The latest officially reported population of Kiribati was 136,488 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kiribati's population is 139,471 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.
Population statistics:
- Papua New Guinea's population is 79.2 times bigger than Kiribati's.
- Kiribati is ranked the 180th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
- The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.002% for Kiribati vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
- For the last 10 years, Kiribati has had an average growth rate of +1.54% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
- Since 2006, the population of Kiribati has increased from 100K people to 139K (39.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).
Kiribati vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Kiribati
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | 224,260 | 18,798,240 |
| 2099 | 224,254 | 18,786,145 |
| 2098 | 224,229 | 18,772,372 |
| 2097 | 224,174 | 18,755,008 |
| 2096 | 224,085 | 18,733,822 |
| 2095 | 223,967 | 18,710,340 |
| 2094 | 223,780 | 18,683,383 |
| 2093 | 223,566 | 18,654,365 |
| 2092 | 223,301 | 18,621,911 |
| 2091 | 222,947 | 18,586,147 |
| 2090 | 222,560 | 18,545,656 |
| 2089 | 222,192 | 18,506,626 |
| 2088 | 221,771 | 18,464,999 |
| 2087 | 221,299 | 18,420,558 |
| 2086 | 220,824 | 18,372,233 |
| 2085 | 220,313 | 18,321,842 |
| 2084 | 219,763 | 18,270,605 |
| 2083 | 219,182 | 18,214,932 |
| 2082 | 218,584 | 18,159,412 |
| 2081 | 217,980 | 18,100,531 |
| 2080 | 217,336 | 18,035,268 |
| 2079 | 216,656 | 17,972,052 |
| 2078 | 215,964 | 17,904,957 |
| 2077 | 215,293 | 17,837,082 |
| 2076 | 214,551 | 17,768,107 |
| 2075 | 213,772 | 17,695,759 |
| 2074 | 212,966 | 17,621,390 |
| 2073 | 212,150 | 17,544,490 |
| 2072 | 211,321 | 17,463,028 |
| 2071 | 210,433 | 17,377,995 |
| 2070 | 209,514 | 17,291,519 |
| 2069 | 208,590 | 17,201,936 |
| 2068 | 207,578 | 17,108,606 |
| 2067 | 206,500 | 17,011,562 |
| 2066 | 205,437 | 16,911,929 |
| 2065 | 204,305 | 16,809,460 |
| 2064 | 203,169 | 16,705,205 |
| 2063 | 201,971 | 16,600,853 |
| 2062 | 200,805 | 16,493,872 |
| 2061 | 199,579 | 16,383,508 |
| 2060 | 198,300 | 16,267,162 |
| 2059 | 196,920 | 16,149,265 |
| 2058 | 195,512 | 16,029,360 |
| 2057 | 194,057 | 15,906,350 |
| 2056 | 192,565 | 15,781,247 |
| 2055 | 191,068 | 15,653,296 |
| 2054 | 189,537 | 15,519,925 |
| 2053 | 188,014 | 15,386,054 |
| 2052 | 186,393 | 15,247,553 |
| 2051 | 184,788 | 15,107,257 |
| 2050 | 183,093 | 14,965,427 |
| 2049 | 181,341 | 14,818,793 |
| 2048 | 179,541 | 14,670,417 |
| 2047 | 177,797 | 14,519,915 |
| 2046 | 175,976 | 14,367,141 |
| 2045 | 174,160 | 14,210,639 |
| 2044 | 172,343 | 14,053,122 |
| 2043 | 170,465 | 13,894,884 |
| 2042 | 168,618 | 13,735,841 |
| 2041 | 166,788 | 13,574,567 |
| 2040 | 164,991 | 13,410,615 |
| 2039 | 163,140 | 13,244,740 |
| 2038 | 161,276 | 13,076,640 |
| 2037 | 159,395 | 12,907,059 |
| 2036 | 157,498 | 12,735,582 |
| 2035 | 155,626 | 12,563,938 |
| 2034 | 153,791 | 12,389,907 |
| 2033 | 151,928 | 12,215,713 |
| 2032 | 150,051 | 12,039,848 |
| 2031 | 148,135 | 11,862,856 |
| 2030 | 146,228 | 11,683,177 |
| 2029 | 144,310 | 11,502,504 |
| 2028 | 142,397 | 11,320,226 |
| 2027 | 140,429 | 11,136,100 |
| 2026 | 138,461 | 10,950,183 |
| 2025 | 136,488 | 10,762,817 |
| 2024 | 134,518 | 10,576,502 |
| 2023 | 132,530 | 10,389,635 |
| 2022 | 130,469 | 10,203,169 |
| 2021 | 128,377 | 10,012,896 |
| 2020 | 126,099 | 9,815,746 |
| 2019 | 123,921 | 9,609,010 |
| 2018 | 122,084 | 9,394,513 |
| 2017 | 120,275 | 9,178,714 |
| 2016 | 118,478 | 8,961,718 |
| 2015 | 116,815 | 8,743,246 |
| 2014 | 115,326 | 8,523,441 |
| 2013 | 113,838 | 8,302,698 |
| 2012 | 112,284 | 8,081,390 |
| 2011 | 110,647 | 7,859,346 |
| 2010 | 108,704 | 7,633,523 |
| 2009 | 106,467 | 7,406,438 |
| 2008 | 104,222 | 7,183,002 |
| 2007 | 102,068 | 6,963,345 |
| 2006 | 100,017 | 6,747,720 |
| 2005 | 98,035 | 6,535,905 |
| 2004 | 96,085 | 6,328,041 |
| 2003 | 94,175 | 6,123,997 |
| 2002 | 92,264 | 5,924,003 |
| 2001 | 90,335 | 5,728,435 |
| 2000 | 88,613 | 5,537,064 |
| 1999 | 87,126 | 5,349,333 |
| 1998 | 85,657 | 5,166,390 |
| 1997 | 84,147 | 4,987,883 |
| 1996 | 82,623 | 4,813,361 |
| 1995 | 81,234 | 4,644,278 |
| 1994 | 80,021 | 4,480,208 |
| 1993 | 78,841 | 4,320,872 |
| 1992 | 77,641 | 4,166,699 |
| 1991 | 76,367 | 4,021,837 |
| 1990 | 74,855 | 3,896,481 |
| 1989 | 73,147 | 3,796,078 |
| 1988 | 71,427 | 3,711,880 |
| 1987 | 69,733 | 3,632,543 |
| 1986 | 68,059 | 3,554,793 |
| 1985 | 66,496 | 3,478,936 |
| 1984 | 65,228 | 3,405,198 |
| 1983 | 64,169 | 3,333,633 |
| 1982 | 63,134 | 3,264,291 |
| 1981 | 62,121 | 3,197,019 |
| 1980 | 61,148 | 3,131,512 |
| 1979 | 60,172 | 3,067,341 |
| 1978 | 59,864 | 3,003,714 |
| 1977 | 60,267 | 2,940,327 |
| 1976 | 60,661 | 2,877,327 |
| 1975 | 60,987 | 2,814,820 |
| 1974 | 61,219 | 2,752,671 |
| 1973 | 60,824 | 2,690,629 |
| 1972 | 59,778 | 2,628,432 |
| 1971 | 58,652 | 2,566,421 |
| 1970 | 57,510 | 2,505,628 |
| 1969 | 56,360 | 2,446,927 |
| 1968 | 55,529 | 2,390,803 |
| 1967 | 54,996 | 2,337,532 |
| 1966 | 54,425 | 2,285,774 |
| 1965 | 53,439 | 2,235,820 |
| 1964 | 52,088 | 2,188,325 |
| 1963 | 50,791 | 2,141,376 |
| 1962 | 49,538 | 2,093,919 |
| 1961 | 48,323 | 2,046,127 |
| 1960 | 47,157 | 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/kiribati/papua-new-guinea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kiribati increased by 18,461 people (a 18.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kiribati gained 20,993 people (a 17.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).
Kiribati was ranked 183rd most populous country in 2006 and is 180th 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) Kiribati's population will grow by 31.3% to 183,093 people with a rank change from 180th to 178th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.
Kiribati is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 224K people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | 0.003% | 0.06% |
| 2099 | 0.01% | 0.07% |
| 2098 | 0.02% | 0.09% |
| 2097 | 0.04% | 0.11% |
| 2096 | 0.05% | 0.13% |
| 2095 | 0.08% | 0.14% |
| 2094 | 0.1% | 0.16% |
| 2093 | 0.12% | 0.17% |
| 2092 | 0.16% | 0.19% |
| 2091 | 0.17% | 0.22% |
| 2090 | 0.17% | 0.21% |
| 2089 | 0.19% | 0.23% |
| 2088 | 0.21% | 0.24% |
| 2087 | 0.21% | 0.26% |
| 2086 | 0.23% | 0.28% |
| 2085 | 0.25% | 0.28% |
| 2084 | 0.27% | 0.31% |
| 2083 | 0.27% | 0.31% |
| 2082 | 0.28% | 0.33% |
| 2081 | 0.3% | 0.36% |
| 2080 | 0.31% | 0.35% |
| 2079 | 0.32% | 0.37% |
| 2078 | 0.31% | 0.38% |
| 2077 | 0.35% | 0.39% |
| 2076 | 0.36% | 0.41% |
| 2075 | 0.38% | 0.42% |
| 2074 | 0.38% | 0.44% |
| 2073 | 0.39% | 0.47% |
| 2072 | 0.42% | 0.49% |
| 2071 | 0.44% | 0.5% |
| 2070 | 0.44% | 0.52% |
| 2069 | 0.49% | 0.55% |
| 2068 | 0.52% | 0.57% |
| 2067 | 0.52% | 0.59% |
| 2066 | 0.55% | 0.61% |
| 2065 | 0.56% | 0.62% |
| 2064 | 0.59% | 0.63% |
| 2063 | 0.58% | 0.65% |
| 2062 | 0.61% | 0.67% |
| 2061 | 0.65% | 0.72% |
| 2060 | 0.7% | 0.73% |
| 2059 | 0.72% | 0.75% |
| 2058 | 0.75% | 0.77% |
| 2057 | 0.78% | 0.79% |
| 2056 | 0.78% | 0.82% |
| 2055 | 0.81% | 0.86% |
| 2054 | 0.81% | 0.87% |
| 2053 | 0.87% | 0.91% |
| 2052 | 0.87% | 0.93% |
| 2051 | 0.93% | 0.95% |
| 2050 | 0.97% | 0.99% |
| 2049 | 1% | 1.01% |
| 2048 | 0.98% | 1.04% |
| 2047 | 1.03% | 1.06% |
| 2046 | 1.04% | 1.1% |
| 2045 | 1.05% | 1.12% |
| 2044 | 1.1% | 1.14% |
| 2043 | 1.1% | 1.16% |
| 2042 | 1.1% | 1.19% |
| 2041 | 1.09% | 1.22% |
| 2040 | 1.13% | 1.25% |
| 2039 | 1.16% | 1.29% |
| 2038 | 1.18% | 1.31% |
| 2037 | 1.2% | 1.35% |
| 2036 | 1.2% | 1.37% |
| 2035 | 1.19% | 1.4% |
| 2034 | 1.23% | 1.43% |
| 2033 | 1.25% | 1.46% |
| 2032 | 1.29% | 1.49% |
| 2031 | 1.3% | 1.54% |
| 2030 | 1.33% | 1.57% |
| 2029 | 1.34% | 1.61% |
| 2028 | 1.4% | 1.65% |
| 2027 | 1.42% | 1.7% |
| 2026 | 1.45% | 1.74% |
| 2025 | 1.46% | 1.76% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| 2023 | 1.58% | 1.83% |
| 2022 | 1.63% | 1.9% |
| 2021 | 1.81% | 2.01% |
| 2020 | 1.76% | 2.15% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | 2.28% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | 2.35% |
| 2017 | 1.52% | 2.42% |
| 2016 | 1.42% | 2.5% |
| 2015 | 1.29% | 2.58% |
| 2014 | 1.31% | 2.66% |
| 2013 | 1.38% | 2.74% |
| 2012 | 1.48% | 2.83% |
| 2011 | 1.79% | 2.96% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | 3.07% |
| 2009 | 2.15% | 3.11% |
| 2008 | 2.11% | 3.15% |
| 2007 | 2.05% | 3.2% |
| 2006 | 2.02% | 3.24% |
| 2005 | 2.03% | 3.28% |
| 2004 | 2.03% | 3.33% |
| 2003 | 2.07% | 3.38% |
| 2002 | 2.14% | 3.41% |
| 2001 | 1.94% | 3.46% |
| 2000 | 1.71% | 3.51% |
| 1999 | 1.71% | 3.54% |
| 1998 | 1.79% | 3.58% |
| 1997 | 1.84% | 3.63% |
| 1996 | 1.71% | 3.64% |
| 1995 | 1.52% | 3.66% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | 3.69% |
| 1993 | 1.55% | 3.7% |
| 1992 | 1.67% | 3.6% |
| 1991 | 2.02% | 3.22% |
| 1990 | 2.34% | 2.64% |
| 1989 | 2.41% | 2.27% |
| 1988 | 2.43% | 2.18% |
| 1987 | 2.46% | 2.19% |
| 1986 | 2.35% | 2.18% |
| 1985 | 1.94% | 2.17% |
| 1984 | 1.65% | 2.15% |
| 1983 | 1.64% | 2.12% |
| 1982 | 1.63% | 2.1% |
| 1981 | 1.59% | 2.09% |
| 1980 | 1.62% | 2.09% |
| 1979 | 0.51% | 2.12% |
| 1978 | -0.67% | 2.16% |
| 1977 | -0.65% | 2.19% |
| 1976 | -0.53% | 2.22% |
| 1975 | -0.38% | 2.26% |
| 1974 | 0.65% | 2.31% |
| 1973 | 1.75% | 2.37% |
| 1972 | 1.92% | 2.42% |
| 1971 | 1.99% | 2.43% |
| 1970 | 2.04% | 2.4% |
| 1969 | 1.5% | 2.35% |
| 1968 | 0.97% | 2.28% |
| 1967 | 1.05% | 2.26% |
| 1966 | 1.85% | 2.23% |
| 1965 | 2.59% | 2.17% |
| 1964 | 2.55% | 2.19% |
| 1963 | 2.53% | 2.27% |
| 1962 | 2.51% | 2.34% |
| 1961 | 2.47% | 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/kiribati/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Kiribati grew by 1.46%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.
Live population counters
|
Kiribati
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
139471
|
11045681
|
| Population rank | 180/197 | 89/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.002% | 0.13% |
| One net population change |
4.46 hours
|
2.83 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2.57 hours
|
2.05 minutes
|
| One death every |
9.23 hours
|
7.58 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +5 | +510 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,970 | +186,315 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.46% | +1.76% |
| Population growth rate rank | 72/197 | 59/197 |
| One migration net change every |
19 hours
|
1.29 days
|
| Annual migration change | -462 | -284 |
| Net migration rank | 88/196 | 87/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 3,302 | 31,171 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 190/195 | 163/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 2.5% | 0.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 128/195 | 183/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kiribati
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -462 | - | -284 |
| 2024 | 2,455 | -471 | 187,595 | -707 |
| 2023 | 2,487 | -485 | 187,637 | -787 |
| 2022 | 2,522 | -395 | 186,861 | -787 |
| 2021 | 2,408 | -348 | 183,766 | 10,703 |
| 2020 | 2,497 | 0 | 189,130 | 10,703 |
| 2019 | 2,560 | -705 | 190,662 | 22,978 |
| 2018 | 2,561 | -741 | 190,662 | 24,684 |
| 2017 | 2,549 | -750 | 189,715 | 26,513 |
| 2016 | 2,546 | -756 | 189,281 | 28,473 |
| 2015 | 2,555 | -1,022 | 188,600 | 30,580 |
| 2014 | 2,577 | -1,128 | 187,592 | 32,840 |
| 2013 | 2,629 | -1,101 | 185,790 | 35,280 |
| 2012 | 2,678 | -1,093 | 183,658 | 37,893 |
| 2011 | 2,709 | -1,019 | 181,842 | 40,690 |
| 2010 | 2,644 | -456 | 178,998 | 50,106 |
| 2009 | 2,573 | -289 | 175,421 | 49,647 |
| 2008 | 2,493 | -289 | 172,823 | 48,985 |
| 2007 | 2,393 | -290 | 169,306 | 48,203 |
| 2006 | 2,285 | -290 | 166,540 | 47,191 |
| 2005 | 2,188 | -226 | 163,888 | 46,014 |
| 2004 | 2,118 | -181 | 161,023 | 44,811 |
| 2003 | 2,045 | -157 | 158,611 | 43,639 |
| 2002 | 2,074 | -137 | 155,091 | 42,657 |
| 2001 | 2,121 | -201 | 151,431 | 41,962 |
| 2000 | 2,153 | -629 | 147,496 | 41,855 |
| 1999 | 2,186 | -733 | 143,592 | 42,519 |
| 1998 | 2,210 | -716 | 136,677 | 43,091 |
| 1997 | 2,220 | -693 | 134,458 | 42,787 |
| 1996 | 2,217 | -701 | 129,802 | 41,994 |
| 1995 | 2,183 | -928 | 125,410 | 40,962 |
| 1994 | 2,168 | -996 | 122,113 | 39,669 |
| 1993 | 2,161 | -975 | 118,668 | 38,220 |
| 1992 | 2,173 | -951 | 114,818 | 36,622 |
| 1991 | 2,176 | -844 | 111,453 | 26,830 |
| 1990 | 2,127 | -441 | 110,033 | 2,398 |
| 1989 | 2,073 | -338 | 108,199 | -19,824 |
| 1988 | 2,022 | -321 | 106,256 | -26,232 |
| 1987 | 1,982 | -298 | 104,367 | -25,720 |
| 1986 | 1,933 | -273 | 102,346 | -25,495 |
| 1985 | 1,881 | -419 | 100,333 | -25,470 |
| 1984 | 1,813 | -730 | 98,103 | -25,487 |
| 1983 | 1,748 | -702 | 95,982 | -25,465 |
| 1982 | 1,697 | -674 | 93,522 | -25,355 |
| 1981 | 1,635 | -645 | 91,767 | -25,383 |
| 1980 | 1,571 | -610 | 90,266 | -25,638 |
| 1979 | 1,509 | -516 | 89,330 | -25,618 |
| 1978 | 1,480 | -1,858 | 88,747 | -25,208 |
| 1977 | 1,426 | -1,854 | 87,954 | -24,722 |
| 1976 | 1,425 | -1,795 | 86,965 | -24,198 |
| 1975 | 1,423 | -1,706 | 85,809 | -23,562 |
| 1974 | 1,430 | -1,605 | 84,829 | -22,771 |
| 1973 | 1,409 | -440 | 83,821 | -21,803 |
| 1972 | 1,406 | -290 | 82,672 | -20,303 |
| 1971 | 1,406 | -265 | 80,599 | -18,945 |
| 1970 | 1,388 | -233 | 78,712 | -18,773 |
| 1969 | 1,367 | -222 | 76,454 | -18,994 |
| 1968 | 1,393 | -876 | 73,983 | -19,188 |
| 1967 | 1,417 | -873 | 71,519 | -19,767 |
| 1966 | 1,437 | -840 | 69,206 | -17,454 |
| 1965 | 1,376 | 0 | 66,693 | -18,532 |
| 1964 | 1,318 | 0 | 64,558 | -17,730 |
| 1963 | 1,273 | 0 | 62,260 | -15,189 |
| 1962 | 1,233 | 0 | 59,974 | -12,141 |
| 1961 | 1,199 | 0 | 58,151 | -10,409 |
| 1960 | 1,141 | 0 | 56,326 | -2,034 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/kiribati/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 81.6% of the population change in Kiribati is from natural causes (a gain of 25,140 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 5,673 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, 3,302 residents or 2.5% of the population were not native-born in Kiribati, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Kiribati
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| South Tarawa | 63.4K |
| London | 1.9K |
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Moresby | 317K |
| Lae | 101K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Kiribati and Papua New Guinea
|
Kiribati
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.9 years | 66.5 years |
| Average age | 27.2 years | 26.9 years |
| Median age | 23.9 years | 23.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.6:51.4 | 51.4:48.6 |
| Fertility rate | 3.12 births per woman | 3.07 births per woman |
| Population density | 443 ppl/mi² | 62.6 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/kiribati/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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