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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Namibia was 3,030,131 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Namibia's population is 3,173,089 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 3.47 times bigger than Namibia's.
  • Namibia is ranked the 134th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.04% for Namibia vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Namibia has had an average growth rate of +2.73% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Namibia has increased from 1.99M people to 3.17M (59.3% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Namibia vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Namibia Papua New Guinea
2100 5,958,153 18,802,138
2099 5,952,623 18,790,040
2098 5,947,142 18,776,265
2097 5,942,285 18,758,897
2096 5,938,162 18,737,707
2095 5,930,395 18,714,219
2094 5,922,248 18,687,257
2093 5,911,235 18,658,233
2092 5,899,026 18,625,772
2091 5,886,490 18,590,001
2090 5,871,938 18,549,501
2089 5,858,234 18,510,463
2088 5,842,720 18,468,827
2087 5,825,856 18,424,378
2086 5,806,643 18,376,043
2085 5,789,246 18,325,641
2084 5,771,050 18,274,394
2083 5,751,610 18,218,709
2082 5,730,648 18,163,177
2081 5,707,476 18,104,285
2080 5,682,842 18,039,008
2079 5,659,698 17,975,778
2078 5,634,313 17,908,670
2077 5,608,096 17,840,781
2076 5,580,829 17,771,791
2075 5,551,107 17,699,428
2074 5,522,025 17,625,044
2073 5,494,180 17,548,128
2072 5,464,749 17,466,649
2071 5,434,461 17,381,598
2070 5,403,822 17,295,105
2069 5,371,517 17,205,503
2068 5,336,950 17,112,154
2067 5,300,707 17,015,090
2066 5,263,191 16,915,436
2065 5,227,346 16,812,946
2064 5,190,323 16,708,669
2063 5,150,579 16,604,296
2062 5,109,760 16,497,292
2061 5,068,478 16,386,905
2060 5,023,587 16,270,535
2059 4,979,591 16,152,614
2058 4,933,964 16,032,684
2057 4,887,985 15,909,649
2056 4,840,537 15,784,519
2055 4,790,848 15,656,542
2054 4,741,942 15,523,143
2053 4,691,180 15,389,244
2052 4,639,835 15,250,715
2051 4,587,353 15,110,389
2050 4,533,502 14,968,530
2049 4,482,650 14,821,865
2048 4,430,309 14,673,459
2047 4,373,597 14,522,926
2046 4,318,050 14,370,120
2045 4,259,166 14,213,585
2044 4,202,338 14,056,036
2043 4,144,892 13,897,765
2042 4,088,713 13,738,690
2041 4,032,347 13,577,382
2040 3,976,987 13,413,396
2039 3,920,720 13,247,486
2038 3,862,015 13,079,352
2037 3,804,482 12,909,735
2036 3,747,072 12,738,223
2035 3,689,163 12,566,543
2034 3,631,737 12,392,476
2033 3,575,000 12,218,246
2032 3,516,310 12,042,345
2031 3,456,265 11,865,316
2030 3,395,964 11,685,599
2029 3,336,698 11,504,890
2028 3,277,428 11,322,573
2027 3,216,917 11,138,409
2026 3,156,839 10,952,454
2025 3,094,769 10,765,048
2024 3,030,131 10,576,502
2023 2,963,095 10,389,635
2022 2,889,662 10,203,169
2021 2,810,548 10,012,896
2020 2,728,762 9,815,746
2019 2,650,494 9,609,010
2018 2,577,327 9,394,513
2017 2,506,853 9,178,714
2016 2,439,213 8,961,718
2015 2,374,300 8,743,246
2014 2,312,139 8,523,441
2013 2,252,508 8,302,698
2012 2,194,654 8,081,390
2011 2,146,325 7,859,346
2010 2,109,811 7,633,523
2009 2,077,394 7,406,438
2008 2,047,056 7,183,002
2007 2,018,600 6,963,345
2006 1,991,888 6,747,720
2005 1,966,582 6,535,905
2004 1,942,082 6,328,041
2003 1,917,464 6,123,997
2002 1,889,970 5,924,003
2001 1,857,048 5,728,435
2000 1,818,647 5,537,064
1999 1,776,368 5,349,333
1998 1,732,745 5,166,390
1997 1,689,264 4,987,883
1996 1,646,103 4,813,361
1995 1,602,170 4,644,278
1994 1,556,304 4,480,208
1993 1,508,697 4,320,872
1992 1,461,322 4,166,699
1991 1,415,684 4,021,837
1990 1,369,303 3,896,481
1989 1,288,947 3,796,078
1988 1,209,696 3,711,880
1987 1,167,889 3,632,543
1986 1,131,081 3,554,793
1985 1,096,890 3,478,936
1984 1,065,989 3,405,198
1983 1,037,511 3,333,633
1982 1,010,308 3,264,291
1981 992,500 3,197,019
1980 981,434 3,131,512
1979 962,825 3,067,341
1978 947,269 3,003,714
1977 931,104 2,940,327
1976 906,566 2,877,327
1975 881,032 2,814,820
1974 854,320 2,752,671
1973 828,928 2,690,629
1972 804,399 2,628,432
1971 780,584 2,566,421
1970 757,868 2,505,628
1969 736,120 2,446,927
1968 715,542 2,390,803
1967 696,045 2,337,532
1966 677,655 2,285,774
1965 660,558 2,235,820
1964 644,530 2,188,325
1963 629,589 2,141,376
1962 615,759 2,093,919
1961 603,067 2,046,127
1960 591,465 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/namibia/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Namibia increased by 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Namibia gained 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Namibia was ranked 143rd most populous country in 2006 and is 134th 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) Namibia's population will grow by 42.9% to 4,533,502 people with a rank change from 134th to 131st. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Namibia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.96M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Namibia Papua New Guinea
2100 0.09% 0.06%
2099 0.09% 0.07%
2098 0.08% 0.09%
2097 0.07% 0.11%
2096 0.13% 0.13%
2095 0.14% 0.14%
2094 0.19% 0.16%
2093 0.21% 0.17%
2092 0.21% 0.19%
2091 0.25% 0.22%
2090 0.23% 0.21%
2089 0.27% 0.23%
2088 0.29% 0.24%
2087 0.33% 0.26%
2086 0.3% 0.28%
2085 0.32% 0.28%
2084 0.34% 0.31%
2083 0.37% 0.31%
2082 0.41% 0.33%
2081 0.43% 0.36%
2080 0.41% 0.35%
2079 0.45% 0.37%
2078 0.47% 0.38%
2077 0.49% 0.39%
2076 0.54% 0.41%
2075 0.53% 0.42%
2074 0.51% 0.44%
2073 0.54% 0.47%
2072 0.56% 0.49%
2071 0.57% 0.5%
2070 0.6% 0.52%
2069 0.65% 0.55%
2068 0.68% 0.57%
2067 0.71% 0.59%
2066 0.69% 0.61%
2065 0.71% 0.62%
2064 0.77% 0.63%
2063 0.8% 0.65%
2062 0.81% 0.67%
2061 0.89% 0.72%
2060 0.88% 0.73%
2059 0.92% 0.75%
2058 0.94% 0.77%
2057 0.98% 0.79%
2056 1.04% 0.82%
2055 1.03% 0.86%
2054 1.08% 0.87%
2053 1.11% 0.91%
2052 1.14% 0.93%
2051 1.19% 0.95%
2050 1.13% 0.99%
2049 1.18% 1.01%
2048 1.3% 1.04%
2047 1.29% 1.06%
2046 1.38% 1.1%
2045 1.35% 1.12%
2044 1.39% 1.14%
2043 1.37% 1.16%
2042 1.4% 1.19%
2041 1.39% 1.22%
2040 1.44% 1.25%
2039 1.52% 1.29%
2038 1.51% 1.31%
2037 1.53% 1.35%
2036 1.57% 1.37%
2035 1.58% 1.4%
2034 1.59% 1.43%
2033 1.67% 1.46%
2032 1.74% 1.49%
2031 1.78% 1.54%
2030 1.78% 1.57%
2029 1.81% 1.61%
2028 1.88% 1.65%
2027 1.9% 1.7%
2026 2.01% 1.74%
2025 2.13% 1.78%
2024 2.26% 1.8%
2023 2.54% 1.83%
2022 2.81% 1.9%
2021 3% 2.01%
2020 2.95% 2.15%
2019 2.84% 2.28%
2018 2.81% 2.35%
2017 2.77% 2.42%
2016 2.73% 2.5%
2015 2.69% 2.58%
2014 2.65% 2.66%
2013 2.64% 2.74%
2012 2.25% 2.83%
2011 1.73% 2.96%
2010 1.56% 3.07%
2009 1.48% 3.11%
2008 1.41% 3.15%
2007 1.34% 3.2%
2006 1.29% 3.24%
2005 1.26% 3.28%
2004 1.28% 3.33%
2003 1.45% 3.38%
2002 1.77% 3.41%
2001 2.11% 3.46%
2000 2.38% 3.51%
1999 2.52% 3.54%
1998 2.57% 3.58%
1997 2.62% 3.63%
1996 2.74% 3.64%
1995 2.95% 3.66%
1994 3.16% 3.69%
1993 3.24% 3.7%
1992 3.22% 3.6%
1991 3.39% 3.22%
1990 6.23% 2.64%
1989 6.55% 2.27%
1988 3.58% 2.18%
1987 3.25% 2.19%
1986 3.12% 2.18%
1985 2.9% 2.17%
1984 2.74% 2.15%
1983 2.69% 2.12%
1982 1.79% 2.1%
1981 1.13% 2.09%
1980 1.93% 2.09%
1979 1.64% 2.12%
1978 1.74% 2.16%
1977 2.71% 2.19%
1976 2.9% 2.22%
1975 3.13% 2.26%
1974 3.06% 2.31%
1973 3.05% 2.37%
1972 3.05% 2.42%
1971 3% 2.43%
1970 2.95% 2.4%
1969 2.88% 2.35%
1968 2.8% 2.28%
1967 2.71% 2.26%
1966 2.59% 2.23%
1965 2.49% 2.17%
1964 2.37% 2.19%
1963 2.25% 2.27%
1962 2.1% 2.34%
1961 1.96% 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/namibia/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

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

Live population counters

Namibia Papua New Guinea
Current population
3173089
11002753
Population rank 134/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.13%
One net population change
7.84 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
6.85 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
28.8 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +184 +512
Annual growth/decline +67,036 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +2.26% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 41/197 59/197
One migration net change every
4.71 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change +1,866 -284
Net migration rank 57/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 116,035 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 127/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 108/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Namibia
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Namibia Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,866 - -284
2024 - 4,211 - -707
2023 58,435 11,675 187,637 -787
2022 54,534 22,212 186,861 -787
2021 50,160 31,327 183,766 10,703
2020 55,034 27,056 189,130 10,703
2019 54,769 19,676 190,662 22,978
2018 53,970 17,920 190,662 24,684
2017 52,975 16,080 189,715 26,513
2016 52,228 14,002 189,281 28,473
2015 50,846 12,755 188,600 30,580
2014 49,581 11,134 187,592 32,840
2013 47,801 10,748 185,790 35,280
2012 46,204 10,957 183,658 37,893
2011 43,557 -4,067 181,842 40,690
2010 42,046 -8,518 178,998 50,106
2009 39,942 -8,626 175,421 49,647
2008 38,147 -8,775 172,823 48,985
2007 36,430 -8,905 169,306 48,203
2006 34,690 -8,792 166,540 47,191
2005 32,909 -8,195 163,888 46,014
2004 31,478 -7,192 161,023 44,811
2003 31,115 -6,153 158,611 43,639
2002 31,947 -1,913 155,091 42,657
2001 32,942 2,869 151,431 41,962
2000 35,280 5,709 147,496 41,855
1999 37,233 6,333 143,592 42,519
1998 37,500 6,180 136,677 43,091
1997 37,256 6,023 134,458 42,787
1996 37,177 5,866 129,802 41,994
1995 39,119 5,712 125,410 40,962
1994 41,316 5,578 122,113 39,669
1993 42,861 5,464 118,668 38,220
1992 43,945 2,487 114,818 36,622
1991 44,523 309 111,453 26,830
1990 43,956 3,969 110,033 2,398
1989 37,715 75,072 108,199 -19,824
1988 34,798 10,916 106,256 -26,232
1987 33,340 4,559 104,367 -25,720
1986 31,764 3,953 102,346 -25,495
1985 30,575 2,090 100,333 -25,470
1984 29,395 -267 98,103 -25,487
1983 28,307 -481 95,982 -25,465
1982 27,474 -889 93,522 -25,355
1981 27,938 -18,901 91,767 -25,383
1980 28,142 -15,041 90,266 -25,638
1979 28,930 -4,818 89,330 -25,618
1978 29,821 -22,827 88,747 -25,208
1977 29,241 -3,907 87,954 -24,722
1976 28,785 -5,048 86,965 -24,198
1975 27,882 -553 85,809 -23,562
1974 26,844 -744 84,829 -22,771
1973 25,754 -1,066 83,821 -21,803
1972 24,606 -236 82,672 -20,303
1971 23,467 -208 80,599 -18,945
1970 22,414 -244 78,712 -18,773
1969 21,387 -57 76,454 -18,994
1968 20,470 -636 73,983 -19,188
1967 19,498 -339 71,519 -19,767
1966 18,635 -1,023 69,206 -17,454
1965 17,902 -1,327 66,693 -18,532
1964 17,134 -1,660 64,558 -17,730
1963 16,430 -2,016 62,260 -15,189
1962 15,656 -2,403 59,974 -12,141
1961 14,936 -2,807 58,151 -10,409
1960 14,307 -3,227 56,326 -2,034

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 74.3% of the population change in Namibia is from natural causes (a gain of 532,532 people) and 25.7% is from migration (a gain of 183,837 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, 116,035 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Namibia, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Namibia
City Population
Windhoek 431K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Oshikango 12.4K
Omaruru 10.8K
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/namibia/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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