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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Moldova was 2,360,527 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Moldova's population is 2,328,600 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 4.74 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Moldova is ranked the 145th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.03% for Moldova vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Moldova has had an average growth rate of -1.72% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Moldova has decreased from 2.88M people to 2.33M (19.2% decline), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Moldova vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Moldova
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Moldova Papua New Guinea
2100 1,169,570 18,798,240
2099 1,180,272 18,786,145
2098 1,191,113 18,772,372
2097 1,201,972 18,755,008
2096 1,212,932 18,733,822
2095 1,223,967 18,710,340
2094 1,234,876 18,683,383
2093 1,245,808 18,654,365
2092 1,256,689 18,621,911
2091 1,267,532 18,586,147
2090 1,278,123 18,545,656
2089 1,288,741 18,506,626
2088 1,299,412 18,464,999
2087 1,309,994 18,420,558
2086 1,320,672 18,372,233
2085 1,331,516 18,321,842
2084 1,342,188 18,270,605
2083 1,353,031 18,214,932
2082 1,363,961 18,159,412
2081 1,375,027 18,100,531
2080 1,386,252 18,035,268
2079 1,397,755 17,972,052
2078 1,409,455 17,904,957
2077 1,421,568 17,837,082
2076 1,433,504 17,768,107
2075 1,445,874 17,695,759
2074 1,458,696 17,621,390
2073 1,471,729 17,544,490
2072 1,485,296 17,463,028
2071 1,499,224 17,377,995
2070 1,513,979 17,291,519
2069 1,528,841 17,201,936
2068 1,544,390 17,108,606
2067 1,560,256 17,011,562
2066 1,576,276 16,911,929
2065 1,592,761 16,809,460
2064 1,609,631 16,705,205
2063 1,626,510 16,600,853
2062 1,643,849 16,493,872
2061 1,661,290 16,383,508
2060 1,679,059 16,267,162
2059 1,696,440 16,149,265
2058 1,713,694 16,029,360
2057 1,730,910 15,906,350
2056 1,748,393 15,781,247
2055 1,765,554 15,653,296
2054 1,782,642 15,519,925
2053 1,799,510 15,386,054
2052 1,816,030 15,247,553
2051 1,832,448 15,107,257
2050 1,848,307 14,965,427
2049 1,864,603 14,818,793
2048 1,880,438 14,670,417
2047 1,896,381 14,519,915
2046 1,912,640 14,367,141
2045 1,929,525 14,210,639
2044 1,946,354 14,053,122
2043 1,964,017 13,894,884
2042 1,982,068 13,735,841
2041 2,000,545 13,574,567
2040 2,019,832 13,410,615
2039 2,040,153 13,244,740
2038 2,060,750 13,076,640
2037 2,081,833 12,907,059
2036 2,103,318 12,735,582
2035 2,125,527 12,563,938
2034 2,147,859 12,389,907
2033 2,170,311 12,215,713
2032 2,192,598 12,039,848
2031 2,215,052 11,862,856
2030 2,237,961 11,683,177
2029 2,260,762 11,502,504
2028 2,283,416 11,320,226
2027 2,305,981 11,136,100
2026 2,328,600 10,950,183
2025 2,360,527 10,762,817
2024 2,402,306 10,576,502
2023 2,457,783 10,389,635
2022 2,528,654 10,203,169
2021 2,595,809 10,012,896
2020 2,635,130 9,815,746
2019 2,664,224 9,609,010
2018 2,707,203 9,394,513
2017 2,755,189 9,178,714
2016 2,803,186 8,961,718
2015 2,835,978 8,743,246
2014 2,857,815 8,523,441
2013 2,859,558 8,302,698
2012 2,860,324 8,081,390
2011 2,860,699 7,859,346
2010 2,862,354 7,633,523
2009 2,865,213 7,406,438
2008 2,868,833 7,183,002
2007 2,874,299 6,963,345
2006 2,880,967 6,747,720
2005 2,888,985 6,535,905
2004 2,896,023 6,328,041
2003 2,903,198 6,123,997
2002 2,911,385 5,924,003
2001 2,918,135 5,728,435
2000 2,924,668 5,537,064
1999 2,930,622 5,349,333
1998 2,935,227 5,166,390
1997 2,936,413 4,987,883
1996 2,947,293 4,813,361
1995 2,953,200 4,644,278
1994 2,966,745 4,480,208
1993 2,975,966 4,320,872
1992 2,980,965 4,166,699
1991 2,981,566 4,021,837
1990 2,977,912 3,896,481
1989 2,970,039 3,796,078
1988 2,948,891 3,711,880
1987 2,916,306 3,632,543
1986 2,883,057 3,554,793
1985 2,850,787 3,478,936
1984 2,820,518 3,405,198
1983 2,791,207 3,333,633
1982 2,763,101 3,264,291
1981 2,735,987 3,197,019
1980 2,708,675 3,131,512
1979 2,683,035 3,067,341
1978 2,656,211 3,003,714
1977 2,626,298 2,940,327
1976 2,596,491 2,877,327
1975 2,566,998 2,814,820
1974 2,538,164 2,752,671
1973 2,510,584 2,690,629
1972 2,484,742 2,628,432
1971 2,460,611 2,566,421
1970 2,437,590 2,505,628
1969 2,408,469 2,446,927
1968 2,373,073 2,390,803
1967 2,337,695 2,337,532
1966 2,301,871 2,285,774
1965 2,265,287 2,235,820
1964 2,228,000 2,188,325
1963 2,188,895 2,141,376
1962 2,147,227 2,093,919
1961 2,103,327 2,046,127
1960 2,058,020 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/moldova/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Moldova decreased by 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Moldova lost 474,586 people (a 16.9% decline), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Moldova was ranked 134th most populous country in 2006 and is 145th 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) Moldova's population will shrink by 20.6% to 1,848,307 people with a rank change from 145th to 150th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people, while Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.17M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Moldova
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Moldova Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.91% 0.06%
2099 -0.91% 0.07%
2098 -0.9% 0.09%
2097 -0.9% 0.11%
2096 -0.9% 0.13%
2095 -0.88% 0.14%
2094 -0.88% 0.16%
2093 -0.87% 0.17%
2092 -0.86% 0.19%
2091 -0.83% 0.22%
2090 -0.82% 0.21%
2089 -0.82% 0.23%
2088 -0.81% 0.24%
2087 -0.81% 0.26%
2086 -0.81% 0.28%
2085 -0.8% 0.28%
2084 -0.8% 0.31%
2083 -0.8% 0.31%
2082 -0.8% 0.33%
2081 -0.81% 0.36%
2080 -0.82% 0.35%
2079 -0.83% 0.37%
2078 -0.85% 0.38%
2077 -0.83% 0.39%
2076 -0.86% 0.41%
2075 -0.88% 0.42%
2074 -0.89% 0.44%
2073 -0.91% 0.47%
2072 -0.93% 0.49%
2071 -0.97% 0.5%
2070 -0.97% 0.52%
2069 -1.01% 0.55%
2068 -1.02% 0.57%
2067 -1.02% 0.59%
2066 -1.03% 0.61%
2065 -1.05% 0.62%
2064 -1.04% 0.63%
2063 -1.05% 0.65%
2062 -1.05% 0.67%
2061 -1.06% 0.72%
2060 -1.02% 0.73%
2059 -1.01% 0.75%
2058 -0.99% 0.77%
2057 -1% 0.79%
2056 -0.97% 0.82%
2055 -0.96% 0.86%
2054 -0.94% 0.87%
2053 -0.91% 0.91%
2052 -0.9% 0.93%
2051 -0.86% 0.95%
2050 -0.87% 0.99%
2049 -0.84% 1.01%
2048 -0.84% 1.04%
2047 -0.85% 1.06%
2046 -0.88% 1.1%
2045 -0.86% 1.12%
2044 -0.9% 1.14%
2043 -0.91% 1.16%
2042 -0.92% 1.19%
2041 -0.95% 1.22%
2040 -1% 1.25%
2039 -1% 1.29%
2038 -1.01% 1.31%
2037 -1.02% 1.35%
2036 -1.04% 1.37%
2035 -1.04% 1.4%
2034 -1.03% 1.43%
2033 -1.02% 1.46%
2032 -1.01% 1.49%
2031 -1.02% 1.54%
2030 -1.01% 1.57%
2029 -0.99% 1.61%
2028 -0.98% 1.65%
2027 -0.97% 1.7%
2026 -1.35% 1.74%
2025 -1.74% 1.76%
2024 -2.26% 1.8%
2023 -2.8% 1.83%
2022 -2.59% 1.9%
2021 -1.49% 2.01%
2020 -1.09% 2.15%
2019 -1.59% 2.28%
2018 -1.74% 2.35%
2017 -1.71% 2.42%
2016 -1.16% 2.5%
2015 -0.76% 2.58%
2014 -0.06% 2.66%
2013 -0.03% 2.74%
2012 -0.01% 2.83%
2011 -0.06% 2.96%
2010 -0.1% 3.07%
2009 -0.13% 3.11%
2008 -0.19% 3.15%
2007 -0.23% 3.2%
2006 -0.28% 3.24%
2005 -0.24% 3.28%
2004 -0.25% 3.33%
2003 -0.28% 3.38%
2002 -0.23% 3.41%
2001 -0.22% 3.46%
2000 -0.2% 3.51%
1999 -0.16% 3.54%
1998 -0.04% 3.58%
1997 -0.37% 3.63%
1996 -0.2% 3.64%
1995 -0.46% 3.66%
1994 -0.31% 3.69%
1993 -0.17% 3.7%
1992 -0.02% 3.6%
1991 0.12% 3.22%
1990 0.27% 2.64%
1989 0.72% 2.27%
1988 1.12% 2.18%
1987 1.15% 2.19%
1986 1.13% 2.18%
1985 1.07% 2.17%
1984 1.05% 2.15%
1983 1.02% 2.12%
1982 0.99% 2.1%
1981 1.01% 2.09%
1980 0.96% 2.09%
1979 1.01% 2.12%
1978 1.14% 2.16%
1977 1.15% 2.19%
1976 1.15% 2.22%
1975 1.14% 2.26%
1974 1.1% 2.31%
1973 1.04% 2.37%
1972 0.98% 2.42%
1971 0.94% 2.43%
1970 1.21% 2.4%
1969 1.49% 2.35%
1968 1.51% 2.28%
1967 1.56% 2.26%
1966 1.61% 2.23%
1965 1.67% 2.17%
1964 1.79% 2.19%
1963 1.94% 2.27%
1962 2.09% 2.34%
1961 2.2% 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/moldova/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Moldova declined by 1.74%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Moldova Papua New Guinea
Current population
2328600
11045681
Population rank 145/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.13%
One net population change
12.6 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
20.7 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
15.8 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline -114 +510
Annual growth/decline -41,779 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate -1.74% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 196/197 59/197
One migration net change every
17.7 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change -29,766 -284
Net migration rank 164/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 188,207 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 116/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 6.2% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 85/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Moldova
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Moldova Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -29,766 - -284
2024 -7,767 -27,088 187,595 -707
2023 -7,007 -18,570 187,637 -787
2022 -6,385 89,154 186,861 -787
2021 -13,444 -33,405 183,766 10,703
2020 -7,067 -33,405 189,130 10,703
2019 -3,416 -41,233 190,662 22,978
2018 -961 -36,085 190,662 24,684
2017 1,402 -43,871 189,715 26,513
2016 4,580 -51,642 189,281 28,473
2015 6,049 -59,399 188,600 30,580
2014 7,248 -67,175 187,592 32,840
2013 3,537 -77,571 185,790 35,280
2012 5,581 -81,215 183,658 37,893
2011 5,948 -82,271 181,842 40,690
2010 7,456 -84,039 178,998 50,106
2009 7,492 -83,546 175,421 49,647
2008 5,210 -79,593 172,823 48,985
2007 3,490 -75,734 169,306 48,203
2006 2,406 -72,061 166,540 47,191
2005 2,005 -68,681 163,888 46,014
2004 1,714 -52,491 161,023 44,811
2003 -322 -46,947 158,611 43,639
2002 -1,249 -45,833 155,091 42,657
2001 -718 -45,043 151,431 41,962
2000 -324 -43,854 147,496 41,855
1999 642 -43,111 143,592 42,519
1998 2,140 -41,975 136,677 43,091
1997 4,669 -41,743 134,458 42,787
1996 2,655 -33,369 129,802 41,994
1995 5,534 -31,975 125,410 40,962
1994 9,921 -31,616 122,113 39,669
1993 13,886 -31,526 118,668 38,220
1992 17,373 -30,136 114,818 36,622
1991 21,127 -29,204 111,453 26,830
1990 25,824 -30,053 110,033 2,398
1989 29,638 -29,307 108,199 -19,824
1988 35,608 -4,989 106,256 -26,232
1987 40,122 -10,796 104,367 -25,720
1986 39,463 -8,769 102,346 -25,495
1985 38,060 -10,627 100,333 -25,470
1984 38,108 -12,732 98,103 -25,487
1983 36,076 -10,543 95,982 -25,465
1982 32,814 -8,412 93,522 -25,355
1981 31,360 -6,452 91,767 -25,383
1980 30,053 -3,693 90,266 -25,638
1979 28,322 -6,912 89,330 -25,618
1978 27,622 3,483 88,747 -25,208
1977 27,707 3,245 87,954 -24,722
1976 27,801 2,885 86,965 -24,198
1975 27,677 2,355 85,809 -23,562
1974 27,219 1,785 84,829 -22,771
1973 25,967 1,156 83,821 -21,803
1972 24,626 481 82,672 -20,303
1971 23,359 -61 80,599 -18,945
1970 22,314 606 78,712 -18,773
1969 21,768 20,561 76,454 -18,994
1968 22,005 19,830 73,983 -19,188
1967 22,654 19,175 71,519 -19,767
1966 23,720 18,601 69,206 -17,454
1965 24,916 18,066 66,693 -18,532
1964 25,860 17,509 64,558 -17,730
1963 29,382 16,816 62,260 -15,189
1962 32,082 15,884 59,974 -12,141
1961 35,180 14,818 58,151 -10,409
1960 36,352 13,697 56,326 -2,034

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 11.7% of the population change in Moldova is from natural causes (a loss of 34,016 people) and 88.3% is from migration (a loss of 255,544 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, 188,207 residents or 6.2% of the population were not native-born in Moldova, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Ungheni 26.5K
Dubasari 25.1K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K
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/moldova/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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