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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,576,502 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,002,753 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 1.36 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.23% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.1% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea Rwanda
2100 18,802,138 33,092,520
2099 18,790,040 32,987,847
2098 18,776,265 32,907,335
2097 18,758,897 32,832,706
2096 18,737,707 32,747,490
2095 18,714,219 32,615,044
2094 18,687,257 32,529,590
2093 18,658,233 32,396,544
2092 18,625,772 32,274,083
2091 18,590,001 32,171,077
2090 18,549,501 32,068,626
2089 18,510,463 31,872,593
2088 18,468,827 31,726,882
2087 18,424,378 31,533,364
2086 18,376,043 31,379,315
2085 18,325,641 31,235,000
2084 18,274,394 31,092,940
2083 18,218,709 30,917,707
2082 18,163,177 30,733,578
2081 18,104,285 30,557,819
2080 18,039,008 30,367,298
2079 17,975,778 30,176,627
2078 17,908,670 29,997,866
2077 17,840,781 29,800,561
2076 17,771,791 29,627,021
2075 17,699,428 29,423,503
2074 17,625,044 29,225,643
2073 17,548,128 29,007,777
2072 17,466,649 28,780,763
2071 17,381,598 28,560,382
2070 17,295,105 28,316,533
2069 17,205,503 28,103,541
2068 17,112,154 27,854,906
2067 17,015,090 27,591,747
2066 16,915,436 27,355,659
2065 16,812,946 27,084,704
2064 16,708,669 26,821,315
2063 16,604,296 26,543,184
2062 16,497,292 26,296,132
2061 16,386,905 25,985,356
2060 16,270,535 25,712,904
2059 16,152,614 25,437,446
2058 16,032,684 25,106,242
2057 15,909,649 24,837,928
2056 15,784,519 24,566,784
2055 15,656,542 24,266,669
2054 15,523,143 23,976,914
2053 15,389,244 23,690,426
2052 15,250,715 23,406,346
2051 15,110,389 23,099,207
2050 14,968,530 22,800,250
2049 14,821,865 22,484,698
2048 14,673,459 22,157,938
2047 14,522,926 21,834,786
2046 14,370,120 21,540,566
2045 14,213,585 21,215,262
2044 14,056,036 20,902,695
2043 13,897,765 20,535,605
2042 13,738,690 20,201,608
2041 13,577,382 19,832,577
2040 13,413,396 19,463,015
2039 13,247,486 19,096,860
2038 13,079,352 18,761,626
2037 12,909,735 18,421,864
2036 12,738,223 18,116,691
2035 12,566,543 17,753,910
2034 12,392,476 17,421,234
2033 12,218,246 17,089,349
2032 12,042,345 16,811,505
2031 11,865,316 16,485,559
2030 11,685,599 16,167,916
2029 11,504,890 15,858,862
2028 11,322,573 15,544,959
2027 11,138,409 15,207,733
2026 10,952,454 14,888,776
2025 10,765,048 14,560,205
2024 10,576,502 14,256,567
2023 10,389,635 13,954,471
2022 10,203,169 13,651,030
2021 10,012,896 13,355,260
2020 9,815,746 13,065,837
2019 9,609,010 12,776,103
2018 9,394,513 12,487,996
2017 9,178,714 12,202,060
2016 8,961,718 11,919,183
2015 8,743,246 11,640,022
2014 8,523,441 11,364,757
2013 8,302,698 11,093,340
2012 8,081,390 10,829,901
2011 7,859,346 10,573,733
2010 7,633,523 10,317,553
2009 7,406,438 10,060,432
2008 7,183,002 9,804,269
2007 6,963,345 9,549,933
2006 6,747,720 9,299,246
2005 6,535,905 9,054,528
2004 6,328,041 8,816,844
2003 6,123,997 8,586,875
2002 5,924,003 8,400,180
2001 5,728,435 8,287,094
2000 5,537,064 8,213,931
1999 5,349,333 8,147,912
1998 5,166,390 8,081,681
1997 4,987,883 7,755,238
1996 4,813,361 6,708,764
1995 4,644,278 5,674,118
1994 4,480,208 6,792,352
1993 4,320,872 7,981,132
1992 4,166,699 7,683,266
1991 4,021,837 7,526,966
1990 3,896,481 7,375,307
1989 3,796,078 7,184,706
1988 3,711,880 6,968,071
1987 3,632,543 6,749,493
1986 3,554,793 6,531,881
1985 3,478,936 6,317,228
1984 3,405,198 6,107,627
1983 3,333,633 5,905,311
1982 3,264,291 5,711,549
1981 3,197,019 5,527,230
1980 3,131,512 5,353,259
1979 3,067,341 5,189,541
1978 3,003,714 5,035,171
1977 2,940,327 4,888,240
1976 2,877,327 4,745,954
1975 2,814,820 4,607,728
1974 2,752,671 4,474,228
1973 2,690,629 4,345,047
1972 2,628,432 4,220,335
1971 2,566,421 4,100,044
1970 2,505,628 3,980,669
1969 2,446,927 3,861,271
1968 2,390,803 3,744,010
1967 2,337,532 3,629,577
1966 2,285,774 3,521,626
1965 2,235,820 3,423,210
1964 2,188,325 3,334,834
1963 2,141,376 3,258,890
1962 2,093,919 3,186,025
1961 2,046,127 3,106,779
1960 1,995,110 3,022,294

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/papua-new-guinea/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Papua New Guinea's population will grow by 36% to 14,968,530 people with a rank change from 89th to 85th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea Rwanda
2100 0.06% 0.32%
2099 0.07% 0.24%
2098 0.09% 0.23%
2097 0.11% 0.26%
2096 0.13% 0.41%
2095 0.14% 0.26%
2094 0.16% 0.41%
2093 0.17% 0.38%
2092 0.19% 0.32%
2091 0.22% 0.32%
2090 0.21% 0.62%
2089 0.23% 0.46%
2088 0.24% 0.61%
2087 0.26% 0.49%
2086 0.28% 0.46%
2085 0.28% 0.46%
2084 0.31% 0.57%
2083 0.31% 0.6%
2082 0.33% 0.58%
2081 0.36% 0.63%
2080 0.35% 0.63%
2079 0.37% 0.6%
2078 0.38% 0.66%
2077 0.39% 0.59%
2076 0.41% 0.69%
2075 0.42% 0.68%
2074 0.44% 0.75%
2073 0.47% 0.79%
2072 0.49% 0.77%
2071 0.5% 0.86%
2070 0.52% 0.76%
2069 0.55% 0.89%
2068 0.57% 0.95%
2067 0.59% 0.86%
2066 0.61% 1%
2065 0.62% 0.98%
2064 0.63% 1.05%
2063 0.65% 0.94%
2062 0.67% 1.2%
2061 0.72% 1.06%
2060 0.73% 1.08%
2059 0.75% 1.32%
2058 0.77% 1.08%
2057 0.79% 1.1%
2056 0.82% 1.24%
2055 0.86% 1.21%
2054 0.87% 1.21%
2053 0.91% 1.21%
2052 0.93% 1.33%
2051 0.95% 1.31%
2050 0.99% 1.4%
2049 1.01% 1.47%
2048 1.04% 1.48%
2047 1.06% 1.37%
2046 1.1% 1.53%
2045 1.12% 1.5%
2044 1.14% 1.79%
2043 1.16% 1.65%
2042 1.19% 1.86%
2041 1.22% 1.9%
2040 1.25% 1.92%
2039 1.29% 1.79%
2038 1.31% 1.84%
2037 1.35% 1.68%
2036 1.37% 2.04%
2035 1.4% 1.91%
2034 1.43% 1.94%
2033 1.46% 1.65%
2032 1.49% 1.98%
2031 1.54% 1.96%
2030 1.57% 1.95%
2029 1.61% 2.02%
2028 1.65% 2.22%
2027 1.7% 2.14%
2026 1.74% 2.26%
2025 1.78% 2.13%
2024 1.8% 2.16%
2023 1.83% 2.22%
2022 1.9% 2.21%
2021 2.01% 2.22%
2020 2.15% 2.27%
2019 2.28% 2.31%
2018 2.35% 2.34%
2017 2.42% 2.37%
2016 2.5% 2.4%
2015 2.58% 2.42%
2014 2.66% 2.45%
2013 2.74% 2.43%
2012 2.83% 2.42%
2011 2.96% 2.48%
2010 3.07% 2.56%
2009 3.11% 2.61%
2008 3.15% 2.66%
2007 3.2% 2.7%
2006 3.24% 2.7%
2005 3.28% 2.7%
2004 3.33% 2.68%
2003 3.38% 2.22%
2002 3.41% 1.36%
2001 3.46% 0.89%
2000 3.51% 0.81%
1999 3.54% 0.82%
1998 3.58% 4.21%
1997 3.63% 15.6%
1996 3.64% 18.2%
1995 3.66% -16.5%
1994 3.69% -14.9%
1993 3.7% 3.88%
1992 3.6% 2.08%
1991 3.22% 2.06%
1990 2.64% 2.65%
1989 2.27% 3.11%
1988 2.18% 3.24%
1987 2.19% 3.33%
1986 2.18% 3.4%
1985 2.17% 3.43%
1984 2.15% 3.43%
1983 2.12% 3.39%
1982 2.1% 3.33%
1981 2.09% 3.25%
1980 2.09% 3.15%
1979 2.12% 3.07%
1978 2.16% 3.01%
1977 2.19% 3%
1976 2.22% 3%
1975 2.26% 2.98%
1974 2.31% 2.97%
1973 2.37% 2.96%
1972 2.42% 2.93%
1971 2.43% 3%
1970 2.4% 3.09%
1969 2.35% 3.13%
1968 2.28% 3.15%
1967 2.26% 3.07%
1966 2.23% 2.87%
1965 2.17% 2.65%
1964 2.19% 2.33%
1963 2.27% 2.29%
1962 2.34% 2.55%
1961 2.56% 2.8%

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/papua-new-guinea/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.8%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Rwanda
Current population
11002753
14975051
Population rank 89/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.18%
One net population change
2.81 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
2.06 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
7.76 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +512 +828
Annual growth/decline +186,867 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.8% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -284 +6,282
Net migration rank 87/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - 6,282
2024 - -707 - -15,582
2023 187,637 -787 312,762 -9,001
2022 186,861 -787 312,145 -9,001
2021 183,766 10,703 309,895 -21,492
2020 189,130 10,703 312,692 -22,251
2019 190,662 22,978 313,525 -24,492
2018 190,662 24,684 312,512 -25,323
2017 189,715 26,513 310,323 -25,634
2016 189,281 28,473 305,549 -24,474
2015 188,600 30,580 299,114 -21,862
2014 187,592 32,840 292,779 -19,505
2013 185,790 35,280 286,331 -16,779
2012 183,658 37,893 282,584 -25,260
2011 181,842 40,690 282,922 -27,915
2010 178,998 50,106 286,848 -29,501
2009 175,421 49,647 287,034 -30,128
2008 172,823 48,985 287,334 -31,913
2007 169,306 48,203 285,791 -32,537
2006 166,540 47,191 282,149 -34,008
2005 163,888 46,014 275,121 -33,830
2004 161,023 44,811 265,273 -31,214
2003 158,611 43,639 251,243 -25,355
2002 155,091 42,657 239,036 -91,518
2001 151,431 41,962 230,845 -152,197
2000 147,496 41,855 221,276 -153,588
1999 143,592 42,519 210,518 -146,162
1998 136,677 43,091 197,185 -129,089
1997 134,458 42,787 174,687 410,106
1996 129,802 41,994 140,455 1,367,700
1995 125,410 40,962 121,137 439,995
1994 122,113 39,669 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 118,668 38,220 183,926 236,110
1992 114,818 36,622 188,025 -12,334
1991 111,453 26,830 196,431 -59,519
1990 110,033 2,398 207,895 -41,483
1989 108,199 -19,824 217,632 -2,826
1988 106,256 -26,232 223,759 -5,285
1987 104,367 -25,720 225,744 -7,062
1986 102,346 -25,495 225,526 -8,982
1985 100,333 -25,470 223,794 -11,031
1984 98,103 -25,487 219,337 -12,899
1983 95,982 -25,465 212,750 -14,560
1982 93,522 -25,355 205,147 -15,818
1981 91,767 -25,383 195,769 -16,453
1980 90,266 -25,638 184,988 -16,359
1979 89,330 -25,618 174,477 -15,669
1978 88,747 -25,208 163,779 -13,838
1977 87,954 -24,722 155,011 -11,084
1976 86,965 -24,198 147,665 -7,027
1975 85,809 -23,562 140,596 -4,791
1974 84,829 -22,771 135,743 -4,535
1973 83,821 -21,803 131,021 -3,862
1972 82,672 -20,303 126,403 -4,156
1971 80,599 -18,945 122,567 -4,230
1970 78,712 -18,773 119,273 1,149
1969 76,454 -18,994 115,394 2,983
1968 73,983 -19,188 111,422 4,728
1967 71,519 -19,767 108,053 4,655
1966 69,206 -17,454 105,128 -1,930
1965 66,693 -18,532 103,422 -9,774
1964 64,558 -17,730 102,562 -19,458
1963 62,260 -15,189 94,296 -25,524
1962 59,974 -12,141 102,548 -25,594
1961 58,151 -10,409 102,051 -20,508
1960 56,326 -2,034 100,627 -13,198

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 91% of the population change in Papua New Guinea is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people). In Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/papua-new-guinea/rwanda | 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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