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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 1.22 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.24% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.14% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea Sierra Leone
2100 18,798,240 16,107,087
2099 18,786,145 16,121,940
2098 18,772,372 16,135,035
2097 18,755,008 16,149,905
2096 18,733,822 16,160,672
2095 18,710,340 16,169,304
2094 18,683,383 16,168,902
2093 18,654,365 16,173,609
2092 18,621,911 16,170,778
2091 18,586,147 16,163,901
2090 18,545,656 16,154,165
2089 18,506,626 16,142,526
2088 18,464,999 16,128,775
2087 18,420,558 16,112,585
2086 18,372,233 16,085,549
2085 18,321,842 16,064,212
2084 18,270,605 16,040,563
2083 18,214,932 16,006,923
2082 18,159,412 15,970,872
2081 18,100,531 15,930,880
2080 18,035,268 15,892,665
2079 17,972,052 15,850,728
2078 17,904,957 15,801,450
2077 17,837,082 15,750,408
2076 17,768,107 15,695,310
2075 17,695,759 15,635,345
2074 17,621,390 15,580,279
2073 17,544,490 15,512,655
2072 17,463,028 15,442,481
2071 17,377,995 15,370,747
2070 17,291,519 15,293,426
2069 17,201,936 15,212,664
2068 17,108,606 15,124,069
2067 17,011,562 15,028,190
2066 16,911,929 14,931,295
2065 16,809,460 14,833,794
2064 16,705,205 14,736,872
2063 16,600,853 14,638,180
2062 16,493,872 14,525,736
2061 16,383,508 14,420,068
2060 16,267,162 14,307,451
2059 16,149,265 14,194,972
2058 16,029,360 14,077,124
2057 15,906,350 13,957,197
2056 15,781,247 13,832,494
2055 15,653,296 13,702,508
2054 15,519,925 13,576,231
2053 15,386,054 13,440,929
2052 15,247,553 13,299,910
2051 15,107,257 13,152,910
2050 14,965,427 13,006,688
2049 14,818,793 12,863,637
2048 14,670,417 12,712,671
2047 14,519,915 12,566,944
2046 14,367,141 12,411,042
2045 14,210,639 12,254,651
2044 14,053,122 12,088,895
2043 13,894,884 11,928,393
2042 13,735,841 11,767,372
2041 13,574,567 11,599,942
2040 13,410,615 11,428,331
2039 13,244,740 11,259,845
2038 13,076,640 11,097,180
2037 12,907,059 10,928,754
2036 12,735,582 10,757,928
2035 12,563,938 10,582,918
2034 12,389,907 10,411,088
2033 12,215,713 10,238,503
2032 12,039,848 10,059,929
2031 11,862,856 9,881,109
2030 11,683,177 9,705,485
2029 11,502,504 9,529,493
2028 11,320,226 9,358,412
2027 11,136,100 9,177,288
2026 10,950,183 8,998,902
2025 10,762,817 8,819,794
2024 10,576,502 8,642,022
2023 10,389,635 8,460,512
2022 10,203,169 8,276,807
2021 10,012,896 8,094,602
2020 9,815,746 7,912,558
2019 9,609,010 7,731,991
2018 9,394,513 7,554,563
2017 9,178,714 7,379,299
2016 8,961,718 7,205,328
2015 8,743,246 7,037,655
2014 8,523,441 6,876,385
2013 8,302,698 6,714,051
2012 8,081,390 6,551,080
2011 7,859,346 6,387,251
2010 7,633,523 6,222,714
2009 7,406,438 6,055,646
2008 7,183,002 5,894,722
2007 6,963,345 5,749,352
2006 6,747,720 5,624,466
2005 6,535,905 5,501,712
2004 6,328,041 5,355,717
2003 6,123,997 5,177,687
2002 5,924,003 4,971,435
2001 5,728,435 4,692,716
2000 5,537,064 4,423,611
1999 5,349,333 4,318,043
1998 5,166,390 4,295,785
1997 4,987,883 4,253,716
1996 4,813,361 4,199,210
1995 4,644,278 4,179,179
1994 4,480,208 4,173,105
1993 4,320,872 4,157,130
1992 4,166,699 4,166,366
1991 4,021,837 4,246,267
1990 3,896,481 4,196,828
1989 3,796,078 4,034,037
1988 3,711,880 3,934,517
1987 3,632,543 3,829,718
1986 3,554,793 3,728,380
1985 3,478,936 3,638,438
1984 3,405,198 3,558,758
1983 3,333,633 3,481,646
1982 3,264,291 3,408,183
1981 3,197,019 3,338,940
1980 3,131,512 3,272,089
1979 3,067,341 3,207,499
1978 3,003,714 3,145,517
1977 2,940,327 3,085,354
1976 2,877,327 3,028,820
1975 2,814,820 2,974,657
1974 2,752,671 2,920,459
1973 2,690,629 2,866,955
1972 2,628,432 2,814,388
1971 2,566,421 2,763,222
1970 2,505,628 2,712,286
1969 2,446,927 2,661,365
1968 2,390,803 2,611,532
1967 2,337,532 2,562,384
1966 2,285,774 2,514,638
1965 2,235,820 2,468,666
1964 2,188,325 2,424,390
1963 2,141,376 2,382,258
1962 2,093,919 2,342,242
1961 2,046,127 2,304,227
1960 1,995,110 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea Sierra Leone
2100 0.06% -0.09%
2099 0.07% -0.08%
2098 0.09% -0.09%
2097 0.11% -0.07%
2096 0.13% -0.05%
2095 0.14% 0.002%
2094 0.16% -0.03%
2093 0.17% 0.02%
2092 0.19% 0.04%
2091 0.22% 0.06%
2090 0.21% 0.07%
2089 0.23% 0.09%
2088 0.24% 0.1%
2087 0.26% 0.17%
2086 0.28% 0.13%
2085 0.28% 0.15%
2084 0.31% 0.21%
2083 0.31% 0.23%
2082 0.33% 0.25%
2081 0.36% 0.24%
2080 0.35% 0.26%
2079 0.37% 0.31%
2078 0.38% 0.32%
2077 0.39% 0.35%
2076 0.41% 0.38%
2075 0.42% 0.35%
2074 0.44% 0.44%
2073 0.47% 0.45%
2072 0.49% 0.47%
2071 0.5% 0.51%
2070 0.52% 0.53%
2069 0.55% 0.59%
2068 0.57% 0.64%
2067 0.59% 0.65%
2066 0.61% 0.66%
2065 0.62% 0.66%
2064 0.63% 0.67%
2063 0.65% 0.77%
2062 0.67% 0.73%
2061 0.72% 0.79%
2060 0.73% 0.79%
2059 0.75% 0.84%
2058 0.77% 0.86%
2057 0.79% 0.9%
2056 0.82% 0.95%
2055 0.86% 0.93%
2054 0.87% 1.01%
2053 0.91% 1.06%
2052 0.93% 1.12%
2051 0.95% 1.12%
2050 0.99% 1.11%
2049 1.01% 1.19%
2048 1.04% 1.16%
2047 1.06% 1.26%
2046 1.1% 1.28%
2045 1.12% 1.37%
2044 1.14% 1.35%
2043 1.16% 1.37%
2042 1.19% 1.44%
2041 1.22% 1.5%
2040 1.25% 1.5%
2039 1.29% 1.47%
2038 1.31% 1.54%
2037 1.35% 1.59%
2036 1.37% 1.65%
2035 1.4% 1.65%
2034 1.43% 1.69%
2033 1.46% 1.78%
2032 1.49% 1.81%
2031 1.54% 1.81%
2030 1.57% 1.85%
2029 1.61% 1.83%
2028 1.65% 1.97%
2027 1.7% 1.98%
2026 1.74% 2.03%
2025 1.76% 2.06%
2024 1.8% 2.15%
2023 1.83% 2.22%
2022 1.9% 2.25%
2021 2.01% 2.3%
2020 2.15% 2.34%
2019 2.28% 2.35%
2018 2.35% 2.38%
2017 2.42% 2.41%
2016 2.5% 2.38%
2015 2.58% 2.35%
2014 2.66% 2.42%
2013 2.74% 2.49%
2012 2.83% 2.56%
2011 2.96% 2.64%
2010 3.07% 2.76%
2009 3.11% 2.73%
2008 3.15% 2.53%
2007 3.2% 2.22%
2006 3.24% 2.23%
2005 3.28% 2.73%
2004 3.33% 3.44%
2003 3.38% 4.15%
2002 3.41% 5.94%
2001 3.46% 6.08%
2000 3.51% 2.44%
1999 3.54% 0.52%
1998 3.58% 0.99%
1997 3.63% 1.3%
1996 3.64% 0.48%
1995 3.66% 0.15%
1994 3.69% 0.38%
1993 3.7% -0.22%
1992 3.6% -1.88%
1991 3.22% 1.18%
1990 2.64% 4.04%
1989 2.27% 2.53%
1988 2.18% 2.74%
1987 2.19% 2.72%
1986 2.18% 2.47%
1985 2.17% 2.24%
1984 2.15% 2.21%
1983 2.12% 2.16%
1982 2.1% 2.07%
1981 2.09% 2.04%
1980 2.09% 2.01%
1979 2.12% 1.97%
1978 2.16% 1.95%
1977 2.19% 1.87%
1976 2.22% 1.82%
1975 2.26% 1.86%
1974 2.31% 1.87%
1973 2.37% 1.87%
1972 2.42% 1.85%
1971 2.43% 1.88%
1970 2.4% 1.91%
1969 2.35% 1.91%
1968 2.28% 1.92%
1967 2.26% 1.9%
1966 2.23% 1.86%
1965 2.17% 1.83%
1964 2.19% 1.77%
1963 2.27% 1.71%
1962 2.34% 1.65%
1961 2.56% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Sierra Leone
Current population
11045681
9090531
Population rank 89/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.11%
One net population change
2.83 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
2.05 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
7.58 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +510 +487
Annual growth/decline +186,315 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +1.76% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 47/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -284 -11,309
Net migration rank 87/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - -11,309
2024 187,595 -707 189,234 -11,000
2023 187,637 -787 188,788 -4,000
2022 186,861 -787 186,625 -4,000
2021 183,766 10,703 183,326 -1,544
2020 189,130 10,703 181,015 1,292
2019 190,662 22,978 181,068 -2,238
2018 190,662 24,684 178,772 -2,741
2017 189,715 26,513 173,259 1,234
2016 189,281 28,473 168,784 4,657
2015 188,600 30,580 162,275 -356
2014 187,592 32,840 160,137 485
2013 185,790 35,280 161,265 2,773
2012 183,658 37,893 160,915 988
2011 181,842 40,690 158,858 6,895
2010 178,998 50,106 155,338 7,983
2009 175,421 49,647 152,669 18,145
2008 172,823 48,985 149,855 1,182
2007 169,306 48,203 145,740 -6,042
2006 166,540 47,191 144,127 -34,052
2005 163,888 46,014 137,234 -1,805
2004 161,023 44,811 132,661 23,897
2003 158,611 43,639 130,312 69,185
2002 155,091 42,657 126,429 86,578
2001 151,431 41,962 116,647 227,791
2000 147,496 41,855 110,754 83,013
1999 143,592 42,519 102,295 -84,926
1998 136,677 43,091 103,906 -76,766
1997 134,458 42,787 105,433 -48,437
1996 129,802 41,994 104,140 -52,110
1995 125,410 40,962 100,885 -112,857
1994 122,113 39,669 101,486 -77,371
1993 118,668 38,220 103,317 -95,476
1992 114,818 36,622 103,251 -129,565
1991 111,453 26,830 105,477 -238,965
1990 110,033 2,398 100,778 131,587
1989 108,199 -19,824 98,298 -5,079
1988 106,256 -26,232 96,344 9,470
1987 104,367 -25,720 94,235 9,558
1986 102,346 -25,495 90,902 7,992
1985 100,333 -25,470 88,869 -7,873
1984 98,103 -25,487 87,072 -8,708
1983 95,982 -25,465 84,628 -8,783
1982 93,522 -25,355 82,457 -11,379
1981 91,767 -25,383 80,111 -12,699
1980 90,266 -25,638 77,932 -11,641
1979 89,330 -25,618 75,992 -13,095
1978 88,747 -25,208 74,130 -13,073
1977 87,954 -24,722 71,663 -12,399
1976 86,965 -24,198 69,506 -15,686
1975 85,809 -23,562 67,560 -13,058
1974 84,829 -22,771 65,357 -11,473
1973 83,821 -21,803 62,443 -9,322
1972 82,672 -20,303 60,279 -8,267
1971 80,599 -18,945 58,484 -8,162
1970 78,712 -18,773 56,513 -4,957
1969 76,454 -18,994 54,768 -4,485
1968 73,983 -19,188 53,126 -3,743
1967 71,519 -19,767 51,734 -2,819
1966 69,206 -17,454 49,486 -2,911
1965 66,693 -18,532 47,223 -1,851
1964 64,558 -17,730 45,487 -2,308
1963 62,260 -15,189 43,569 -2,480
1962 59,974 -12,141 41,603 -2,658
1961 58,151 -10,409 40,022 -2,947
1960 56,326 -2,034 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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