 1.81% 3.63%
1996 0.15% 3.64%
1995 -1.17% 3.66%
1994 -0.03% 3.69%
1993 -4% 3.7%
1992 -3.67% 3.6%
1991 1.78% 3.22%
1990 2.74% 2.64%
1989 2.98% 2.27%
1988 3.04% 2.18%
1987 3.1% 2.19%
1986 3.13% 2.18%
1985 3.17% 2.17%
1984 3.21% 2.15%
1983 3.24% 2.12%
1982 3.27% 2.1%
1981 3.33% 2.09%
1980 3.39% 2.09%
1979 3.44% 2.12%
1978 3.47% 2.16%
1977 3.47% 2.19%
1976 3.47% 2.22%
1975 3.47% 2.26%
1974 3.46% 2.31%
1973 3.46% 2.37%
1972 3.46% 2.42%
1971 3.46% 2.43%
1970 3.46% 2.4%
1969 3.43% 2.35%
1968 3.39% 2.28%
1967 3.35% 2.26%
1966 3.3% 2.23%
1965 3.25% 2.17%
1964 3.19% 2.19%
1963 3.16% 2.27%
1962 3.05% 2.34%
1961 2.91% 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/bhutan/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Papua New Guinea
Current population
803385
11002753
Population rank 163/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.13%
One net population change
1.7 hours
2.81 minutes
One birth every
52.8 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
1.82 hours
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +14 +512
Annual growth/decline +5,139 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 59/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change +455 -284
Net migration rank 69/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - -284
2024 - -277 - -707
2023 5,153 291 187,637 -787
2022 5,204 291 186,861 -787
2021 5,162 287 183,766 10,703
2020 5,142 287 189,130 10,703
2019 4,643 287 190,662 22,978
2018 4,909 287 190,662 24,684
2017 5,367 287 189,715 26,513
2016 6,164 1,116 189,281 28,473
2015 6,762 450 188,600 30,580
2014 7,290 452 187,592 32,840
2013 7,689 309 185,790 35,280
2012 7,967 20 183,658 37,893
2011 8,282 -464 181,842 40,690
2010 8,598 -922 178,998 50,106
2009 8,913 -1,305 175,421 49,647
2008 9,200 -1,538 172,823 48,985
2007 9,322 -1,553 169,306 48,203
2006 9,197 -1,283 166,540 47,191
2005 9,102 848 163,888 46,014
2004 9,056 3,642 161,023 44,811
2003 9,132 3,921 158,611 43,639
2002 9,464 3,996 155,091 42,657
2001 9,904 3,874 151,431 41,962
2000 10,142 3,940 147,496 41,855
1999 10,940 3,542 143,592 42,519
1998 11,320 486 136,677 43,091
1997 11,668 -1,994 134,458 42,787
1996 12,153 -1,998 129,802 41,994
1995 12,938 -21,501 125,410 40,962
1994 13,536 -17,997 122,113 39,669
1993 13,915 -9,800 118,668 38,220
1992 15,594 -65,900 114,818 36,622
1991 15,801 -9,522 111,453 26,830
1990 15,704 -1,000 110,033 2,398
1989 15,516 1,180 108,199 -19,824
1988 15,212 1,286 106,256 -26,232
1987 14,887 1,481 104,367 -25,720
1986 14,516 1,586 102,346 -25,495
1985 14,061 1,694 100,333 -25,470
1984 13,688 1,779 98,103 -25,487
1983 13,284 1,897 95,982 -25,465
1982 12,872 1,897 93,522 -25,355
1981 12,444 2,096 91,767 -25,383
1980 12,016 2,307 90,266 -25,638
1979 11,583 2,493 89,330 -25,618
1978 11,133 2,700 88,747 -25,208
1977 10,679 2,700 87,954 -24,722
1976 10,228 2,700 86,965 -24,198
1975 9,775 2,700 85,809 -23,562
1974 9,324 2,700 84,829 -22,771
1973 8,939 2,700 83,821 -21,803
1972 8,549 2,700 82,672 -20,303
1971 8,161 2,700 80,599 -18,945
1970 7,791 2,700 78,712 -18,773
1969 7,435 2,700 76,454 -18,994
1968 7,085 2,593 73,983 -19,188
1967 6,744 2,493 71,519 -19,767
1966 6,418 2,407 69,206 -17,454
1965 6,109 2,307 66,693 -18,532
1964 5,818 2,196 64,558 -17,730
1963 5,551 2,096 62,260 -15,189
1962 5,297 2,096 59,974 -12,141
1961 5,081 1,586 58,151 -10,409
1960 4,888 1,481 56,326 -2,034

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.3% of the population change in Bhutan is from natural causes (a gain of 55,796 people) and 6.74% is from migration (a gain of 4,035 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, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
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/bhutan/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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