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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 1.54 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.33% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Nicaragua vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Papua New Guinea
2100 8,688,116 18,802,138
2099 8,724,538 18,790,040
2098 8,760,232 18,776,265
2097 8,794,755 18,758,897
2096 8,828,433 18,737,707
2095 8,861,157 18,714,219
2094 8,892,755 18,687,257
2093 8,924,287 18,658,233
2092 8,954,488 18,625,772
2091 8,984,026 18,590,001
2090 9,012,075 18,549,501
2089 9,039,709 18,510,463
2088 9,065,862 18,468,827
2087 9,090,942 18,424,378
2086 9,115,336 18,376,043
2085 9,138,363 18,325,641
2084 9,160,205 18,274,394
2083 9,180,483 18,218,709
2082 9,199,639 18,163,177
2081 9,217,574 18,104,285
2080 9,233,677 18,039,008
2079 9,247,995 17,975,778
2078 9,260,269 17,908,670
2077 9,271,296 17,840,781
2076 9,280,355 17,771,791
2075 9,287,263 17,699,428
2074 9,293,340 17,625,044
2073 9,297,217 17,548,128
2072 9,298,930 17,466,649
2071 9,298,548 17,381,598
2070 9,296,541 17,295,105
2069 9,292,245 17,205,503
2068 9,285,519 17,112,154
2067 9,277,073 17,015,090
2066 9,266,063 16,915,436
2065 9,253,359 16,812,946
2064 9,238,451 16,708,669
2063 9,221,261 16,604,296
2062 9,201,687 16,497,292
2061 9,180,231 16,386,905
2060 9,156,164 16,270,535
2059 9,129,485 16,152,614
2058 9,100,437 16,032,684
2057 9,069,770 15,909,649
2056 9,037,076 15,784,519
2055 9,002,004 15,656,542
2054 8,964,646 15,523,143
2053 8,925,248 15,389,244
2052 8,883,323 15,250,715
2051 8,838,651 15,110,389
2050 8,791,647 14,968,530
2049 8,743,003 14,821,865
2048 8,691,701 14,673,459
2047 8,638,293 14,522,926
2046 8,583,244 14,370,120
2045 8,525,953 14,213,585
2044 8,466,669 14,056,036
2043 8,405,733 13,897,765
2042 8,342,871 13,738,690
2041 8,278,159 13,577,382
2040 8,211,510 13,413,396
2039 8,143,346 13,247,486
2038 8,072,943 13,079,352
2037 8,000,701 12,909,735
2036 7,926,969 12,738,223
2035 7,851,540 12,566,543
2034 7,774,327 12,392,476
2033 7,695,506 12,218,246
2032 7,615,273 12,042,345
2031 7,533,169 11,865,316
2030 7,449,842 11,685,599
2029 7,364,850 11,504,890
2028 7,278,061 11,322,573
2027 7,189,755 11,138,409
2026 7,100,090 10,952,454
2025 7,008,896 10,765,048
2024 6,916,140 10,576,502
2023 6,823,613 10,389,635
2022 6,730,654 10,203,169
2021 6,644,741 10,012,896
2020 6,565,267 9,815,746
2019 6,483,657 9,609,010
2018 6,400,080 9,394,513
2017 6,316,231 9,178,714
2016 6,232,666 8,961,718
2015 6,149,417 8,743,246
2014 6,066,492 8,523,441
2013 5,983,845 8,302,698
2012 5,901,287 8,081,390
2011 5,819,051 7,859,346
2010 5,737,450 7,633,523
2009 5,656,601 7,406,438
2008 5,576,593 7,183,002
2007 5,497,243 6,963,345
2006 5,418,855 6,747,720
2005 5,342,105 6,535,905
2004 5,272,912 6,328,041
2003 5,210,963 6,123,997
2002 5,149,909 5,924,003
2001 5,087,825 5,728,435
2000 5,022,633 5,537,064
1999 4,954,018 5,349,333
1998 4,883,655 5,166,390
1997 4,809,573 4,987,883
1996 4,729,974 4,813,361
1995 4,642,931 4,644,278
1994 4,549,316 4,480,208
1993 4,453,732 4,320,872
1992 4,357,026 4,166,699
1991 4,259,637 4,021,837
1990 4,162,559 3,896,481
1989 4,066,476 3,796,078
1988 3,972,320 3,711,880
1987 3,882,164 3,632,543
1986 3,794,157 3,554,793
1985 3,706,479 3,478,936
1984 3,619,104 3,405,198
1983 3,530,282 3,333,633
1982 3,438,745 3,264,291
1981 3,345,674 3,197,019
1980 3,252,403 3,131,512
1979 3,164,525 3,067,341
1978 3,080,314 3,003,714
1977 2,992,534 2,940,327
1976 2,903,851 2,877,327
1975 2,816,943 2,814,820
1974 2,732,075 2,752,671
1973 2,649,278 2,690,629
1972 2,573,578 2,628,432
1971 2,499,825 2,566,421
1970 2,423,065 2,505,628
1969 2,348,398 2,446,927
1968 2,275,836 2,390,803
1967 2,205,567 2,337,532
1966 2,137,820 2,285,774
1965 2,072,681 2,235,820
1964 2,010,176 2,188,325
1963 1,950,159 2,141,376
1962 1,892,320 2,093,919
1961 1,836,451 2,046,127
1960 1,782,370 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/nicaragua/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th 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) Nicaragua's population will grow by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people with a rank change from 107th to 108th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.42% 0.06%
2099 -0.41% 0.07%
2098 -0.39% 0.09%
2097 -0.38% 0.11%
2096 -0.37% 0.13%
2095 -0.36% 0.14%
2094 -0.35% 0.16%
2093 -0.34% 0.17%
2092 -0.33% 0.19%
2091 -0.31% 0.22%
2090 -0.31% 0.21%
2089 -0.29% 0.23%
2088 -0.28% 0.24%
2087 -0.27% 0.26%
2086 -0.25% 0.28%
2085 -0.24% 0.28%
2084 -0.22% 0.31%
2083 -0.21% 0.31%
2082 -0.19% 0.33%
2081 -0.17% 0.36%
2080 -0.15% 0.35%
2079 -0.13% 0.37%
2078 -0.12% 0.38%
2077 -0.1% 0.39%
2076 -0.07% 0.41%
2075 -0.07% 0.42%
2074 -0.04% 0.44%
2073 -0.02% 0.47%
2072 0.004% 0.49%
2071 0.02% 0.5%
2070 0.05% 0.52%
2069 0.07% 0.55%
2068 0.09% 0.57%
2067 0.12% 0.59%
2066 0.14% 0.61%
2065 0.16% 0.62%
2064 0.19% 0.63%
2063 0.21% 0.65%
2062 0.23% 0.67%
2061 0.26% 0.72%
2060 0.29% 0.73%
2059 0.32% 0.75%
2058 0.34% 0.77%
2057 0.36% 0.79%
2056 0.39% 0.82%
2055 0.42% 0.86%
2054 0.44% 0.87%
2053 0.47% 0.91%
2052 0.51% 0.93%
2051 0.53% 0.95%
2050 0.56% 0.99%
2049 0.59% 1.01%
2048 0.62% 1.04%
2047 0.64% 1.06%
2046 0.67% 1.1%
2045 0.7% 1.12%
2044 0.72% 1.14%
2043 0.75% 1.16%
2042 0.78% 1.19%
2041 0.81% 1.22%
2040 0.84% 1.25%
2039 0.87% 1.29%
2038 0.9% 1.31%
2037 0.93% 1.35%
2036 0.96% 1.37%
2035 0.99% 1.4%
2034 1.02% 1.43%
2033 1.05% 1.46%
2032 1.09% 1.49%
2031 1.12% 1.54%
2030 1.15% 1.57%
2029 1.19% 1.61%
2028 1.23% 1.65%
2027 1.26% 1.7%
2026 1.3% 1.74%
2025 1.34% 1.78%
2024 1.36% 1.8%
2023 1.38% 1.83%
2022 1.29% 1.9%
2021 1.21% 2.01%
2020 1.26% 2.15%
2019 1.31% 2.28%
2018 1.33% 2.35%
2017 1.34% 2.42%
2016 1.35% 2.5%
2015 1.37% 2.58%
2014 1.38% 2.66%
2013 1.4% 2.74%
2012 1.41% 2.83%
2011 1.42% 2.96%
2010 1.43% 3.07%
2009 1.43% 3.11%
2008 1.44% 3.15%
2007 1.45% 3.2%
2006 1.44% 3.24%
2005 1.31% 3.28%
2004 1.19% 3.33%
2003 1.19% 3.38%
2002 1.22% 3.41%
2001 1.3% 3.46%
2000 1.39% 3.51%
1999 1.44% 3.54%
1998 1.54% 3.58%
1997 1.68% 3.63%
1996 1.87% 3.64%
1995 2.06% 3.66%
1994 2.15% 3.69%
1993 2.22% 3.7%
1992 2.29% 3.6%
1991 2.33% 3.22%
1990 2.36% 2.64%
1989 2.37% 2.27%
1988 2.32% 2.18%
1987 2.32% 2.19%
1986 2.37% 2.18%
1985 2.41% 2.17%
1984 2.52% 2.15%
1983 2.66% 2.12%
1982 2.78% 2.1%
1981 2.87% 2.09%
1980 2.78% 2.09%
1979 2.73% 2.12%
1978 2.93% 2.16%
1977 3.05% 2.19%
1976 3.09% 2.22%
1975 3.11% 2.26%
1974 3.13% 2.31%
1973 2.94% 2.37%
1972 2.95% 2.42%
1971 3.17% 2.43%
1970 3.18% 2.4%
1969 3.19% 2.35%
1968 3.19% 2.28%
1967 3.17% 2.26%
1966 3.14% 2.23%
1965 3.11% 2.17%
1964 3.08% 2.19%
1963 3.06% 2.27%
1962 3.04% 2.34%
1961 3.03% 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/nicaragua/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Papua New Guinea
Current population
7124343
11002753
Population rank 107/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.13%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
3.98 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
16.8 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 +512
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 59/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -8,371 -284
Net migration rank 129/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - -284
2024 - -8,189 - -707
2023 100,921 -7,996 187,637 -787
2022 100,987 -7,996 186,861 -787
2021 89,213 -10,383 183,766 10,703
2020 90,515 -10,383 189,130 10,703
2019 102,817 -19,730 190,662 22,978
2018 104,814 -20,742 190,662 24,684
2017 105,468 -21,849 189,715 26,513
2016 106,585 -23,076 189,281 28,473
2015 107,344 -24,353 188,600 30,580
2014 108,420 -25,570 187,592 32,840
2013 109,032 -26,587 185,790 35,280
2012 110,065 -27,389 183,658 37,893
2011 110,026 -28,221 181,842 40,690
2010 110,475 -29,081 178,998 50,106
2009 110,213 -29,913 175,421 49,647
2008 110,395 -30,675 172,823 48,985
2007 110,341 -31,357 169,306 48,203
2006 110,073 -32,274 166,540 47,191
2005 108,984 -33,280 163,888 46,014
2004 106,904 -44,222 161,023 44,811
2003 106,142 -44,931 158,611 43,639
2002 105,805 -44,906 155,091 42,657
2001 107,109 -43,837 151,431 41,962
2000 109,192 -42,087 147,496 41,855
1999 110,217 -40,095 143,592 42,519
1998 108,862 -38,260 136,677 43,091
1997 114,415 -36,851 134,458 42,787
1996 116,849 -35,208 129,802 41,994
1995 118,325 -25,889 125,410 40,962
1994 119,565 -24,773 122,113 39,669
1993 120,469 -24,091 118,668 38,220
1992 121,204 -24,171 114,818 36,622
1991 121,787 -24,028 111,453 26,830
1990 120,677 -24,280 110,033 2,398
1989 120,128 -24,364 108,199 -19,824
1988 117,299 -24,753 106,256 -26,232
1987 112,885 -25,127 104,367 -25,720
1986 113,054 -24,805 102,346 -25,495
1985 110,949 -23,840 100,333 -25,470
1984 110,133 -22,493 98,103 -25,487
1983 110,618 -20,620 95,982 -25,465
1982 112,468 -19,395 93,522 -25,355
1981 110,421 -17,353 91,767 -25,383
1980 108,604 -15,130 90,266 -25,638
1979 96,429 -14,152 89,330 -25,618
1978 98,419 -12,273 88,747 -25,208
1977 100,498 -11,082 87,954 -24,722
1976 98,100 -10,155 86,965 -24,198
1975 95,230 -9,349 85,809 -23,562
1974 92,505 -8,639 84,829 -22,771
1973 89,662 -7,947 83,821 -21,803
1972 76,906 -7,219 82,672 -20,303
1971 84,139 -6,328 80,599 -18,945
1970 81,127 -5,423 78,712 -18,773
1969 78,237 -4,592 76,454 -18,994
1968 75,458 -3,979 73,983 -19,188
1967 72,722 -3,666 71,519 -19,767
1966 69,883 -3,443 69,206 -17,454
1965 67,056 -3,231 66,693 -18,532
1964 64,227 -3,043 64,558 -17,730
1963 61,738 -2,881 62,260 -15,189
1962 59,547 -2,727 59,974 -12,141
1961 57,499 -2,579 58,151 -10,409
1960 55,664 -2,418 56,326 -2,034

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.5% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 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, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K
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/nicaragua/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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