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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 15,062,056 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 +2.14% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% 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 18,798,240 33,113,283
2099 18,786,145 33,008,545
2098 18,772,372 32,927,982
2097 18,755,008 32,853,307
2096 18,733,822 32,768,037
2095 18,710,340 32,635,508
2094 18,683,383 32,550,001
2093 18,654,365 32,416,870
2092 18,621,911 32,294,333
2091 18,586,147 32,191,262
2090 18,545,656 32,088,747
2089 18,506,626 31,892,591
2088 18,464,999 31,746,789
2087 18,420,558 31,553,150
2086 18,372,233 31,399,004
2085 18,321,842 31,254,597
2084 18,270,605 31,112,448
2083 18,214,932 30,937,106
2082 18,159,412 30,752,861
2081 18,100,531 30,576,992
2080 18,035,268 30,386,351
2079 17,972,052 30,195,560
2078 17,904,957 30,016,688
2077 17,837,082 29,819,259
2076 17,768,107 29,645,610
2075 17,695,759 29,441,964
2074 17,621,390 29,243,980
2073 17,544,490 29,025,977
2072 17,463,028 28,798,822
2071 17,377,995 28,578,302
2070 17,291,519 28,334,300
2069 17,201,936 28,121,174
2068 17,108,606 27,872,383
2067 17,011,562 27,609,059
2066 16,911,929 27,372,823
2065 16,809,460 27,101,698
2064 16,705,205 26,838,144
2063 16,600,853 26,559,838
2062 16,493,872 26,312,631
2061 16,383,508 26,001,660
2060 16,267,162 25,729,037
2059 16,149,265 25,453,407
2058 16,029,360 25,121,995
2057 15,906,350 24,853,512
2056 15,781,247 24,582,198
2055 15,653,296 24,281,895
2054 15,519,925 23,991,958
2053 15,386,054 23,705,290
2052 15,247,553 23,421,032
2051 15,107,257 23,113,700
2050 14,965,427 22,814,556
2049 14,818,793 22,498,806
2048 14,670,417 22,171,841
2047 14,519,915 21,848,486
2046 14,367,141 21,554,082
2045 14,210,639 21,228,573
2044 14,053,122 20,915,810
2043 13,894,884 20,548,490
2042 13,735,841 20,214,283
2041 13,574,567 19,845,021
2040 13,410,615 19,475,227
2039 13,244,740 19,108,842
2038 13,076,640 18,773,398
2037 12,907,059 18,433,422
2036 12,735,582 18,128,058
2035 12,563,938 17,765,049
2034 12,389,907 17,432,165
2033 12,215,713 17,100,072
2032 12,039,848 16,822,053
2031 11,862,856 16,495,903
2030 11,683,177 16,178,061
2029 11,502,504 15,868,812
2028 11,320,226 15,554,713
2027 11,136,100 15,217,275
2026 10,950,183 14,898,118
2025 10,762,817 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% 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 35.5% to 14,965,427 people with a rank change from 89th to 84th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 1.76% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Rwanda
Current population
11045681
15062056
Population rank 89/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.18%
One net population change
2.83 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
2.05 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
7.58 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +510 +857
Annual growth/decline +186,315 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +1.76% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 40/197
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 187,595 -707 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in Papua New Guinea is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people). In Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 (1960–2025, 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/papua-new-guinea/rwanda | 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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