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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nepal was 29,618,118 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nepal's population is 29,619,950 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Nepal's population is 2.68 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 +0.62% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nepal has increased from 26.6M people to 29.6M (11.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% 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 31,916,191 18,798,240
2099 32,104,658 18,786,145
2098 32,291,766 18,772,372
2097 32,478,376 18,755,008
2096 32,662,029 18,733,822
2095 32,842,809 18,710,340
2094 33,023,754 18,683,383
2093 33,200,660 18,654,365
2092 33,375,774 18,621,911
2091 33,547,026 18,586,147
2090 33,714,253 18,545,656
2089 33,878,299 18,506,626
2088 34,037,329 18,464,999
2087 34,190,255 18,420,558
2086 34,337,807 18,372,233
2085 34,483,366 18,321,842
2084 34,620,498 18,270,605
2083 34,750,155 18,214,932
2082 34,872,031 18,159,412
2081 34,987,218 18,100,531
2080 35,095,973 18,035,268
2079 35,198,820 17,972,052
2078 35,292,530 17,904,957
2077 35,377,971 17,837,082
2076 35,456,092 17,768,107
2075 35,525,668 17,695,759
2074 35,588,497 17,621,390
2073 35,642,802 17,544,490
2072 35,686,332 17,463,028
2071 35,725,442 17,377,995
2070 35,755,056 17,291,519
2069 35,774,677 17,201,936
2068 35,785,895 17,108,606
2067 35,789,572 17,011,562
2066 35,785,710 16,911,929
2065 35,774,308 16,809,460
2064 35,753,136 16,705,205
2063 35,725,408 16,600,853
2062 35,685,285 16,493,872
2061 35,638,790 16,383,508
2060 35,583,129 16,267,162
2059 35,518,416 16,149,265
2058 35,442,760 16,029,360
2057 35,360,939 15,906,350
2056 35,268,910 15,781,247
2055 35,170,656 15,653,296
2054 35,065,508 15,519,925
2053 34,951,722 15,386,054
2052 34,831,085 15,247,553
2051 34,699,347 15,107,257
2050 34,561,226 14,965,427
2049 34,415,794 14,818,793
2048 34,265,080 14,670,417
2047 34,106,257 14,519,915
2046 33,936,663 14,367,141
2045 33,762,505 14,210,639
2044 33,581,319 14,053,122
2043 33,394,849 13,894,884
2042 33,200,691 13,735,841
2041 33,001,382 13,574,567
2040 32,795,384 13,410,615
2039 32,583,834 13,244,740
2038 32,363,750 13,076,640
2037 32,138,947 12,907,059
2036 31,906,773 12,735,582
2035 31,667,683 12,563,938
2034 31,421,060 12,389,907
2033 31,165,782 12,215,713
2032 30,904,004 12,039,848
2031 30,636,967 11,862,856
2030 30,362,343 11,683,177
2029 30,081,388 11,502,504
2028 29,793,481 11,320,226
2027 29,640,694 11,136,100
2026 29,598,041 10,950,183
2025 29,618,118 10,762,817
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,664,488 people (a 5.95% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% 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 34,561,226 people with a rank change from 52nd to 58th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

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 -0.11% 1.76%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Nepal declined by 0.11%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Nepal Papua New Guinea
Current population
29619950
11045681
Population rank 52/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.36% 0.13%
One net population change
16 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
56.1 seconds
2.05 minutes
One death every
2.54 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline -90 +510
Annual growth/decline -32,936 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate -0.11% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 167/197 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 355,516 -401,282 187,595 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 66.4% of the population change in Nepal is from natural causes (a gain of 3,842,099 people) and 33.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,942,790 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/nepal/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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