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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,824,359 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,805,954 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 6.09 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • North Macedonia is ranked the 150th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.02% for North Macedonia vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, North Macedonia has had an average growth rate of -0.48% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.44% decline), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

North Macedonia vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Macedonia Papua New Guinea
2100 866,884 18,802,138
2099 877,788 18,790,040
2098 888,715 18,776,265
2097 899,716 18,758,897
2096 910,709 18,737,707
2095 921,559 18,714,219
2094 932,633 18,687,257
2093 943,984 18,658,233
2092 955,335 18,625,772
2091 966,773 18,590,001
2090 978,130 18,549,501
2089 989,666 18,510,463
2088 1,001,224 18,468,827
2087 1,012,831 18,424,378
2086 1,024,787 18,376,043
2085 1,036,668 18,325,641
2084 1,048,876 18,274,394
2083 1,061,031 18,218,709
2082 1,073,408 18,163,177
2081 1,085,823 18,104,285
2080 1,098,127 18,039,008
2079 1,110,614 17,975,778
2078 1,123,398 17,908,670
2077 1,136,448 17,840,781
2076 1,149,787 17,771,791
2075 1,163,080 17,699,428
2074 1,176,671 17,625,044
2073 1,190,351 17,548,128
2072 1,204,015 17,466,649
2071 1,217,691 17,381,598
2070 1,231,978 17,295,105
2069 1,246,408 17,205,503
2068 1,260,869 17,112,154
2067 1,275,289 17,015,090
2066 1,289,439 16,915,436
2065 1,303,917 16,812,946
2064 1,318,161 16,708,669
2063 1,332,807 16,604,296
2062 1,347,540 16,497,292
2061 1,362,299 16,386,905
2060 1,376,807 16,270,535
2059 1,390,921 16,152,614
2058 1,404,982 16,032,684
2057 1,419,185 15,909,649
2056 1,433,595 15,784,519
2055 1,447,857 15,656,542
2054 1,462,210 15,523,143
2053 1,476,351 15,389,244
2052 1,489,905 15,250,715
2051 1,503,526 15,110,389
2050 1,516,629 14,968,530
2049 1,529,608 14,821,865
2048 1,542,390 14,673,459
2047 1,555,085 14,522,926
2046 1,568,151 14,370,120
2045 1,581,115 14,213,585
2044 1,593,878 14,056,036
2043 1,606,930 13,897,765
2042 1,619,941 13,738,690
2041 1,632,704 13,577,382
2040 1,645,446 13,413,396
2039 1,658,034 13,247,486
2038 1,670,347 13,079,352
2037 1,682,850 12,909,735
2036 1,695,204 12,738,223
2035 1,707,302 12,566,543
2034 1,719,193 12,392,476
2033 1,730,723 12,218,246
2032 1,742,288 12,042,345
2031 1,753,729 11,865,316
2030 1,765,162 11,685,599
2029 1,775,815 11,504,890
2028 1,786,051 11,322,573
2027 1,795,945 11,138,409
2026 1,805,954 10,952,454
2025 1,815,368 10,765,048
2024 1,824,359 10,576,502
2023 1,827,816 10,389,635
2022 1,831,712 10,203,169
2021 1,837,114 10,012,896
2020 1,856,124 9,815,746
2019 1,876,262 9,609,010
2018 1,889,051 9,394,513
2017 1,898,657 9,178,714
2016 1,906,313 8,961,718
2015 1,912,430 8,743,246
2014 1,917,557 8,523,441
2013 1,922,716 8,302,698
2012 1,929,821 8,081,390
2011 1,937,398 7,859,346
2010 1,946,298 7,633,523
2009 1,958,782 7,406,438
2008 1,971,493 7,183,002
2007 1,982,933 6,963,345
2006 1,994,287 6,747,720
2005 2,005,330 6,535,905
2004 2,016,186 6,328,041
2003 2,022,725 6,123,997
2002 2,020,157 5,924,003
2001 2,034,882 5,728,435
2000 2,026,350 5,537,064
1999 2,017,142 5,349,333
1998 2,007,523 5,166,390
1997 1,996,869 4,987,883
1996 2,012,553 4,813,361
1995 1,998,534 4,644,278
1994 1,992,666 4,480,208
1993 2,006,854 4,320,872
1992 2,032,523 4,166,699
1991 2,055,994 4,021,837
1990 2,063,689 3,896,481
1989 2,055,649 3,796,078
1988 2,045,737 3,711,880
1987 2,035,157 3,632,543
1986 2,024,732 3,554,793
1985 2,014,331 3,478,936
1984 2,003,399 3,405,198
1983 1,991,901 3,333,633
1982 1,978,956 3,264,291
1981 1,959,065 3,197,019
1980 1,933,038 3,131,512
1979 1,906,523 3,067,341
1978 1,879,847 3,003,714
1977 1,853,138 2,940,327
1976 1,825,830 2,877,327
1975 1,797,972 2,814,820
1974 1,770,545 2,752,671
1973 1,743,816 2,690,629
1972 1,717,395 2,628,432
1971 1,691,216 2,566,421
1970 1,664,208 2,505,628
1969 1,636,345 2,446,927
1968 1,608,930 2,390,803
1967 1,582,492 2,337,532
1966 1,557,349 2,285,774
1965 1,533,466 2,235,820
1964 1,510,900 2,188,325
1963 1,488,737 2,141,376
1962 1,471,745 2,093,919
1961 1,455,171 2,046,127
1960 1,435,059 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/north-macedonia/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Macedonia decreased by 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Macedonia lost 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

North Macedonia was ranked 142nd most populous country in 2006 and is 150th 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) North Macedonia's population will shrink by 16% to 1,516,629 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 867K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Macedonia Papua New Guinea
2100 -1.24% 0.06%
2099 -1.23% 0.07%
2098 -1.22% 0.09%
2097 -1.21% 0.11%
2096 -1.18% 0.13%
2095 -1.19% 0.14%
2094 -1.2% 0.16%
2093 -1.19% 0.17%
2092 -1.18% 0.19%
2091 -1.16% 0.22%
2090 -1.17% 0.21%
2089 -1.15% 0.23%
2088 -1.15% 0.24%
2087 -1.17% 0.26%
2086 -1.15% 0.28%
2085 -1.16% 0.28%
2084 -1.15% 0.31%
2083 -1.15% 0.31%
2082 -1.14% 0.33%
2081 -1.12% 0.36%
2080 -1.12% 0.35%
2079 -1.14% 0.37%
2078 -1.15% 0.38%
2077 -1.16% 0.39%
2076 -1.14% 0.41%
2075 -1.15% 0.42%
2074 -1.15% 0.44%
2073 -1.13% 0.47%
2072 -1.12% 0.49%
2071 -1.16% 0.5%
2070 -1.16% 0.52%
2069 -1.15% 0.55%
2068 -1.13% 0.57%
2067 -1.1% 0.59%
2066 -1.11% 0.61%
2065 -1.08% 0.62%
2064 -1.1% 0.63%
2063 -1.09% 0.65%
2062 -1.08% 0.67%
2061 -1.05% 0.72%
2060 -1.01% 0.73%
2059 -1% 0.75%
2058 -1% 0.77%
2057 -1.01% 0.79%
2056 -0.99% 0.82%
2055 -0.98% 0.86%
2054 -0.96% 0.87%
2053 -0.91% 0.91%
2052 -0.91% 0.93%
2051 -0.86% 0.95%
2050 -0.85% 0.99%
2049 -0.83% 1.01%
2048 -0.82% 1.04%
2047 -0.83% 1.06%
2046 -0.82% 1.1%
2045 -0.8% 1.12%
2044 -0.81% 1.14%
2043 -0.8% 1.16%
2042 -0.78% 1.19%
2041 -0.77% 1.22%
2040 -0.76% 1.25%
2039 -0.74% 1.29%
2038 -0.74% 1.31%
2037 -0.73% 1.35%
2036 -0.71% 1.37%
2035 -0.69% 1.4%
2034 -0.67% 1.43%
2033 -0.66% 1.46%
2032 -0.65% 1.49%
2031 -0.65% 1.54%
2030 -0.6% 1.57%
2029 -0.57% 1.61%
2028 -0.55% 1.65%
2027 -0.55% 1.7%
2026 -0.52% 1.74%
2025 -0.49% 1.78%
2024 -0.19% 1.8%
2023 -0.21% 1.83%
2022 -0.29% 1.9%
2021 -1.02% 2.01%
2020 -1.07% 2.15%
2019 -0.68% 2.28%
2018 -0.51% 2.35%
2017 -0.4% 2.42%
2016 -0.32% 2.5%
2015 -0.27% 2.58%
2014 -0.27% 2.66%
2013 -0.37% 2.74%
2012 -0.39% 2.83%
2011 -0.46% 2.96%
2010 -0.64% 3.07%
2009 -0.64% 3.11%
2008 -0.58% 3.15%
2007 -0.57% 3.2%
2006 -0.55% 3.24%
2005 -0.54% 3.28%
2004 -0.32% 3.33%
2003 0.13% 3.38%
2002 -0.72% 3.41%
2001 0.42% 3.46%
2000 0.46% 3.51%
1999 0.48% 3.54%
1998 0.53% 3.58%
1997 -0.78% 3.63%
1996 0.7% 3.64%
1995 0.29% 3.66%
1994 -0.71% 3.69%
1993 -1.26% 3.7%
1992 -1.14% 3.6%
1991 -0.37% 3.22%
1990 0.39% 2.64%
1989 0.48% 2.27%
1988 0.52% 2.18%
1987 0.51% 2.19%
1986 0.52% 2.18%
1985 0.55% 2.17%
1984 0.58% 2.15%
1983 0.65% 2.12%
1982 1.02% 2.1%
1981 1.35% 2.09%
1980 1.39% 2.09%
1979 1.42% 2.12%
1978 1.44% 2.16%
1977 1.5% 2.19%
1976 1.55% 2.22%
1975 1.55% 2.26%
1974 1.53% 2.31%
1973 1.54% 2.37%
1972 1.55% 2.42%
1971 1.62% 2.43%
1970 1.7% 2.4%
1969 1.7% 2.35%
1968 1.67% 2.28%
1967 1.61% 2.26%
1966 1.56% 2.23%
1965 1.49% 2.17%
1964 1.49% 2.19%
1963 1.15% 2.27%
1962 1.14% 2.34%
1961 1.4% 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/north-macedonia/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia Papua New Guinea
Current population
1805954
11002753
Population rank 150/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.13%
One net population change
2.53 hours
2.81 minutes
One birth every
31.3 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
26.1 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline -9 +512
Annual growth/decline -3,457 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 59/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -5,645 -284
Net migration rank 119/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 150,902 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 122/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.3% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 73/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Macedonia Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,645 - -284
2024 - -5,728 - -707
2023 -3,290 -5,597 187,637 -787
2022 -4,397 -5,296 186,861 -787
2021 -9,737 -5,483 183,766 10,703
2020 -5,939 -23,458 189,130 10,703
2019 -375 -24,204 190,662 22,978
2018 1,512 -24,878 190,662 24,684
2017 1,329 -24,227 189,715 26,513
2016 2,374 -24,144 189,281 28,473
2015 2,294 -23,010 188,600 30,580
2014 3,644 -22,132 187,592 32,840
2013 3,653 -20,297 185,790 35,280
2012 3,087 -19,083 183,658 37,893
2011 3,100 -17,871 181,842 40,690
2010 4,866 -16,668 178,998 50,106
2009 4,309 -15,455 175,421 49,647
2008 3,746 -17,645 172,823 48,985
2007 2,974 -15,705 169,306 48,203
2006 3,988 -9,632 166,540 47,191
2005 4,011 -2,244 163,888 46,014
2004 5,444 -2,640 161,023 44,811
2003 8,900 -2,880 158,611 43,639
2002 9,697 -2,858 155,091 42,657
2001 10,174 -922 151,431 41,962
2000 12,159 -2,824 147,496 41,855
1999 10,489 -1,261 143,592 42,519
1998 12,446 -589 136,677 43,091
1997 12,979 -477 134,458 42,787
1996 14,806 -397 129,802 41,994
1995 17,239 -3,603 125,410 40,962
1994 19,103 -21,006 122,113 39,669
1993 20,797 -47,273 118,668 38,220
1992 21,659 -46,509 114,818 36,622
1991 23,387 -45,484 111,453 26,830
1990 22,868 -16,174 110,033 2,398
1989 22,912 -13,528 108,199 -19,824
1988 24,064 -13,621 106,256 -26,232
1987 24,359 -13,635 104,367 -25,720
1986 23,720 -13,589 102,346 -25,495
1985 24,167 -13,492 100,333 -25,470
1984 24,436 -13,251 98,103 -25,487
1983 24,690 -12,884 95,982 -25,465
1982 25,810 -11,716 93,522 -25,355
1981 25,689 0 91,767 -25,383
1980 26,547 -189 90,266 -25,638
1979 27,096 -426 89,330 -25,618
1978 27,150 -462 88,747 -25,208
1977 27,410 -683 87,954 -24,722
1976 28,799 -911 86,965 -24,198
1975 28,983 -1,147 85,809 -23,562
1974 28,400 -1,376 84,829 -22,771
1973 28,032 -1,600 83,821 -21,803
1972 28,236 -1,834 82,672 -20,303
1971 28,010 -2,064 80,599 -18,945
1970 28,022 60 78,712 -18,773
1969 27,464 181 76,454 -18,994
1968 28,378 -1,201 73,983 -19,188
1967 28,401 -2,696 71,519 -19,767
1966 28,766 -4,176 69,206 -17,454
1965 28,564 -5,385 66,693 -18,532
1964 27,889 -5,938 64,558 -17,730
1963 28,124 -5,759 62,260 -15,189
1962 25,317 -13,702 59,974 -12,141
1961 27,846 -6,309 58,151 -10,409
1960 28,816 -10,126 56,326 -2,034

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 6.45% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 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, 150,902 residents or 8.3% of the population were not native-born in North Macedonia, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

North Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K
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/north-macedonia/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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