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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 3.26 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.57% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Ghana vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Papua New Guinea
2100 68,117,614 18,798,240
2099 68,008,028 18,786,145
2098 67,888,410 18,772,372
2097 67,759,128 18,755,008
2096 67,625,262 18,733,822
2095 67,481,344 18,710,340
2094 67,325,992 18,683,383
2093 67,162,890 18,654,365
2092 66,991,846 18,621,911
2091 66,804,098 18,586,147
2090 66,605,276 18,545,656
2089 66,395,029 18,506,626
2088 66,173,453 18,464,999
2087 65,937,323 18,420,558
2086 65,699,827 18,372,233
2085 65,451,666 18,321,842
2084 65,196,037 18,270,605
2083 64,922,457 18,214,932
2082 64,638,242 18,159,412
2081 64,342,209 18,100,531
2080 64,034,249 18,035,268
2079 63,717,528 17,972,052
2078 63,384,648 17,904,957
2077 63,046,955 17,837,082
2076 62,699,375 17,768,107
2075 62,337,964 17,695,759
2074 61,974,725 17,621,390
2073 61,604,458 17,544,490
2072 61,227,111 17,463,028
2071 60,835,024 17,377,995
2070 60,442,399 17,291,519
2069 60,041,679 17,201,936
2068 59,627,097 17,108,606
2067 59,203,373 17,011,562
2066 58,774,846 16,911,929
2065 58,341,378 16,809,460
2064 57,893,305 16,705,205
2063 57,439,982 16,600,853
2062 56,974,922 16,493,872
2061 56,500,340 16,383,508
2060 56,019,906 16,267,162
2059 55,529,609 16,149,265
2058 55,031,460 16,029,360
2057 54,524,491 15,906,350
2056 54,007,205 15,781,247
2055 53,481,428 15,653,296
2054 52,949,003 15,519,925
2053 52,407,089 15,386,054
2052 51,859,418 15,247,553
2051 51,300,839 15,107,257
2050 50,730,296 14,965,427
2049 50,153,221 14,818,793
2048 49,567,895 14,670,417
2047 48,972,414 14,519,915
2046 48,373,367 14,367,141
2045 47,766,811 14,210,639
2044 47,154,486 14,053,122
2043 46,538,892 13,894,884
2042 45,916,531 13,735,841
2041 45,291,657 13,574,567
2040 44,660,573 13,410,615
2039 44,029,228 13,244,740
2038 43,393,321 13,076,640
2037 42,752,045 12,907,059
2036 42,112,269 12,735,582
2035 41,470,624 12,563,938
2034 40,823,789 12,389,907
2033 40,176,026 12,215,713
2032 39,532,216 12,039,848
2031 38,892,407 11,862,856
2030 38,251,174 11,683,177
2029 37,616,078 11,502,504
2028 36,978,847 11,320,226
2027 36,342,429 11,136,100
2026 35,705,894 10,950,183
2025 35,064,272 10,762,817
2024 34,427,414 10,576,502
2023 33,787,914 10,389,635
2022 33,149,152 10,203,169
2021 32,518,665 10,012,896
2020 31,887,809 9,815,746
2019 31,258,945 9,609,010
2018 30,637,585 9,394,513
2017 30,008,354 9,178,714
2016 29,356,742 8,961,718
2015 28,696,068 8,743,246
2014 28,041,592 8,523,441
2013 27,386,193 8,302,698
2012 26,734,268 8,081,390
2011 26,095,088 7,859,346
2010 25,474,995 7,633,523
2009 24,862,664 7,406,438
2008 24,249,946 7,183,002
2007 23,642,279 6,963,345
2006 23,040,702 6,747,720
2005 22,449,438 6,535,905
2004 21,868,298 6,328,041
2003 21,296,705 6,123,997
2002 20,729,388 5,924,003
2001 20,167,069 5,728,435
2000 19,637,087 5,537,064
1999 19,149,864 5,349,333
1998 18,688,036 5,166,390
1997 18,238,958 4,987,883
1996 17,810,181 4,813,361
1995 17,399,017 4,644,278
1994 16,993,190 4,480,208
1993 16,589,519 4,320,872
1992 16,184,855 4,166,699
1991 15,787,496 4,021,837
1990 15,394,648 3,896,481
1989 15,006,813 3,796,078
1988 14,636,568 3,711,880
1987 14,289,108 3,632,543
1986 13,965,217 3,554,793
1985 13,661,229 3,478,936
1984 13,370,590 3,405,198
1983 13,029,836 3,333,633
1982 12,643,819 3,264,291
1981 12,281,712 3,197,019
1980 11,941,448 3,131,512
1979 11,597,255 3,067,341
1978 11,248,450 3,003,714
1977 10,911,871 2,940,327
1976 10,594,913 2,877,327
1975 10,294,308 2,814,820
1974 10,000,523 2,752,671
1973 9,714,617 2,690,629
1972 9,438,187 2,628,432
1971 9,176,264 2,566,421
1970 8,925,813 2,505,628
1969 8,690,383 2,446,927
1968 8,475,729 2,390,803
1967 8,271,913 2,337,532
1966 8,074,521 2,285,774
1965 7,882,606 2,235,820
1964 7,695,739 2,188,325
1963 7,514,714 2,141,376
1962 7,337,375 2,093,919
1961 7,162,667 2,046,127
1960 6,961,215 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/ghana/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th 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) Ghana's population will grow by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people with a rank change from 46th to 43rd. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Papua New Guinea
2100 0.16% 0.06%
2099 0.18% 0.07%
2098 0.19% 0.09%
2097 0.2% 0.11%
2096 0.21% 0.13%
2095 0.23% 0.14%
2094 0.24% 0.16%
2093 0.26% 0.17%
2092 0.28% 0.19%
2091 0.3% 0.22%
2090 0.32% 0.21%
2089 0.33% 0.23%
2088 0.36% 0.24%
2087 0.36% 0.26%
2086 0.38% 0.28%
2085 0.39% 0.28%
2084 0.42% 0.31%
2083 0.44% 0.31%
2082 0.46% 0.33%
2081 0.48% 0.36%
2080 0.5% 0.35%
2079 0.53% 0.37%
2078 0.54% 0.38%
2077 0.55% 0.39%
2076 0.58% 0.41%
2075 0.59% 0.42%
2074 0.6% 0.44%
2073 0.62% 0.47%
2072 0.64% 0.49%
2071 0.65% 0.5%
2070 0.67% 0.52%
2069 0.7% 0.55%
2068 0.72% 0.57%
2067 0.73% 0.59%
2066 0.74% 0.61%
2065 0.77% 0.62%
2064 0.79% 0.63%
2063 0.82% 0.65%
2062 0.84% 0.67%
2061 0.86% 0.72%
2060 0.88% 0.73%
2059 0.91% 0.75%
2058 0.93% 0.77%
2057 0.96% 0.79%
2056 0.98% 0.82%
2055 1.01% 0.86%
2054 1.03% 0.87%
2053 1.06% 0.91%
2052 1.09% 0.93%
2051 1.12% 0.95%
2050 1.15% 0.99%
2049 1.18% 1.01%
2048 1.22% 1.04%
2047 1.24% 1.06%
2046 1.27% 1.1%
2045 1.3% 1.12%
2044 1.32% 1.14%
2043 1.36% 1.16%
2042 1.38% 1.19%
2041 1.41% 1.22%
2040 1.43% 1.25%
2039 1.47% 1.29%
2038 1.5% 1.31%
2037 1.52% 1.35%
2036 1.55% 1.37%
2035 1.58% 1.4%
2034 1.61% 1.43%
2033 1.63% 1.46%
2032 1.65% 1.49%
2031 1.68% 1.54%
2030 1.69% 1.57%
2029 1.72% 1.61%
2028 1.75% 1.65%
2027 1.78% 1.7%
2026 1.83% 1.74%
2025 1.85% 1.76%
2024 1.89% 1.8%
2023 1.93% 1.83%
2022 1.94% 1.9%
2021 1.98% 2.01%
2020 2.01% 2.15%
2019 2.03% 2.28%
2018 2.1% 2.35%
2017 2.22% 2.42%
2016 2.3% 2.5%
2015 2.33% 2.58%
2014 2.39% 2.66%
2013 2.44% 2.74%
2012 2.45% 2.83%
2011 2.43% 2.96%
2010 2.46% 3.07%
2009 2.53% 3.11%
2008 2.57% 3.15%
2007 2.61% 3.2%
2006 2.63% 3.24%
2005 2.66% 3.28%
2004 2.68% 3.33%
2003 2.74% 3.38%
2002 2.79% 3.41%
2001 2.7% 3.46%
2000 2.54% 3.51%
1999 2.47% 3.54%
1998 2.46% 3.58%
1997 2.41% 3.63%
1996 2.36% 3.64%
1995 2.39% 3.66%
1994 2.43% 3.69%
1993 2.5% 3.7%
1992 2.52% 3.6%
1991 2.55% 3.22%
1990 2.58% 2.64%
1989 2.53% 2.27%
1988 2.43% 2.18%
1987 2.32% 2.19%
1986 2.23% 2.18%
1985 2.17% 2.17%
1984 2.62% 2.15%
1983 3.05% 2.12%
1982 2.95% 2.1%
1981 2.85% 2.09%
1980 2.97% 2.09%
1979 3.1% 2.12%
1978 3.08% 2.16%
1977 2.99% 2.19%
1976 2.92% 2.22%
1975 2.94% 2.26%
1974 2.94% 2.31%
1973 2.93% 2.37%
1972 2.85% 2.42%
1971 2.81% 2.43%
1970 2.71% 2.4%
1969 2.53% 2.35%
1968 2.46% 2.28%
1967 2.44% 2.26%
1966 2.43% 2.23%
1965 2.43% 2.17%
1964 2.41% 2.19%
1963 2.42% 2.27%
1962 2.44% 2.34%
1961 2.89% 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/ghana/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Ghana Papua New Guinea
Current population
36032857
11045681
Population rank 46/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.13%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
2.83 minutes
One birth every
35.3 seconds
2.05 minutes
One death every
2.18 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +510
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 59/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change -17,079 -284
Net migration rank 150/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -284
2024 651,057 -13,114 187,595 -707
2023 651,094 -10,003 187,637 -787
2022 646,441 -10,003 186,861 -787
2021 635,805 -11,259 183,766 10,703
2020 637,469 -291 189,130 10,703
2019 642,403 -21,857 190,662 22,978
2018 641,551 -19,375 190,662 24,684
2017 641,218 -4,913 189,715 26,513
2016 659,910 7,009 189,281 28,473
2015 667,729 -13,306 188,600 30,580
2014 660,829 -6,312 187,592 32,840
2013 658,638 -2,377 185,790 35,280
2012 646,595 1,005 183,658 37,893
2011 631,501 -720 181,842 40,690
2010 613,133 -3,726 178,998 50,106
2009 592,825 22,416 175,421 49,647
2008 579,695 30,506 172,823 48,985
2007 572,332 32,813 169,306 48,203
2006 569,474 28,536 166,540 47,191
2005 563,234 21,272 163,888 46,014
2004 543,339 34,433 161,023 44,811
2003 536,656 28,768 158,611 43,639
2002 528,620 40,573 155,091 42,657
2001 519,382 36,050 151,431 41,962
2000 508,738 -4,206 147,496 41,855
1999 487,210 -17,304 143,592 42,519
1998 471,313 -17,564 136,677 43,091
1997 459,822 -15,409 134,458 42,787
1996 450,259 -37,113 129,802 41,994
1995 451,748 -42,558 125,410 40,962
1994 449,589 -47,120 122,113 39,669
1993 454,669 -49,792 118,668 38,220
1992 452,156 -47,736 114,818 36,622
1991 448,159 -57,878 111,453 26,830
1990 442,211 -46,789 110,033 2,398
1989 432,541 -52,293 108,199 -19,824
1988 425,031 -64,810 106,256 -26,232
1987 419,328 -84,648 104,367 -25,720
1986 411,191 -98,099 102,346 -25,495
1985 401,722 -106,855 100,333 -25,470
1984 392,053 -105,655 98,103 -25,487
1983 379,846 15,276 95,982 -25,465
1982 369,061 7,863 93,522 -25,355
1981 359,572 -12,296 91,767 -25,383
1980 346,816 -13,564 90,266 -25,638
1979 334,848 20,291 89,330 -25,618
1978 324,428 18,041 88,747 -25,208
1977 315,429 15,243 87,954 -24,722
1976 305,769 -2,528 86,965 -24,198
1975 298,267 -292 85,809 -23,562
1974 290,796 -1,197 84,829 -22,771
1973 283,385 -1,168 83,821 -21,803
1972 275,236 -4,589 82,672 -20,303
1971 265,442 -12,238 80,599 -18,945
1970 257,938 -10,233 78,712 -18,773
1969 251,925 -28,752 76,454 -18,994
1968 242,821 -36,683 73,983 -19,188
1967 237,156 -35,666 71,519 -19,767
1966 231,440 -38,143 69,206 -17,454
1965 229,061 -38,519 66,693 -18,532
1964 226,685 -43,480 64,558 -17,730
1963 225,367 -46,516 62,260 -15,189
1962 223,842 -48,017 59,974 -12,141
1961 222,372 -48,777 58,151 -10,409
1960 217,134 12,181 56,326 -2,034

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.5% of the population change in Ghana is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 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, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K
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/ghana/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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