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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Moldova was 2,402,306 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Moldova's population is 2,341,166 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 4.7 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 -1.57% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Moldova has decreased from 2.88M people to 2.34M (18.7% decline), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% 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 1,175,882 18,802,138
2099 1,186,641 18,790,040
2098 1,197,541 18,776,265
2097 1,208,458 18,758,897
2096 1,219,478 18,737,707
2095 1,230,573 18,714,219
2094 1,241,540 18,687,257
2093 1,252,531 18,658,233
2092 1,263,471 18,625,772
2091 1,274,372 18,590,001
2090 1,285,020 18,549,501
2089 1,295,696 18,510,463
2088 1,306,424 18,468,827
2087 1,317,064 18,424,378
2086 1,327,799 18,376,043
2085 1,338,702 18,325,641
2084 1,349,432 18,274,394
2083 1,360,333 18,218,709
2082 1,371,322 18,163,177
2081 1,382,447 18,104,285
2080 1,393,733 18,039,008
2079 1,405,298 17,975,778
2078 1,417,062 17,908,670
2077 1,429,240 17,840,781
2076 1,441,240 17,771,791
2075 1,453,677 17,699,428
2074 1,466,568 17,625,044
2073 1,479,672 17,548,128
2072 1,493,311 17,466,649
2071 1,507,315 17,381,598
2070 1,522,149 17,295,105
2069 1,537,091 17,205,503
2068 1,552,724 17,112,154
2067 1,568,676 17,015,090
2066 1,584,782 16,915,436
2065 1,601,356 16,812,946
2064 1,618,317 16,708,669
2063 1,635,288 16,604,296
2062 1,652,720 16,497,292
2061 1,670,255 16,386,905
2060 1,688,120 16,270,535
2059 1,705,595 16,152,614
2058 1,722,942 16,032,684
2057 1,740,252 15,909,649
2056 1,757,829 15,784,519
2055 1,775,082 15,656,542
2054 1,792,262 15,523,143
2053 1,809,221 15,389,244
2052 1,825,831 15,250,715
2051 1,842,337 15,110,389
2050 1,858,281 14,968,530
2049 1,874,666 14,821,865
2048 1,890,586 14,673,459
2047 1,906,615 14,522,926
2046 1,922,962 14,370,120
2045 1,939,938 14,213,585
2044 1,956,858 14,056,036
2043 1,974,616 13,897,765
2042 1,992,765 13,738,690
2041 2,011,342 13,577,382
2040 2,030,732 13,413,396
2039 2,051,163 13,247,486
2038 2,071,871 13,079,352
2037 2,093,068 12,909,735
2036 2,114,669 12,738,223
2035 2,136,998 12,566,543
2034 2,159,450 12,392,476
2033 2,182,023 12,218,246
2032 2,204,431 12,042,345
2031 2,227,006 11,865,316
2030 2,250,038 11,685,599
2029 2,272,963 11,504,890
2028 2,295,739 11,322,573
2027 2,318,425 11,138,409
2026 2,341,166 10,952,454
2025 2,373,265 10,765,048
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 462,020 people (a 16.5% decline), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% 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 1,858,281 people with a rank change from 145th to 150th. 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 Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.18M 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 -1.21% 1.78%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Moldova declined by 2.26%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Moldova Papua New Guinea
Current population
2341166
11002753
Population rank 145/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.13%
One net population change
9.47 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
19.9 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
15.7 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline -152 +512
Annual growth/decline -55,477 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate -2.26% +1.8%
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 - -27,088 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 6.04% of the population change in Moldova is from natural causes (a loss of 19,001 people) and 94% is from migration (a loss of 295,631 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, 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
Dubasari 28.5K
Ungheni 26.5K
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 (1960–2024, 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/moldova/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

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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)

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