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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 796,682 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 805,057 people compared to 11,045,681 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 +0.76% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 805K (20% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% 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 695,373 18,798,240
2099 700,252 18,786,145
2098 704,725 18,772,372
2097 709,503 18,755,008
2096 714,205 18,733,822
2095 719,429 18,710,340
2094 724,680 18,683,383
2093 729,780 18,654,365
2092 735,358 18,621,911
2091 741,359 18,586,147
2090 747,224 18,545,656
2089 753,299 18,506,626
2088 759,229 18,464,999
2087 765,529 18,420,558
2086 771,180 18,372,233
2085 776,734 18,321,842
2084 782,193 18,270,605
2083 788,231 18,214,932
2082 793,848 18,159,412
2081 799,837 18,100,531
2080 805,584 18,035,268
2079 811,372 17,972,052
2078 816,844 17,904,957
2077 821,563 17,837,082
2076 826,295 17,768,107
2075 831,127 17,695,759
2074 836,339 17,621,390
2073 841,532 17,544,490
2072 846,187 17,463,028
2071 850,589 17,377,995
2070 854,258 17,291,519
2069 858,138 17,201,936
2068 861,658 17,108,606
2067 865,086 17,011,562
2066 868,594 16,911,929
2065 871,852 16,809,460
2064 874,071 16,705,205
2063 876,010 16,600,853
2062 878,276 16,493,872
2061 880,361 16,383,508
2060 882,252 16,267,162
2059 883,530 16,149,265
2058 884,855 16,029,360
2057 884,952 15,906,350
2056 886,162 15,781,247
2055 886,744 15,653,296
2054 886,243 15,519,925
2053 886,861 15,386,054
2052 886,981 15,247,553
2051 885,891 15,107,257
2050 884,875 14,965,427
2049 884,076 14,818,793
2048 882,979 14,670,417
2047 881,999 14,519,915
2046 880,375 14,367,141
2045 878,014 14,210,639
2044 875,491 14,053,122
2043 872,718 13,894,884
2042 869,582 13,735,841
2041 866,699 13,574,567
2040 863,505 13,410,615
2039 860,257 13,244,740
2038 856,758 13,076,640
2037 852,802 12,907,059
2036 848,448 12,735,582
2035 843,771 12,563,938
2034 840,103 12,389,907
2033 835,629 12,215,713
2032 830,792 12,039,848
2031 825,846 11,862,856
2030 821,204 11,683,177
2029 816,969 11,502,504
2028 812,314 11,320,226
2027 807,785 11,136,100
2026 802,177 10,950,183
2025 796,682 10,762,817
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 57,191 people (a 7.65% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% 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 9.91% to 884,875 people and will still be ranked 163rd. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

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 0.65% 1.76%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Papua New Guinea
Current population
805057
11045681
Population rank 163/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.13%
One net population change
1.7 hours
2.83 minutes
One birth every
53 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
1.83 hours
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +14 +510
Annual growth/decline +5,158 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.76%
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 5,113 -277 187,595 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.2% of the population change in Bhutan is from natural causes (a gain of 53,619 people) and 5.81% is from migration (a gain of 3,306 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/bhutan/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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