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Population in Papua New Guinea compared to the Solomon Islands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 838,645 people in the Solomon Islands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 868,694 in the Solomon Islands.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 12.7 times bigger than the Solomon Islands'.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while the Solomon Islands is the 161st.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.01% for the Solomon Islands.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.14% per year vs +2.83% in the Solomon Islands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while the Solomon Islands has grown from 492K to 869K (76.7% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs Solomon Islands: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Solomon Islands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands
2100 18,798,240 1,869,132
2099 18,786,145 1,865,051
2098 18,772,372 1,860,822
2097 18,755,008 1,856,197
2096 18,733,822 1,851,361
2095 18,710,340 1,846,006
2094 18,683,383 1,840,576
2093 18,654,365 1,834,659
2092 18,621,911 1,828,323
2091 18,586,147 1,821,781
2090 18,545,656 1,814,933
2089 18,506,626 1,807,885
2088 18,464,999 1,800,523
2087 18,420,558 1,792,919
2086 18,372,233 1,784,993
2085 18,321,842 1,776,798
2084 18,270,605 1,768,230
2083 18,214,932 1,759,388
2082 18,159,412 1,750,221
2081 18,100,531 1,740,741
2080 18,035,268 1,730,900
2079 17,972,052 1,720,938
2078 17,904,957 1,710,578
2077 17,837,082 1,699,838
2076 17,768,107 1,688,671
2075 17,695,759 1,677,384
2074 17,621,390 1,665,984
2073 17,544,490 1,654,063
2072 17,463,028 1,641,845
2071 17,377,995 1,629,270
2070 17,291,519 1,616,540
2069 17,201,936 1,603,485
2068 17,108,606 1,590,112
2067 17,011,562 1,576,525
2066 16,911,929 1,562,815
2065 16,809,460 1,548,873
2064 16,705,205 1,534,676
2063 16,600,853 1,520,167
2062 16,493,872 1,505,610
2061 16,383,508 1,490,754
2060 16,267,162 1,475,849
2059 16,149,265 1,460,639
2058 16,029,360 1,445,210
2057 15,906,350 1,429,794
2056 15,781,247 1,414,149
2055 15,653,296 1,398,271
2054 15,519,925 1,382,259
2053 15,386,054 1,366,025
2052 15,247,553 1,349,539
2051 15,107,257 1,332,975
2050 14,965,427 1,316,163
2049 14,818,793 1,299,210
2048 14,670,417 1,282,103
2047 14,519,915 1,264,854
2046 14,367,141 1,247,457
2045 14,210,639 1,229,853
2044 14,053,122 1,212,131
2043 13,894,884 1,194,206
2042 13,735,841 1,176,128
2041 13,574,567 1,158,032
2040 13,410,615 1,139,694
2039 13,244,740 1,120,879
2038 13,076,640 1,101,654
2037 12,907,059 1,082,017
2036 12,735,582 1,062,068
2035 12,563,938 1,041,799
2034 12,389,907 1,021,368
2033 12,215,713 1,000,876
2032 12,039,848 980,211
2031 11,862,856 959,672
2030 11,683,177 939,186
2029 11,502,504 918,810
2028 11,320,226 898,552
2027 11,136,100 878,392
2026 10,950,183 858,453
2025 10,762,817 838,645
2024 10,576,502 819,198
2023 10,389,635 800,005
2022 10,203,169 781,066
2021 10,012,896 762,591
2020 9,815,746 744,498
2019 9,609,010 728,147
2018 9,394,513 709,101
2017 9,178,714 685,672
2016 8,961,718 662,379
2015 8,743,246 639,415
2014 8,523,441 616,908
2013 8,302,698 594,945
2012 8,081,390 573,606
2011 7,859,346 552,945
2010 7,633,523 532,968
2009 7,406,438 518,141
2008 7,183,002 508,790
2007 6,963,345 500,156
2006 6,747,720 491,594
2005 6,535,905 483,080
2004 6,328,041 474,611
2003 6,123,997 466,154
2002 5,924,003 457,671
2001 5,728,435 449,125
2000 5,537,064 440,469
1999 5,349,333 430,500
1998 5,166,390 419,071
1997 4,987,883 407,474
1996 4,813,361 396,009
1995 4,644,278 384,733
1994 4,480,208 373,675
1993 4,320,872 362,839
1992 4,166,699 352,205
1991 4,021,837 341,738
1990 3,896,481 331,435
1989 3,796,078 321,282
1988 3,711,880 311,265
1987 3,632,543 301,414
1986 3,554,793 291,842
1985 3,478,936 282,455
1984 3,405,198 273,163
1983 3,333,633 264,068
1982 3,264,291 255,200
1981 3,197,019 246,555
1980 3,131,512 238,135
1979 3,067,341 229,953
1978 3,003,714 222,029
1977 2,940,327 214,418
1976 2,877,327 207,194
1975 2,814,820 200,744
1974 2,752,671 195,041
1973 2,690,629 189,774
1972 2,628,432 184,994
1971 2,566,421 180,637
1970 2,505,628 176,579
1969 2,446,927 172,476
1968 2,390,803 168,282
1967 2,337,532 164,245
1966 2,285,774 160,393
1965 2,235,820 156,686
1964 2,188,325 153,085
1963 2,141,376 149,589
1962 2,093,919 146,201
1961 2,046,127 142,912
1960 1,995,110 139,688

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/solomon-islands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while the Solomon Islands gained 170,785 people (a 34.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while the Solomon Islands' population increased by 206,315 people (a 31.1% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. The Solomon Islands was ranked 165th in 2006 and ranked 161st 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 the Solomon Islands will increase by 51.5% to 1,316,163 people and rank change from 161st to 156th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 1.87M people in 2100 for the Solomon Islands.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Solomon Islands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands
2100 0.06% 0.22%
2099 0.07% 0.23%
2098 0.09% 0.25%
2097 0.11% 0.26%
2096 0.13% 0.29%
2095 0.14% 0.29%
2094 0.16% 0.32%
2093 0.17% 0.35%
2092 0.19% 0.36%
2091 0.22% 0.38%
2090 0.21% 0.39%
2089 0.23% 0.41%
2088 0.24% 0.42%
2087 0.26% 0.44%
2086 0.28% 0.46%
2085 0.28% 0.48%
2084 0.31% 0.5%
2083 0.31% 0.52%
2082 0.33% 0.54%
2081 0.36% 0.57%
2080 0.35% 0.58%
2079 0.37% 0.61%
2078 0.38% 0.63%
2077 0.39% 0.66%
2076 0.41% 0.67%
2075 0.42% 0.68%
2074 0.44% 0.72%
2073 0.47% 0.74%
2072 0.49% 0.77%
2071 0.5% 0.79%
2070 0.52% 0.81%
2069 0.55% 0.84%
2068 0.57% 0.86%
2067 0.59% 0.88%
2066 0.61% 0.9%
2065 0.62% 0.93%
2064 0.63% 0.95%
2063 0.65% 0.97%
2062 0.67% 1%
2061 0.72% 1.01%
2060 0.73% 1.04%
2059 0.75% 1.07%
2058 0.77% 1.08%
2057 0.79% 1.11%
2056 0.82% 1.14%
2055 0.86% 1.16%
2054 0.87% 1.19%
2053 0.91% 1.22%
2052 0.93% 1.24%
2051 0.95% 1.28%
2050 0.99% 1.3%
2049 1.01% 1.33%
2048 1.04% 1.36%
2047 1.06% 1.39%
2046 1.1% 1.43%
2045 1.12% 1.46%
2044 1.14% 1.5%
2043 1.16% 1.54%
2042 1.19% 1.56%
2041 1.22% 1.61%
2040 1.25% 1.68%
2039 1.29% 1.75%
2038 1.31% 1.81%
2037 1.35% 1.88%
2036 1.37% 1.95%
2035 1.4% 2%
2034 1.43% 2.05%
2033 1.46% 2.11%
2032 1.49% 2.14%
2031 1.54% 2.18%
2030 1.57% 2.22%
2029 1.61% 2.25%
2028 1.65% 2.3%
2027 1.7% 2.32%
2026 1.74% 2.36%
2025 1.76% 2.37%
2024 1.8% 2.4%
2023 1.83% 2.42%
2022 1.9% 2.42%
2021 2.01% 2.43%
2020 2.15% 2.25%
2019 2.28% 2.69%
2018 2.35% 3.42%
2017 2.42% 3.52%
2016 2.5% 3.59%
2015 2.58% 3.65%
2014 2.66% 3.69%
2013 2.74% 3.72%
2012 2.83% 3.74%
2011 2.96% 3.75%
2010 3.07% 2.86%
2009 3.11% 1.84%
2008 3.15% 1.73%
2007 3.2% 1.74%
2006 3.24% 1.76%
2005 3.28% 1.78%
2004 3.33% 1.81%
2003 3.38% 1.85%
2002 3.41% 1.9%
2001 3.46% 1.97%
2000 3.51% 2.32%
1999 3.54% 2.73%
1998 3.58% 2.85%
1997 3.63% 2.9%
1996 3.64% 2.93%
1995 3.66% 2.96%
1994 3.69% 2.99%
1993 3.7% 3.02%
1992 3.6% 3.06%
1991 3.22% 3.11%
1990 2.64% 3.16%
1989 2.27% 3.22%
1988 2.18% 3.27%
1987 2.19% 3.28%
1986 2.18% 3.32%
1985 2.17% 3.4%
1984 2.15% 3.44%
1983 2.12% 3.47%
1982 2.1% 3.51%
1981 2.09% 3.54%
1980 2.09% 3.56%
1979 2.12% 3.57%
1978 2.16% 3.55%
1977 2.19% 3.49%
1976 2.22% 3.21%
1975 2.26% 2.92%
1974 2.31% 2.78%
1973 2.37% 2.58%
1972 2.42% 2.41%
1971 2.43% 2.3%
1970 2.4% 2.38%
1969 2.35% 2.49%
1968 2.28% 2.46%
1967 2.26% 2.4%
1966 2.23% 2.37%
1965 2.17% 2.35%
1964 2.19% 2.34%
1963 2.27% 2.32%
1962 2.34% 2.3%
1961 2.56% 2.31%

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/solomon-islands | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while the Solomon Islands' population grew by 2.37%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands
Current population
11045681
868694
Population rank 89/197 161/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.01%
One net population change
2.83 minutes
27.1 minutes
One birth every
2.05 minutes
24 minutes
One death every
7.58 minutes
2.1 hours
Daily growth/decline +510 +53
Annual growth/decline +186,315 +19,447
Annual growth/decline rate +1.76% +2.37%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 32/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
5.39 hours
Annual migration change -284 +1,631
Net migration rank 87/196 59/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 2,469
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 192/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 184/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
Solomon Islands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - 1,631
2024 187,595 -707 17,715 1,610
2023 187,637 -787 17,436 1,636
2022 186,861 -787 17,253 1,567
2021 183,766 10,703 16,626 1,499
2020 189,130 10,703 16,488 1,556
2019 190,662 22,978 16,649 -1,990
2018 190,662 24,684 16,790 6,653
2017 189,715 26,513 16,897 6,513
2016 189,281 28,473 17,027 6,146
2015 188,600 30,580 16,909 5,853
2014 187,592 32,840 16,652 5,598
2013 185,790 35,280 16,038 5,631
2012 183,658 37,893 15,585 5,420
2011 181,842 40,690 15,095 5,219
2010 178,998 50,106 14,604 5,040
2009 175,421 49,647 14,381 -4,360
2008 172,823 48,985 14,225 -5,538
2007 169,306 48,203 13,963 -5,383
2006 166,540 47,191 13,799 -5,262
2005 163,888 46,014 13,568 -5,082
2004 161,023 44,811 13,444 -4,985
2003 158,611 43,639 13,344 -4,881
2002 155,091 42,657 13,195 -4,691
2001 151,431 41,962 13,061 -4,474
2000 147,496 41,855 12,938 -4,219
1999 143,592 42,519 12,809 -1,588
1998 136,677 43,091 12,658 -1,019
1997 134,458 42,787 12,478 -931
1996 129,802 41,994 12,328 -947
1995 125,410 40,962 12,124 -952
1994 122,113 39,669 11,771 -828
1993 118,668 38,220 11,396 -665
1992 114,818 36,622 11,029 -482
1991 111,453 26,830 10,789 -410
1990 110,033 2,398 10,561 -335
1989 108,199 -19,824 10,354 -270
1988 106,256 -26,232 10,142 -197
1987 104,367 -25,720 9,943 -179
1986 102,346 -25,495 9,656 -269
1985 100,333 -25,470 9,534 -150
1984 98,103 -25,487 9,299 -102
1983 95,982 -25,465 9,011 -30
1982 93,522 -25,355 8,720 40
1981 91,767 -25,383 8,436 99
1980 90,266 -25,638 8,156 151
1979 89,330 -25,618 7,874 188
1978 88,747 -25,208 7,598 174
1977 87,954 -24,722 7,290 159
1976 86,965 -24,198 7,058 -48
1975 85,809 -23,562 6,635 -760
1974 84,829 -22,771 6,612 -1,084
1973 83,821 -21,803 6,343 -1,329
1972 82,672 -20,303 6,074 -1,520
1971 80,599 -18,945 5,814 -1,646
1970 78,712 -18,773 5,575 -1,632
1969 76,454 -18,994 5,444 -1,187
1968 73,983 -19,188 5,285 -1,154
1967 71,519 -19,767 5,151 -1,213
1966 69,206 -17,454 5,028 -1,256
1965 66,693 -18,532 4,885 -1,237
1964 64,558 -17,730 4,747 -1,200
1963 62,260 -15,189 4,571 -1,129
1962 59,974 -12,141 4,408 -1,073
1961 58,151 -10,409 4,257 -1,016
1960 56,326 -2,034 4,119 -917

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

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/solomon-islands | 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 the Solomon Islands 84.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 169,790 people) and 15.5% is from migration (a gain of 31,043 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 2,469 people or 0.3% in the Solomon Islands.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
Solomon Islands
City Population
Honiara 84.5K
Auki 6.81K

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/solomon-islands | 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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