The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- Papua New Guinea's population is 44.6 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.14% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).
Papua New Guinea vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Papua New Guinea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 18,798,240 | 538,656 |
| 2099 | 18,786,145 | 537,257 |
| 2098 | 18,772,372 | 535,715 |
| 2097 | 18,755,008 | 534,052 |
| 2096 | 18,733,822 | 532,281 |
| 2095 | 18,710,340 | 530,505 |
| 2094 | 18,683,383 | 528,585 |
| 2093 | 18,654,365 | 526,572 |
| 2092 | 18,621,911 | 524,436 |
| 2091 | 18,586,147 | 522,255 |
| 2090 | 18,545,656 | 519,929 |
| 2089 | 18,506,626 | 517,542 |
| 2088 | 18,464,999 | 515,028 |
| 2087 | 18,420,558 | 512,499 |
| 2086 | 18,372,233 | 509,949 |
| 2085 | 18,321,842 | 507,271 |
| 2084 | 18,270,605 | 504,516 |
| 2083 | 18,214,932 | 501,611 |
| 2082 | 18,159,412 | 498,655 |
| 2081 | 18,100,531 | 495,622 |
| 2080 | 18,035,268 | 492,416 |
| 2079 | 17,972,052 | 489,178 |
| 2078 | 17,904,957 | 485,864 |
| 2077 | 17,837,082 | 482,385 |
| 2076 | 17,768,107 | 478,877 |
| 2075 | 17,695,759 | 475,315 |
| 2074 | 17,621,390 | 471,700 |
| 2073 | 17,544,490 | 468,051 |
| 2072 | 17,463,028 | 464,286 |
| 2071 | 17,377,995 | 460,447 |
| 2070 | 17,291,519 | 456,490 |
| 2069 | 17,201,936 | 452,388 |
| 2068 | 17,108,606 | 448,306 |
| 2067 | 17,011,562 | 444,092 |
| 2066 | 16,911,929 | 439,773 |
| 2065 | 16,809,460 | 435,502 |
| 2064 | 16,705,205 | 431,068 |
| 2063 | 16,600,853 | 426,645 |
| 2062 | 16,493,872 | 422,127 |
| 2061 | 16,383,508 | 417,629 |
| 2060 | 16,267,162 | 413,061 |
| 2059 | 16,149,265 | 408,522 |
| 2058 | 16,029,360 | 403,970 |
| 2057 | 15,906,350 | 399,359 |
| 2056 | 15,781,247 | 394,790 |
| 2055 | 15,653,296 | 390,100 |
| 2054 | 15,519,925 | 385,416 |
| 2053 | 15,386,054 | 380,685 |
| 2052 | 15,247,553 | 375,964 |
| 2051 | 15,107,257 | 371,143 |
| 2050 | 14,965,427 | 366,347 |
| 2049 | 14,818,793 | 361,542 |
| 2048 | 14,670,417 | 356,694 |
| 2047 | 14,519,915 | 351,813 |
| 2046 | 14,367,141 | 346,841 |
| 2045 | 14,210,639 | 341,791 |
| 2044 | 14,053,122 | 336,747 |
| 2043 | 13,894,884 | 331,669 |
| 2042 | 13,735,841 | 326,608 |
| 2041 | 13,574,567 | 321,551 |
| 2040 | 13,410,615 | 316,415 |
| 2039 | 13,244,740 | 311,237 |
| 2038 | 13,076,640 | 306,029 |
| 2037 | 12,907,059 | 300,834 |
| 2036 | 12,735,582 | 295,584 |
| 2035 | 12,563,938 | 290,361 |
| 2034 | 12,389,907 | 285,145 |
| 2033 | 12,215,713 | 279,952 |
| 2032 | 12,039,848 | 274,798 |
| 2031 | 11,862,856 | 269,704 |
| 2030 | 11,683,177 | 264,687 |
| 2029 | 11,502,504 | 259,670 |
| 2028 | 11,320,226 | 254,717 |
| 2027 | 11,136,100 | 249,827 |
| 2026 | 10,950,183 | 245,033 |
| 2025 | 10,762,817 | 240,254 |
| 2024 | 10,576,502 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 10,389,635 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 10,203,169 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 10,012,896 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 9,815,746 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 9,609,010 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 9,394,513 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 9,178,714 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 8,961,718 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 8,743,246 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 8,523,441 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 8,302,698 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 8,081,390 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 7,859,346 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 7,633,523 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 7,406,438 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 7,183,002 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 6,963,345 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 6,747,720 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 6,535,905 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 6,328,041 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 6,123,997 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 5,924,003 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 5,728,435 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 5,537,064 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 5,349,333 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 5,166,390 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 4,987,883 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 4,813,361 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 4,644,278 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 4,480,208 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 4,320,872 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 4,166,699 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 4,021,837 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 3,896,481 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 3,796,078 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 3,711,880 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 3,632,543 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 3,554,793 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 3,478,936 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 3,405,198 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 3,333,633 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 3,264,291 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 3,197,019 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 3,131,512 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 3,067,341 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 3,003,714 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 2,940,327 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 2,877,327 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 2,814,820 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 2,752,671 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 2,690,629 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 2,628,432 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 2,566,421 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 2,505,628 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 2,446,927 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 2,390,803 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 2,337,532 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 2,285,774 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 2,235,820 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 2,188,325 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 2,141,376 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 2,093,919 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 2,046,127 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 1,995,110 | 68,012 |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).
Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th 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 Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 0.06% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | 0.07% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | 0.09% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | 0.11% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | 0.13% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | 0.14% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | 0.16% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | 0.17% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | 0.19% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | 0.22% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | 0.21% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | 0.23% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | 0.24% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | 0.26% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | 0.28% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | 0.28% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | 0.31% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | 0.31% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | 0.33% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | 0.36% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | 0.35% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | 0.37% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | 0.38% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | 0.39% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | 0.41% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | 0.42% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | 0.44% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | 0.47% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | 0.49% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | 0.5% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | 0.52% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | 0.55% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | 0.57% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | 0.59% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | 0.61% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | 0.62% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | 0.63% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | 0.65% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | 0.67% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | 0.72% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | 0.73% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | 0.75% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | 0.77% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | 0.79% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | 0.82% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | 0.86% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | 0.87% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | 0.91% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | 0.93% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | 0.95% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | 0.99% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | 1.01% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | 1.04% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | 1.06% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | 1.1% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | 1.12% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | 1.14% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | 1.16% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | 1.19% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | 1.22% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | 1.25% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | 1.29% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | 1.31% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | 1.35% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | 1.37% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | 1.4% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | 1.43% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | 1.46% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | 1.49% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | 1.54% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | 1.57% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | 1.61% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | 1.65% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | 1.7% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | 1.74% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | 1.76% | 2% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | 1.83% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | 2.01% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | 2.15% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | 2.28% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 2.35% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | 2.42% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | 2.58% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | 2.66% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | 2.74% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | 2.83% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | 2.96% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | 3.07% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | 3.11% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | 3.15% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | 3.24% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | 3.28% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 3.33% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | 3.38% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 3.41% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | 3.46% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 3.51% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 3.54% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 3.58% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 3.63% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 3.64% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 3.66% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 3.69% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 3.6% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 3.22% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 2.64% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 2.27% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 2.18% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 2.19% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 2.18% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 2.17% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 2.15% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 2.12% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 2.1% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 2.09% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 2.09% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 2.12% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 2.16% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 2.19% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 2.22% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 2.26% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 2.31% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 2.37% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 2.42% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 2.43% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 2.4% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 2.35% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 2.28% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 2.26% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 2.23% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 2.17% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 2.19% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 2.27% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 2.34% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 2.56% | 1.02% |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.
Live population counters
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
11045681
|
247495
|
| Population rank | 89/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.13% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
2.83 minutes
|
1.86 hours
|
| One birth every |
2.05 minutes
|
1.32 hours
|
| One death every |
7.58 minutes
|
6.73 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +510 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | +186,315 | +4,718 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.76% | +2% |
| Population growth rate rank | 59/197 | 50/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.29 days
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -284 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 87/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 31,171 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 163/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 183/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -284 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | 187,595 | -707 | 5,315 | -604 |
| 2023 | 187,637 | -787 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | 186,861 | -787 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | 183,766 | 10,703 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 189,130 | 10,703 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 190,662 | 22,978 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 190,662 | 24,684 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 189,715 | 26,513 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 189,281 | 28,473 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 188,600 | 30,580 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 187,592 | 32,840 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 185,790 | 35,280 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 183,658 | 37,893 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 181,842 | 40,690 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 178,998 | 50,106 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 175,421 | 49,647 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 172,823 | 48,985 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 169,306 | 48,203 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 166,540 | 47,191 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 163,888 | 46,014 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 161,023 | 44,811 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 158,611 | 43,639 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 155,091 | 42,657 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 151,431 | 41,962 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 147,496 | 41,855 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 143,592 | 42,519 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 136,677 | 43,091 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 134,458 | 42,787 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 129,802 | 41,994 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 125,410 | 40,962 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 122,113 | 39,669 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 118,668 | 38,220 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 114,818 | 36,622 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 111,453 | 26,830 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 110,033 | 2,398 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 108,199 | -19,824 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 106,256 | -26,232 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 104,367 | -25,720 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 102,346 | -25,495 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 100,333 | -25,470 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 98,103 | -25,487 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 95,982 | -25,465 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 93,522 | -25,355 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 91,767 | -25,383 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 90,266 | -25,638 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 89,330 | -25,618 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 88,747 | -25,208 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 87,954 | -24,722 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 86,965 | -24,198 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 85,809 | -23,562 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 84,829 | -22,771 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 83,821 | -21,803 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 82,672 | -20,303 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 80,599 | -18,945 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 78,712 | -18,773 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 76,454 | -18,994 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 73,983 | -19,188 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 71,519 | -19,767 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 69,206 | -17,454 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 66,693 | -18,532 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 64,558 | -17,730 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 62,260 | -15,189 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 59,974 | -12,141 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 58,151 | -10,409 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 56,326 | -2,034 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe 81.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,756 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 11,424 people).
As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
Biggest cities by population
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Moresby | 317K |
| Lae | 101K |
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Sao Tome | 65.5K |
| Trindade | 6.64K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Papua New Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.5 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 26.9 years | 25.2 years |
| Median age | 23.8 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.4:48.6 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 3.07 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 62.6 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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