The latest officially reported population of Nauru was 11,947 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nauru's population is 12,125 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.
Population statistics:
- Papua New Guinea's population is 907 times bigger than Nauru's.
- Nauru is ranked the 195th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
- The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.0001% for Nauru vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
- For the last 10 years, Nauru has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
- Since 2006, the population of Nauru has increased from 10K people to 12.1K (20.8% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).
Nauru vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | 20,717 | 18,802,138 |
| 2099 | 20,686 | 18,790,040 |
| 2098 | 20,645 | 18,776,265 |
| 2097 | 20,605 | 18,758,897 |
| 2096 | 20,570 | 18,737,707 |
| 2095 | 20,535 | 18,714,219 |
| 2094 | 20,488 | 18,687,257 |
| 2093 | 20,432 | 18,658,233 |
| 2092 | 20,386 | 18,625,772 |
| 2091 | 20,341 | 18,590,001 |
| 2090 | 20,285 | 18,549,501 |
| 2089 | 20,219 | 18,510,463 |
| 2088 | 20,152 | 18,468,827 |
| 2087 | 20,096 | 18,424,378 |
| 2086 | 20,028 | 18,376,043 |
| 2085 | 19,959 | 18,325,641 |
| 2084 | 19,880 | 18,274,394 |
| 2083 | 19,796 | 18,218,709 |
| 2082 | 19,709 | 18,163,177 |
| 2081 | 19,611 | 18,104,285 |
| 2080 | 19,525 | 18,039,008 |
| 2079 | 19,420 | 17,975,778 |
| 2078 | 19,312 | 17,908,670 |
| 2077 | 19,206 | 17,840,781 |
| 2076 | 19,098 | 17,771,791 |
| 2075 | 18,986 | 17,699,428 |
| 2074 | 18,874 | 17,625,044 |
| 2073 | 18,758 | 17,548,128 |
| 2072 | 18,638 | 17,466,649 |
| 2071 | 18,535 | 17,381,598 |
| 2070 | 18,396 | 17,295,105 |
| 2069 | 18,289 | 17,205,503 |
| 2068 | 18,168 | 17,112,154 |
| 2067 | 18,025 | 17,015,090 |
| 2066 | 17,903 | 16,915,436 |
| 2065 | 17,777 | 16,812,946 |
| 2064 | 17,649 | 16,708,669 |
| 2063 | 17,524 | 16,604,296 |
| 2062 | 17,402 | 16,497,292 |
| 2061 | 17,267 | 16,386,905 |
| 2060 | 17,137 | 16,270,535 |
| 2059 | 17,013 | 16,152,614 |
| 2058 | 16,882 | 16,032,684 |
| 2057 | 16,752 | 15,909,649 |
| 2056 | 16,612 | 15,784,519 |
| 2055 | 16,472 | 15,656,542 |
| 2054 | 16,335 | 15,523,143 |
| 2053 | 16,193 | 15,389,244 |
| 2052 | 16,049 | 15,250,715 |
| 2051 | 15,888 | 15,110,389 |
| 2050 | 15,738 | 14,968,530 |
| 2049 | 15,572 | 14,821,865 |
| 2048 | 15,412 | 14,673,459 |
| 2047 | 15,241 | 14,522,926 |
| 2046 | 15,064 | 14,370,120 |
| 2045 | 14,895 | 14,213,585 |
| 2044 | 14,718 | 14,056,036 |
| 2043 | 14,546 | 13,897,765 |
| 2042 | 14,363 | 13,738,690 |
| 2041 | 14,180 | 13,577,382 |
| 2040 | 13,996 | 13,413,396 |
| 2039 | 13,827 | 13,247,486 |
| 2038 | 13,672 | 13,079,352 |
| 2037 | 13,513 | 12,909,735 |
| 2036 | 13,363 | 12,738,223 |
| 2035 | 13,196 | 12,566,543 |
| 2034 | 13,040 | 12,392,476 |
| 2033 | 12,894 | 12,218,246 |
| 2032 | 12,758 | 12,042,345 |
| 2031 | 12,625 | 11,865,316 |
| 2030 | 12,504 | 11,685,599 |
| 2029 | 12,386 | 11,504,890 |
| 2028 | 12,292 | 11,322,573 |
| 2027 | 12,182 | 11,138,409 |
| 2026 | 12,105 | 10,952,454 |
| 2025 | 12,030 | 10,765,048 |
| 2024 | 11,947 | 10,576,502 |
| 2023 | 11,875 | 10,389,635 |
| 2022 | 11,801 | 10,203,169 |
| 2021 | 11,709 | 10,012,896 |
| 2020 | 11,643 | 9,815,746 |
| 2019 | 11,587 | 9,609,010 |
| 2018 | 11,477 | 9,394,513 |
| 2017 | 11,324 | 9,178,714 |
| 2016 | 11,150 | 8,961,718 |
| 2015 | 10,954 | 8,743,246 |
| 2014 | 10,742 | 8,523,441 |
| 2013 | 10,517 | 8,302,698 |
| 2012 | 10,267 | 8,081,390 |
| 2011 | 10,098 | 7,859,346 |
| 2010 | 10,043 | 7,633,523 |
| 2009 | 10,016 | 7,406,438 |
| 2008 | 10,009 | 7,183,002 |
| 2007 | 10,020 | 6,963,345 |
| 2006 | 10,034 | 6,747,720 |
| 2005 | 10,049 | 6,535,905 |
| 2004 | 10,060 | 6,328,041 |
| 2003 | 10,059 | 6,123,997 |
| 2002 | 10,082 | 5,924,003 |
| 2001 | 10,130 | 5,728,435 |
| 2000 | 10,168 | 5,537,064 |
| 1999 | 10,187 | 5,349,333 |
| 1998 | 10,198 | 5,166,390 |
| 1997 | 10,197 | 4,987,883 |
| 1996 | 10,183 | 4,813,361 |
| 1995 | 10,165 | 4,644,278 |
| 1994 | 10,137 | 4,480,208 |
| 1993 | 10,102 | 4,320,872 |
| 1992 | 10,021 | 4,166,699 |
| 1991 | 9,850 | 4,021,837 |
| 1990 | 9,622 | 3,896,481 |
| 1989 | 9,390 | 3,796,078 |
| 1988 | 9,165 | 3,711,880 |
| 1987 | 8,946 | 3,632,543 |
| 1986 | 8,742 | 3,554,793 |
| 1985 | 8,551 | 3,478,936 |
| 1984 | 8,377 | 3,405,198 |
| 1983 | 8,216 | 3,333,633 |
| 1982 | 8,040 | 3,264,291 |
| 1981 | 7,839 | 3,197,019 |
| 1980 | 7,649 | 3,131,512 |
| 1979 | 7,468 | 3,067,341 |
| 1978 | 7,298 | 3,003,714 |
| 1977 | 7,163 | 2,940,327 |
| 1976 | 7,064 | 2,877,327 |
| 1975 | 6,987 | 2,814,820 |
| 1974 | 6,923 | 2,752,671 |
| 1973 | 6,866 | 2,690,629 |
| 1972 | 6,812 | 2,628,432 |
| 1971 | 6,762 | 2,566,421 |
| 1970 | 6,710 | 2,505,628 |
| 1969 | 6,581 | 2,446,927 |
| 1968 | 6,328 | 2,390,803 |
| 1967 | 6,135 | 2,337,532 |
| 1966 | 6,043 | 2,285,774 |
| 1965 | 5,832 | 2,235,820 |
| 1964 | 5,515 | 2,188,325 |
| 1963 | 5,226 | 2,141,376 |
| 1962 | 4,979 | 2,093,919 |
| 1961 | 4,774 | 2,046,127 |
| 1960 | 4,607 | 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/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nauru increased by 1,116 people (a 11.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nauru gained 975 people (a 8.74% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).
Nauru was ranked 196th most populous country in 2006 and is 195th 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) Nauru's population will grow by 29.8% to 15,738 people with a rank change from 195th to 194th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.
Nauru is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.7K people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
| 2100 | 0.15% | 0.06% |
| 2099 | 0.2% | 0.07% |
| 2098 | 0.19% | 0.09% |
| 2097 | 0.17% | 0.11% |
| 2096 | 0.17% | 0.13% |
| 2095 | 0.23% | 0.14% |
| 2094 | 0.27% | 0.16% |
| 2093 | 0.23% | 0.17% |
| 2092 | 0.22% | 0.19% |
| 2091 | 0.28% | 0.22% |
| 2090 | 0.33% | 0.21% |
| 2089 | 0.33% | 0.23% |
| 2088 | 0.28% | 0.24% |
| 2087 | 0.34% | 0.26% |
| 2086 | 0.35% | 0.28% |
| 2085 | 0.39% | 0.28% |
| 2084 | 0.43% | 0.31% |
| 2083 | 0.44% | 0.31% |
| 2082 | 0.5% | 0.33% |
| 2081 | 0.44% | 0.36% |
| 2080 | 0.54% | 0.35% |
| 2079 | 0.56% | 0.37% |
| 2078 | 0.55% | 0.38% |
| 2077 | 0.57% | 0.39% |
| 2076 | 0.59% | 0.41% |
| 2075 | 0.6% | 0.42% |
| 2074 | 0.62% | 0.44% |
| 2073 | 0.65% | 0.47% |
| 2072 | 0.56% | 0.49% |
| 2071 | 0.75% | 0.5% |
| 2070 | 0.59% | 0.52% |
| 2069 | 0.66% | 0.55% |
| 2068 | 0.8% | 0.57% |
| 2067 | 0.68% | 0.59% |
| 2066 | 0.71% | 0.61% |
| 2065 | 0.73% | 0.62% |
| 2064 | 0.71% | 0.63% |
| 2063 | 0.7% | 0.65% |
| 2062 | 0.78% | 0.67% |
| 2061 | 0.76% | 0.72% |
| 2060 | 0.73% | 0.73% |
| 2059 | 0.78% | 0.75% |
| 2058 | 0.77% | 0.77% |
| 2057 | 0.85% | 0.79% |
| 2056 | 0.85% | 0.82% |
| 2055 | 0.84% | 0.86% |
| 2054 | 0.87% | 0.87% |
| 2053 | 0.9% | 0.91% |
| 2052 | 1.01% | 0.93% |
| 2051 | 0.96% | 0.95% |
| 2050 | 1.06% | 0.99% |
| 2049 | 1.04% | 1.01% |
| 2048 | 1.12% | 1.04% |
| 2047 | 1.17% | 1.06% |
| 2046 | 1.14% | 1.1% |
| 2045 | 1.2% | 1.12% |
| 2044 | 1.19% | 1.14% |
| 2043 | 1.27% | 1.16% |
| 2042 | 1.29% | 1.19% |
| 2041 | 1.32% | 1.22% |
| 2040 | 1.22% | 1.25% |
| 2039 | 1.14% | 1.29% |
| 2038 | 1.17% | 1.31% |
| 2037 | 1.12% | 1.35% |
| 2036 | 1.27% | 1.37% |
| 2035 | 1.19% | 1.4% |
| 2034 | 1.14% | 1.43% |
| 2033 | 1.06% | 1.46% |
| 2032 | 1.06% | 1.49% |
| 2031 | 0.96% | 1.54% |
| 2030 | 0.96% | 1.57% |
| 2029 | 0.77% | 1.61% |
| 2028 | 0.9% | 1.65% |
| 2027 | 0.64% | 1.7% |
| 2026 | 0.63% | 1.74% |
| 2025 | 0.7% | 1.78% |
| 2024 | 0.61% | 1.8% |
| 2023 | 0.63% | 1.83% |
| 2022 | 0.79% | 1.9% |
| 2021 | 0.57% | 2.01% |
| 2020 | 0.48% | 2.15% |
| 2019 | 0.96% | 2.28% |
| 2018 | 1.35% | 2.35% |
| 2017 | 1.56% | 2.42% |
| 2016 | 1.79% | 2.5% |
| 2015 | 1.97% | 2.58% |
| 2014 | 2.14% | 2.66% |
| 2013 | 2.43% | 2.74% |
| 2012 | 1.67% | 2.83% |
| 2011 | 0.55% | 2.96% |
| 2010 | 0.27% | 3.07% |
| 2009 | 0.07% | 3.11% |
| 2008 | -0.11% | 3.15% |
| 2007 | -0.14% | 3.2% |
| 2006 | -0.15% | 3.24% |
| 2005 | -0.11% | 3.28% |
| 2004 | 0.01% | 3.33% |
| 2003 | -0.23% | 3.38% |
| 2002 | -0.47% | 3.41% |
| 2001 | -0.37% | 3.46% |
| 2000 | -0.19% | 3.51% |
| 1999 | -0.11% | 3.54% |
| 1998 | 0.01% | 3.58% |
| 1997 | 0.14% | 3.63% |
| 1996 | 0.18% | 3.64% |
| 1995 | 0.28% | 3.66% |
| 1994 | 0.35% | 3.69% |
| 1993 | 0.81% | 3.7% |
| 1992 | 1.74% | 3.6% |
| 1991 | 2.37% | 3.22% |
| 1990 | 2.47% | 2.64% |
| 1989 | 2.45% | 2.27% |
| 1988 | 2.45% | 2.18% |
| 1987 | 2.33% | 2.19% |
| 1986 | 2.23% | 2.18% |
| 1985 | 2.08% | 2.17% |
| 1984 | 1.96% | 2.15% |
| 1983 | 2.19% | 2.12% |
| 1982 | 2.56% | 2.1% |
| 1981 | 2.48% | 2.09% |
| 1980 | 2.42% | 2.09% |
| 1979 | 2.33% | 2.12% |
| 1978 | 1.88% | 2.16% |
| 1977 | 1.4% | 2.19% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | 2.22% |
| 1975 | 0.92% | 2.26% |
| 1974 | 0.83% | 2.31% |
| 1973 | 0.79% | 2.37% |
| 1972 | 0.74% | 2.42% |
| 1971 | 0.77% | 2.43% |
| 1970 | 1.96% | 2.4% |
| 1969 | 4% | 2.35% |
| 1968 | 3.15% | 2.28% |
| 1967 | 1.52% | 2.26% |
| 1966 | 3.62% | 2.23% |
| 1965 | 5.75% | 2.17% |
| 1964 | 5.53% | 2.19% |
| 1963 | 4.96% | 2.27% |
| 1962 | 4.29% | 2.34% |
| 1961 | 3.62% | 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/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Nauru grew by 0.61%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.
Live population counters
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
12125
|
11002753
|
| Population rank | 195/197 | 89/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.0001% | 0.13% |
| One net population change |
5.07 days
|
2.81 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.21 days
|
2.06 minutes
|
| One death every |
4.1 days
|
7.76 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +0 | +512 |
| Annual growth/decline | +72 | +186,867 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.61% | +1.8% |
| Population growth rate rank | 126/197 | 59/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3 days
|
1.29 days
|
| Annual migration change | -122 | -284 |
| Net migration rank | 82/196 | 87/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 2,548 | 31,171 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 191/195 | 163/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 21.3% | 0.3% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 29/195 | 183/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -122 | - | -284 |
| 2024 | - | -121 | - | -707 |
| 2023 | 213 | -148 | 187,637 | -787 |
| 2022 | 226 | -144 | 186,861 | -787 |
| 2021 | 236 | -137 | 183,766 | 10,703 |
| 2020 | 246 | -214 | 189,130 | 10,703 |
| 2019 | 255 | -171 | 190,662 | 22,978 |
| 2018 | 265 | -131 | 190,662 | 24,684 |
| 2017 | 279 | -115 | 189,715 | 26,513 |
| 2016 | 289 | -105 | 189,281 | 28,473 |
| 2015 | 291 | -86 | 188,600 | 30,580 |
| 2014 | 290 | -69 | 187,592 | 32,840 |
| 2013 | 291 | -53 | 185,790 | 35,280 |
| 2012 | 292 | -38 | 183,658 | 37,893 |
| 2011 | 291 | -206 | 181,842 | 40,690 |
| 2010 | 281 | -246 | 178,998 | 50,106 |
| 2009 | 261 | -249 | 175,421 | 49,647 |
| 2008 | 240 | -243 | 172,823 | 48,985 |
| 2007 | 222 | -235 | 169,306 | 48,203 |
| 2006 | 209 | -224 | 166,540 | 47,191 |
| 2005 | 204 | -217 | 163,888 | 46,014 |
| 2004 | 202 | -210 | 161,023 | 44,811 |
| 2003 | 201 | -199 | 158,611 | 43,639 |
| 2002 | 200 | -247 | 155,091 | 42,657 |
| 2001 | 203 | -252 | 151,431 | 41,962 |
| 2000 | 207 | -236 | 147,496 | 41,855 |
| 1999 | 212 | -227 | 143,592 | 42,519 |
| 1998 | 214 | -217 | 136,677 | 43,091 |
| 1997 | 218 | -209 | 134,458 | 42,787 |
| 1996 | 221 | -204 | 129,802 | 41,994 |
| 1995 | 225 | -201 | 125,410 | 40,962 |
| 1994 | 229 | -196 | 122,113 | 39,669 |
| 1993 | 235 | -194 | 118,668 | 38,220 |
| 1992 | 237 | -121 | 114,818 | 36,622 |
| 1991 | 225 | 0 | 111,453 | 26,830 |
| 1990 | 214 | 20 | 110,033 | 2,398 |
| 1989 | 204 | 24 | 108,199 | -19,824 |
| 1988 | 195 | 29 | 106,256 | -26,232 |
| 1987 | 186 | 27 | 104,367 | -25,720 |
| 1986 | 178 | 21 | 102,346 | -25,495 |
| 1985 | 171 | 8 | 100,333 | -25,470 |
| 1984 | 166 | -2 | 98,103 | -25,487 |
| 1983 | 163 | -5 | 95,982 | -25,465 |
| 1982 | 162 | 30 | 93,522 | -25,355 |
| 1981 | 157 | 44 | 91,767 | -25,383 |
| 1980 | 145 | 44 | 90,266 | -25,638 |
| 1979 | 130 | 48 | 89,330 | -25,618 |
| 1978 | 111 | 40 | 88,747 | -25,208 |
| 1977 | 89 | 32 | 87,954 | -24,722 |
| 1976 | 79 | 0 | 86,965 | -24,198 |
| 1975 | 70 | 0 | 85,809 | -23,562 |
| 1974 | 63 | 0 | 84,829 | -22,771 |
| 1973 | 57 | 0 | 83,821 | -21,803 |
| 1972 | 53 | 0 | 82,672 | -20,303 |
| 1971 | 50 | 0 | 80,599 | -18,945 |
| 1970 | 49 | 0 | 78,712 | -18,773 |
| 1969 | 71 | 132 | 76,454 | -18,994 |
| 1968 | 116 | 180 | 73,983 | -19,188 |
| 1967 | 117 | -28 | 71,519 | -19,767 |
| 1966 | 123 | -32 | 69,206 | -17,454 |
| 1965 | 113 | 218 | 66,693 | -18,532 |
| 1964 | 100 | 203 | 64,558 | -17,730 |
| 1963 | 88 | 181 | 62,260 | -15,189 |
| 1962 | 75 | 158 | 59,974 | -12,141 |
| 1961 | 70 | 120 | 58,151 | -10,409 |
| 1960 | 72 | 76 | 56,326 | -2,034 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 66.2% of the population change in Nauru is from natural causes (a gain of 2,590 people) and 33.8% is from migration (a loss of 1,320 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, 2,548 residents or 21.3% of the population were not native-born in Nauru, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Nauru
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Yaren | 747 |
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Moresby | 317K |
| Lae | 101K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Nauru and Papua New Guinea
|
Nauru
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 62.6 years | 66.5 years |
| Average age | 25.3 years | 26.7 years |
| Median age | 21.4 years | 23.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 51.4:48.6 |
| Fertility rate | 3.33 births per woman | 3.1 births per woman |
| Population density | 1,568 ppl/mi² | 62.6 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/nauru/papua-new-guinea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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