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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nepal was 29,651,054 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nepal's population is 29,596,762 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Nepal's population is 2.69 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Nepal is ranked the 52nd most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.49% of the world: 0.36% for Nepal vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Nepal has had an average growth rate of +0.66% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nepal has increased from 26.6M people to 29.6M (11.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Nepal vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Nepal
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nepal Papua New Guinea
2100 31,902,377 18,802,138
2099 32,090,762 18,790,040
2098 32,277,789 18,776,265
2097 32,464,318 18,758,897
2096 32,647,891 18,737,707
2095 32,828,594 18,714,219
2094 33,009,460 18,687,257
2093 33,186,290 18,658,233
2092 33,361,327 18,625,772
2091 33,532,505 18,590,001
2090 33,699,660 18,549,501
2089 33,863,636 18,510,463
2088 34,022,597 18,468,827
2087 34,175,457 18,424,378
2086 34,322,945 18,376,043
2085 34,468,441 18,325,641
2084 34,605,513 18,274,394
2083 34,735,114 18,218,709
2082 34,856,938 18,163,177
2081 34,972,075 18,104,285
2080 35,080,783 18,039,008
2079 35,183,584 17,975,778
2078 35,277,254 17,908,670
2077 35,362,658 17,840,781
2076 35,440,746 17,771,791
2075 35,510,291 17,699,428
2074 35,573,094 17,625,044
2073 35,627,375 17,548,128
2072 35,670,886 17,466,649
2071 35,709,979 17,381,598
2070 35,739,580 17,295,105
2069 35,759,193 17,205,503
2068 35,770,405 17,112,154
2067 35,774,081 17,015,090
2066 35,770,220 16,915,436
2065 35,758,824 16,812,946
2064 35,737,661 16,708,669
2063 35,709,945 16,604,296
2062 35,669,839 16,497,292
2061 35,623,365 16,386,905
2060 35,567,728 16,270,535
2059 35,503,043 16,152,614
2058 35,427,419 16,032,684
2057 35,345,633 15,909,649
2056 35,253,644 15,784,519
2055 35,155,433 15,656,542
2054 35,050,330 15,523,143
2053 34,936,594 15,389,244
2052 34,816,009 15,250,715
2051 34,684,328 15,110,389
2050 34,546,267 14,968,530
2049 34,400,898 14,821,865
2048 34,250,249 14,673,459
2047 34,091,495 14,522,926
2046 33,921,975 14,370,120
2045 33,747,892 14,213,585
2044 33,566,784 14,056,036
2043 33,380,395 13,897,765
2042 33,186,321 13,738,690
2041 32,987,097 13,577,382
2040 32,781,189 13,413,396
2039 32,569,731 13,247,486
2038 32,349,742 13,079,352
2037 32,125,036 12,909,735
2036 31,892,962 12,738,223
2035 31,653,976 12,566,543
2034 31,407,460 12,392,476
2033 31,152,292 12,218,246
2032 30,890,627 12,042,345
2031 30,623,706 11,865,316
2030 30,349,201 11,685,599
2029 30,068,368 11,504,890
2028 29,780,585 11,322,573
2027 29,627,864 11,138,409
2026 29,585,230 10,952,454
2025 29,605,298 10,765,048
2024 29,651,054 10,576,502
2023 29,694,614 10,389,635
2022 29,715,436 10,203,169
2021 29,475,010 10,012,896
2020 28,966,574 9,815,746
2019 28,414,064 9,609,010
2018 28,079,689 9,394,513
2017 28,011,258 9,178,714
2016 27,955,462 8,961,718
2015 27,823,629 8,743,246
2014 27,672,370 8,523,441
2013 27,589,996 8,302,698
2012 27,534,915 8,081,390
2011 27,464,494 7,859,346
2010 27,341,952 7,633,523
2009 27,173,035 7,406,438
2008 26,990,037 7,183,002
2007 26,788,492 6,963,345
2006 26,565,425 6,747,720
2005 26,309,458 6,535,905
2004 26,016,656 6,328,041
2003 25,688,758 6,123,997
2002 25,328,981 5,924,003
2001 24,946,748 5,728,435
2000 24,546,509 5,537,064
1999 24,125,199 5,349,333
1998 23,680,357 5,166,390
1997 23,219,463 4,987,883
1996 22,741,862 4,813,361
1995 22,245,439 4,644,278
1994 21,717,479 4,480,208
1993 21,180,159 4,320,872
1992 20,609,707 4,166,699
1991 20,036,500 4,021,837
1990 19,524,573 3,896,481
1989 19,057,807 3,796,078
1988 18,638,661 3,711,880
1987 18,250,505 3,632,543
1986 17,868,124 3,554,793
1985 17,477,692 3,478,936
1984 17,085,242 3,405,198
1983 16,689,119 3,333,633
1982 16,297,987 3,264,291
1981 15,922,423 3,197,019
1980 15,553,105 3,131,512
1979 15,190,590 3,067,341
1978 14,839,695 3,003,714
1977 14,499,175 2,940,327
1976 14,177,649 2,877,327
1975 13,870,695 2,814,820
1974 13,568,435 2,752,671
1973 13,275,239 2,690,629
1972 12,989,099 2,628,432
1971 12,710,061 2,566,421
1970 12,436,190 2,505,628
1969 12,167,036 2,446,927
1968 11,906,266 2,390,803
1967 11,652,716 2,337,532
1966 11,408,710 2,285,774
1965 11,173,411 2,235,820
1964 10,946,392 2,188,325
1963 10,729,818 2,141,376
1962 10,521,116 2,093,919
1961 10,318,396 2,046,127
1960 10,123,658 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/nepal/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nepal increased by 1,390,037 people (a 5.23% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nepal gained 1,641,300 people (a 5.87% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Nepal was ranked 43rd most populous country in 2006 and is 52nd 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) Nepal's population will grow by 16.7% to 34,546,267 people with a rank change from 52nd to 58th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Nepal is projected to reach its peak in 2067 at 35.8M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Nepal
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nepal Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.59% 0.06%
2099 -0.58% 0.07%
2098 -0.57% 0.09%
2097 -0.56% 0.11%
2096 -0.55% 0.13%
2095 -0.55% 0.14%
2094 -0.53% 0.16%
2093 -0.52% 0.17%
2092 -0.51% 0.19%
2091 -0.5% 0.22%
2090 -0.48% 0.21%
2089 -0.47% 0.23%
2088 -0.45% 0.24%
2087 -0.43% 0.26%
2086 -0.42% 0.28%
2085 -0.4% 0.28%
2084 -0.37% 0.31%
2083 -0.35% 0.31%
2082 -0.33% 0.33%
2081 -0.31% 0.36%
2080 -0.29% 0.35%
2079 -0.27% 0.37%
2078 -0.24% 0.38%
2077 -0.22% 0.39%
2076 -0.2% 0.41%
2075 -0.18% 0.42%
2074 -0.15% 0.44%
2073 -0.12% 0.47%
2072 -0.11% 0.49%
2071 -0.08% 0.5%
2070 -0.05% 0.52%
2069 -0.03% 0.55%
2068 -0.01% 0.57%
2067 0.01% 0.59%
2066 0.03% 0.61%
2065 0.06% 0.62%
2064 0.08% 0.63%
2063 0.11% 0.65%
2062 0.13% 0.67%
2061 0.16% 0.72%
2060 0.18% 0.73%
2059 0.21% 0.75%
2058 0.23% 0.77%
2057 0.26% 0.79%
2056 0.28% 0.82%
2055 0.3% 0.86%
2054 0.33% 0.87%
2053 0.35% 0.91%
2052 0.38% 0.93%
2051 0.4% 0.95%
2050 0.42% 0.99%
2049 0.44% 1.01%
2048 0.47% 1.04%
2047 0.5% 1.06%
2046 0.52% 1.1%
2045 0.54% 1.12%
2044 0.56% 1.14%
2043 0.58% 1.16%
2042 0.6% 1.19%
2041 0.63% 1.22%
2040 0.65% 1.25%
2039 0.68% 1.29%
2038 0.7% 1.31%
2037 0.73% 1.35%
2036 0.75% 1.37%
2035 0.78% 1.4%
2034 0.82% 1.43%
2033 0.85% 1.46%
2032 0.87% 1.49%
2031 0.9% 1.54%
2030 0.93% 1.57%
2029 0.97% 1.61%
2028 0.52% 1.65%
2027 0.14% 1.7%
2026 -0.07% 1.74%
2025 -0.15% 1.78%
2024 -0.15% 1.8%
2023 -0.07% 1.83%
2022 0.82% 1.9%
2021 1.76% 2.01%
2020 1.94% 2.15%
2019 1.19% 2.28%
2018 0.24% 2.35%
2017 0.2% 2.42%
2016 0.47% 2.5%
2015 0.55% 2.58%
2014 0.3% 2.66%
2013 0.2% 2.74%
2012 0.26% 2.83%
2011 0.45% 2.96%
2010 0.62% 3.07%
2009 0.68% 3.11%
2008 0.75% 3.15%
2007 0.84% 3.2%
2006 0.97% 3.24%
2005 1.13% 3.28%
2004 1.28% 3.33%
2003 1.42% 3.38%
2002 1.53% 3.41%
2001 1.63% 3.46%
2000 1.75% 3.51%
1999 1.88% 3.54%
1998 1.98% 3.58%
1997 2.1% 3.63%
1996 2.23% 3.64%
1995 2.43% 3.66%
1994 2.54% 3.69%
1993 2.77% 3.7%
1992 2.86% 3.6%
1991 2.62% 3.22%
1990 2.45% 2.64%
1989 2.25% 2.27%
1988 2.13% 2.18%
1987 2.14% 2.19%
1986 2.23% 2.18%
1985 2.3% 2.17%
1984 2.37% 2.15%
1983 2.4% 2.12%
1982 2.36% 2.1%
1981 2.37% 2.09%
1980 2.39% 2.09%
1979 2.36% 2.12%
1978 2.35% 2.16%
1977 2.27% 2.19%
1976 2.21% 2.22%
1975 2.23% 2.26%
1974 2.21% 2.31%
1973 2.2% 2.37%
1972 2.2% 2.42%
1971 2.2% 2.43%
1970 2.21% 2.4%
1969 2.19% 2.35%
1968 2.18% 2.28%
1967 2.14% 2.26%
1966 2.11% 2.23%
1965 2.07% 2.17%
1964 2.02% 2.19%
1963 1.98% 2.27%
1962 1.96% 2.34%
1961 1.92% 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/nepal/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nepal declined by 0.15%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Nepal Papua New Guinea
Current population
29596762
11002753
Population rank 52/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.36% 0.13%
One net population change
12.1 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
54.9 seconds
2.06 minutes
One death every
2.55 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline -119 +512
Annual growth/decline -43,560 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate -0.15% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 59/197
One migration net change every
1.45 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change -364,699 -284
Net migration rank 193/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 470,719 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 82/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.6% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 142/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nepal
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nepal Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -364,699 - -284
2024 - -401,282 - -707
2023 368,450 -409,782 187,637 -787
2022 379,021 -379,321 186,861 -787
2021 351,165 130,001 183,766 10,703
2020 373,553 162,139 189,130 10,703
2019 387,113 182,203 190,662 22,978
2018 394,576 -295,151 190,662 24,684
2017 406,219 -368,787 189,715 26,513
2016 415,921 -341,748 189,281 28,473
2015 410,565 -221,062 188,600 30,580
2014 423,166 -310,156 187,592 32,840
2013 424,804 -373,064 185,790 35,280
2012 430,151 -371,707 183,658 37,893
2011 429,957 -347,552 181,842 40,690
2010 432,631 -269,963 178,998 50,106
2009 441,290 -266,144 175,421 49,647
2008 452,353 -261,540 172,823 48,985
2007 464,780 -252,526 169,306 48,203
2006 475,335 -241,455 166,540 47,191
2005 489,093 -211,024 163,888 46,014
2004 504,853 -197,336 161,023 44,811
2003 516,575 -168,314 158,611 43,639
2002 525,045 -153,730 155,091 42,657
2001 542,118 -148,973 151,431 41,962
2000 554,506 -147,193 147,496 41,855
1999 557,847 -122,551 143,592 42,519
1998 562,787 -108,400 136,677 43,091
1997 565,882 -98,454 134,458 42,787
1996 580,099 -92,307 129,802 41,994
1995 591,283 -86,232 125,410 40,962
1994 578,293 -27,415 122,113 39,669
1993 561,549 -37,782 118,668 38,220
1992 533,029 84,113 114,818 36,622
1991 512,233 17,056 111,453 26,830
1990 495,202 -640 110,033 2,398
1989 478,771 -39,808 108,199 -19,824
1988 463,581 -64,246 106,256 -26,232
1987 449,400 -72,437 104,367 -25,720
1986 434,802 -47,017 102,346 -25,495
1985 423,240 -30,154 100,333 -25,470
1984 411,122 -19,300 98,103 -25,487
1983 399,103 1,304 95,982 -25,465
1982 385,741 -3,898 93,522 -25,355
1981 374,145 -4,855 91,767 -25,383
1980 364,254 5,084 90,266 -25,638
1979 355,597 88 89,330 -25,618
1978 345,765 346 88,747 -25,208
1977 332,843 2,108 87,954 -24,722
1976 323,222 -15,119 86,965 -24,198
1975 312,479 -6,686 85,809 -23,562
1974 303,078 -4,361 84,829 -22,771
1973 288,750 -1,076 83,821 -21,803
1972 286,708 -2,107 82,672 -20,303
1971 280,752 -7,284 80,599 -18,945
1970 272,439 1,847 78,712 -18,773
1969 264,560 -527 76,454 -18,994
1968 258,259 -746 73,983 -19,188
1967 249,240 347 71,519 -19,767
1966 241,716 -3,306 69,206 -17,454
1965 233,726 -1,551 66,693 -18,532
1964 227,948 -6,087 64,558 -17,730
1963 219,586 -8,303 62,260 -15,189
1962 215,368 -9,249 59,974 -12,141
1961 209,917 -10,601 58,151 -10,409
1960 203,374 -13,223 56,326 -2,034

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 67.9% of the population change in Nepal is from natural causes (a gain of 3,909,749 people) and 32.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,851,664 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, 470,719 residents or 1.6% of the population were not native-born in Nepal, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K
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/nepal/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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