Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Japan was 123,975,371 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Japan's population is 122,677,250 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 11.1 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Japan is ranked the 12th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 1.61% of the world: 1.48% for Japan vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Japan has had an average growth rate of -0.25% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Japan has decreased from 128M people to 123M (4.05% decline), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Japan vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Japan
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Japan Papua New Guinea
2100 76,978,998 18,802,138
2099 77,363,458 18,790,040
2098 77,742,445 18,776,265
2097 78,118,375 18,758,897
2096 78,498,614 18,737,707
2095 78,875,245 18,714,219
2094 79,250,325 18,687,257
2093 79,628,057 18,658,233
2092 80,007,967 18,625,772
2091 80,383,529 18,590,001
2090 80,760,724 18,549,501
2089 81,140,553 18,510,463
2088 81,521,696 18,468,827
2087 81,908,373 18,424,378
2086 82,304,497 18,376,043
2085 82,709,534 18,325,641
2084 83,123,058 18,274,394
2083 83,544,006 18,218,709
2082 83,980,325 18,163,177
2081 84,429,305 18,104,285
2080 84,899,768 18,039,008
2079 85,387,247 17,975,778
2078 85,897,934 17,908,670
2077 86,434,291 17,840,781
2076 86,993,007 17,771,791
2075 87,577,777 17,699,428
2074 88,190,392 17,625,044
2073 88,834,763 17,548,128
2072 89,499,356 17,466,649
2071 90,184,464 17,381,598
2070 90,899,136 17,295,105
2069 91,625,421 17,205,503
2068 92,367,969 17,112,154
2067 93,113,499 17,015,090
2066 93,869,240 16,915,436
2065 94,633,430 16,812,946
2064 95,391,433 16,708,669
2063 96,148,081 16,604,296
2062 96,902,907 16,497,292
2061 97,654,031 16,386,905
2060 98,400,894 16,270,535
2059 99,144,216 16,152,614
2058 99,868,968 16,032,684
2057 100,585,601 15,909,649
2056 101,295,868 15,784,519
2055 101,989,736 15,656,542
2054 102,683,462 15,523,143
2053 103,359,083 15,389,244
2052 104,036,901 15,250,715
2051 104,706,698 15,110,389
2050 105,377,283 14,968,530
2049 106,053,011 14,821,865
2048 106,731,207 14,673,459
2047 107,419,237 14,522,926
2046 108,115,358 14,370,120
2045 108,820,982 14,213,585
2044 109,529,333 14,056,036
2043 110,245,586 13,897,765
2042 110,968,174 13,738,690
2041 111,704,629 13,577,382
2040 112,438,759 13,413,396
2039 113,175,948 13,247,486
2038 113,915,783 13,079,352
2037 114,662,374 12,909,735
2036 115,410,956 12,738,223
2035 116,162,381 12,566,543
2034 116,911,001 12,392,476
2033 117,652,676 12,218,246
2032 118,393,188 12,042,345
2031 119,127,425 11,865,316
2030 119,856,131 11,685,599
2029 120,574,242 11,504,890
2028 121,287,543 11,322,573
2027 121,989,133 11,138,409
2026 122,677,250 10,952,454
2025 123,339,586 10,765,048
2024 123,975,371 10,576,502
2023 124,516,650 10,389,635
2022 125,124,989 10,203,169
2021 125,681,593 10,012,896
2020 126,261,000 9,815,746
2019 126,633,000 9,609,010
2018 126,811,000 9,394,513
2017 126,972,000 9,178,714
2016 127,076,000 8,961,718
2015 127,141,000 8,743,246
2014 127,276,000 8,523,441
2013 127,445,000 8,302,698
2012 127,629,000 8,081,390
2011 127,833,000 7,859,346
2010 128,070,000 7,633,523
2009 128,047,000 7,406,438
2008 128,063,000 7,183,002
2007 128,001,000 6,963,345
2006 127,854,000 6,747,720
2005 127,773,000 6,535,905
2004 127,761,000 6,328,041
2003 127,718,000 6,123,997
2002 127,445,000 5,924,003
2001 127,149,000 5,728,435
2000 126,843,000 5,537,064
1999 126,631,000 5,349,333
1998 126,400,000 5,166,390
1997 126,057,000 4,987,883
1996 125,757,000 4,813,361
1995 125,472,000 4,644,278
1994 125,178,000 4,480,208
1993 124,829,000 4,320,872
1992 124,425,000 4,166,699
1991 123,964,000 4,021,837
1990 123,478,000 3,896,481
1989 123,069,000 3,796,078
1988 122,578,000 3,711,880
1987 122,069,000 3,632,543
1986 121,482,000 3,554,793
1985 120,837,000 3,478,936
1984 120,083,000 3,405,198
1983 119,307,000 3,333,633
1982 118,480,000 3,264,291
1981 117,661,000 3,197,019
1980 116,807,000 3,131,512
1979 115,890,000 3,067,341
1978 114,913,000 3,003,714
1977 113,872,000 2,940,327
1976 112,775,000 2,877,327
1975 111,573,000 2,814,820
1974 110,162,000 2,752,671
1973 108,707,000 2,690,629
1972 107,188,000 2,628,432
1971 105,697,000 2,566,421
1970 103,403,000 2,505,628
1969 102,219,000 2,446,927
1968 101,011,000 2,390,803
1967 99,879,000 2,337,532
1966 98,851,000 2,285,774
1965 97,952,000 2,235,820
1964 96,903,000 2,188,325
1963 95,900,000 2,141,376
1962 94,933,000 2,093,919
1961 94,055,000 2,046,127
1960 93,216,000 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/japan/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Japan decreased by 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Japan lost 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Japan was ranked 10th most populous country in 2006 and is 12th 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) Japan's population will shrink by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people with a rank change from 12th to 17th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Japan
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Japan Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.5% 0.06%
2099 -0.49% 0.07%
2098 -0.48% 0.09%
2097 -0.48% 0.11%
2096 -0.48% 0.13%
2095 -0.47% 0.14%
2094 -0.47% 0.16%
2093 -0.47% 0.17%
2092 -0.47% 0.19%
2091 -0.47% 0.22%
2090 -0.47% 0.21%
2089 -0.47% 0.23%
2088 -0.47% 0.24%
2087 -0.48% 0.26%
2086 -0.49% 0.28%
2085 -0.5% 0.28%
2084 -0.5% 0.31%
2083 -0.52% 0.31%
2082 -0.53% 0.33%
2081 -0.55% 0.36%
2080 -0.57% 0.35%
2079 -0.59% 0.37%
2078 -0.62% 0.38%
2077 -0.64% 0.39%
2076 -0.67% 0.41%
2075 -0.69% 0.42%
2074 -0.73% 0.44%
2073 -0.74% 0.47%
2072 -0.76% 0.49%
2071 -0.79% 0.5%
2070 -0.79% 0.52%
2069 -0.8% 0.55%
2068 -0.8% 0.57%
2067 -0.81% 0.59%
2066 -0.81% 0.61%
2065 -0.79% 0.62%
2064 -0.79% 0.63%
2063 -0.78% 0.65%
2062 -0.77% 0.67%
2061 -0.76% 0.72%
2060 -0.75% 0.73%
2059 -0.73% 0.75%
2058 -0.71% 0.77%
2057 -0.7% 0.79%
2056 -0.68% 0.82%
2055 -0.68% 0.86%
2054 -0.65% 0.87%
2053 -0.65% 0.91%
2052 -0.64% 0.93%
2051 -0.64% 0.95%
2050 -0.64% 0.99%
2049 -0.64% 1.01%
2048 -0.64% 1.04%
2047 -0.64% 1.06%
2046 -0.65% 1.1%
2045 -0.65% 1.12%
2044 -0.65% 1.14%
2043 -0.65% 1.16%
2042 -0.66% 1.19%
2041 -0.65% 1.22%
2040 -0.65% 1.25%
2039 -0.65% 1.29%
2038 -0.65% 1.31%
2037 -0.65% 1.35%
2036 -0.65% 1.37%
2035 -0.64% 1.4%
2034 -0.63% 1.43%
2033 -0.63% 1.46%
2032 -0.62% 1.49%
2031 -0.61% 1.54%
2030 -0.6% 1.57%
2029 -0.59% 1.61%
2028 -0.58% 1.65%
2027 -0.56% 1.7%
2026 -0.54% 1.74%
2025 -0.51% 1.78%
2024 -0.43% 1.8%
2023 -0.49% 1.83%
2022 -0.44% 1.9%
2021 -0.46% 2.01%
2020 -0.29% 2.15%
2019 -0.14% 2.28%
2018 -0.13% 2.35%
2017 -0.08% 2.42%
2016 -0.05% 2.5%
2015 -0.11% 2.58%
2014 -0.13% 2.66%
2013 -0.14% 2.74%
2012 -0.16% 2.83%
2011 -0.19% 2.96%
2010 0.02% 3.07%
2009 -0.01% 3.11%
2008 0.05% 3.15%
2007 0.11% 3.2%
2006 0.06% 3.24%
2005 0.009% 3.28%
2004 0.03% 3.33%
2003 0.21% 3.38%
2002 0.23% 3.41%
2001 0.24% 3.46%
2000 0.17% 3.51%
1999 0.18% 3.54%
1998 0.27% 3.58%
1997 0.24% 3.63%
1996 0.23% 3.64%
1995 0.23% 3.66%
1994 0.28% 3.69%
1993 0.32% 3.7%
1992 0.37% 3.6%
1991 0.39% 3.22%
1990 0.33% 2.64%
1989 0.4% 2.27%
1988 0.42% 2.18%
1987 0.48% 2.19%
1986 0.53% 2.18%
1985 0.63% 2.17%
1984 0.65% 2.15%
1983 0.7% 2.12%
1982 0.7% 2.1%
1981 0.73% 2.09%
1980 0.79% 2.09%
1979 0.85% 2.12%
1978 0.91% 2.16%
1977 0.97% 2.19%
1976 1.08% 2.22%
1975 1.28% 2.26%
1974 1.34% 2.31%
1973 1.42% 2.37%
1972 1.41% 2.42%
1971 2.22% 2.43%
1970 1.16% 2.4%
1969 1.2% 2.35%
1968 1.13% 2.28%
1967 1.04% 2.26%
1966 0.92% 2.23%
1965 1.08% 2.17%
1964 1.05% 2.19%
1963 1.02% 2.27%
1962 0.93% 2.34%
1961 0.9% 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/japan/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Japan declined by 0.43%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Japan Papua New Guinea
Current population
122677250
11002753
Population rank 12/197 89/197
Percent of world population 1.48% 0.13%
One net population change
58.3 seconds
2.81 minutes
One birth every
42.2 seconds
2.06 minutes
One death every
19.5 seconds
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline -1,483 +512
Annual growth/decline -541,279 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate -0.43% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 185/197 59/197
One migration net change every
3.75 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change +140,579 -284
Net migration rank 10/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 3,409,529 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 19/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 120/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Japan
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Japan Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 140,579 - -284
2024 - 153,357 - -707
2023 -871,617 175,003 187,637 -787
2022 -825,825 175,003 186,861 -787
2021 -640,976 -34,996 183,766 10,703
2020 -542,923 42,001 189,130 10,703
2019 -531,858 318,190 190,662 22,978
2018 -456,520 320,601 190,662 24,684
2017 -406,310 322,564 189,715 26,513
2016 -343,106 314,732 189,281 28,473
2015 -292,424 168,896 188,600 30,580
2014 -267,279 58,109 187,592 32,840
2013 -242,146 66,449 185,790 35,280
2012 -229,733 67,904 183,658 37,893
2011 -204,533 97,720 181,842 40,690
2010 -128,070 131,860 178,998 50,106
2009 -76,828 125,450 175,421 49,647
2008 -51,225 142,605 172,823 48,985
2007 -25,600 138,024 169,306 48,203
2006 12,785 130,065 166,540 47,191
2005 -25,554 113,017 163,888 46,014
2004 76,656 69,014 161,023 44,811
2003 114,946 74,875 158,611 43,639
2002 178,423 60,864 155,091 42,657
2001 203,438 59,563 151,431 41,962
2000 228,317 23,468 147,496 41,855
1999 202,610 56,901 143,592 42,519
1998 265,440 45,912 136,677 43,091
1997 277,325 43,366 134,458 42,787
1996 314,392 25,030 129,802 41,994
1995 276,039 87,714 125,410 40,962
1994 363,017 154,214 122,113 39,669
1993 312,073 168,836 118,668 38,220
1992 360,833 170,878 114,818 36,622
1991 396,685 161,331 111,453 26,830
1990 407,478 124,582 110,033 2,398
1989 467,662 31,202 108,199 -19,824
1988 527,085 51,154 106,256 -26,232
1987 598,138 28,001 104,367 -25,720
1986 631,706 27,987 102,346 -25,495
1985 676,687 -141,323 100,333 -25,470
1984 756,523 -273,686 98,103 -25,487
1983 775,495 -269,755 95,982 -25,465
1982 805,664 -288,550 93,522 -25,355
1981 811,861 -278,525 91,767 -25,383
1980 864,372 -92,314 90,266 -25,638
1979 950,298 -57,692 89,330 -25,618
1978 1,011,234 -47,996 88,747 -25,208
1977 1,070,397 -49,082 87,954 -24,722
1976 1,127,750 -34,976 86,965 -24,198
1975 1,204,989 107 85,809 -23,562
1974 1,332,960 -10,145 84,829 -22,771
1973 1,391,449 -34,674 83,821 -21,803
1972 1,372,006 -73,980 82,672 -20,303
1971 1,331,782 -107,778 80,599 -18,945
1970 1,230,496 33,731 78,712 -18,773
1969 1,195,962 49,447 76,454 -18,994
1968 1,191,930 43,593 73,983 -19,188
1967 1,258,475 29,632 71,519 -19,767
1966 682,072 68,934 69,206 -17,454
1965 1,126,448 -50,667 66,693 -18,532
1964 1,046,553 -100,696 64,558 -17,730
1963 987,770 -100,742 62,260 -15,189
1962 901,864 -57,075 59,974 -12,141
1961 893,522 -58,882 58,151 -10,409
1960 894,874 -150,371 56,326 -2,034

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 73.6% of the population change in Japan is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 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, 3,409,529 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Japan, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M
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/japan/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.