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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,576,502 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,002,753 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 4.69 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.76% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.23% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.1% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea South Korea
2100 18,802,138 22,012,503
2099 18,790,040 22,335,528
2098 18,776,265 22,668,719
2097 18,758,897 23,009,661
2096 18,737,707 23,360,151
2095 18,714,219 23,722,747
2094 18,687,257 24,093,391
2093 18,658,233 24,473,038
2092 18,625,772 24,860,975
2091 18,590,001 25,255,379
2090 18,549,501 25,655,577
2089 18,510,463 26,060,945
2088 18,468,827 26,470,073
2087 18,424,378 26,884,813
2086 18,376,043 27,301,913
2085 18,325,641 27,723,736
2084 18,274,394 28,147,480
2083 18,218,709 28,578,182
2082 18,163,177 29,012,953
2081 18,104,285 29,456,022
2080 18,039,008 29,901,880
2079 17,975,778 30,352,062
2078 17,908,670 30,809,176
2077 17,840,781 31,273,700
2076 17,771,791 31,744,480
2075 17,699,428 32,221,226
2074 17,625,044 32,706,020
2073 17,548,128 33,196,556
2072 17,466,649 33,696,490
2071 17,381,598 34,203,935
2070 17,295,105 34,719,324
2069 17,205,503 35,241,850
2068 17,112,154 35,762,799
2067 17,015,090 36,292,307
2066 16,915,436 36,826,655
2065 16,812,946 37,368,086
2064 16,708,669 37,916,439
2063 16,604,296 38,469,051
2062 16,497,292 39,028,473
2061 16,386,905 39,584,621
2060 16,270,535 40,149,830
2059 16,152,614 40,712,514
2058 16,032,684 41,277,134
2057 15,909,649 41,833,887
2056 15,784,519 42,377,427
2055 15,656,542 42,909,302
2054 15,523,143 43,427,254
2053 15,389,244 43,938,741
2052 15,250,715 44,441,106
2051 15,110,389 44,923,604
2050 14,968,530 45,385,311
2049 14,821,865 45,832,153
2048 14,673,459 46,258,529
2047 14,522,926 46,668,898
2046 14,370,120 47,056,404
2045 14,213,585 47,433,205
2044 14,056,036 47,797,411
2043 13,897,765 48,144,730
2042 13,738,690 48,478,991
2041 13,577,382 48,806,273
2040 13,413,396 49,115,658
2039 13,247,486 49,412,830
2038 13,079,352 49,694,340
2037 12,909,735 49,957,504
2036 12,738,223 50,200,702
2035 12,566,543 50,426,000
2034 12,392,476 50,632,962
2033 12,218,246 50,821,090
2032 12,042,345 50,987,020
2031 11,865,316 51,134,940
2030 11,685,599 51,267,908
2029 11,504,890 51,385,868
2028 11,322,573 51,486,791
2027 11,138,409 51,576,746
2026 10,952,454 51,649,918
2025 10,765,048 51,710,062
2024 10,576,502 51,751,065
2023 10,389,635 51,712,619
2022 10,203,169 51,672,569
2021 10,012,896 51,769,539
2020 9,815,746 51,836,239
2019 9,609,010 51,764,822
2018 9,394,513 51,585,058
2017 9,178,714 51,361,911
2016 8,961,718 51,217,803
2015 8,743,246 51,014,947
2014 8,523,441 50,746,659
2013 8,302,698 50,428,893
2012 8,081,390 50,199,853
2011 7,859,346 49,936,638
2010 7,633,523 49,554,112
2009 7,406,438 49,307,835
2008 7,183,002 49,054,708
2007 6,963,345 48,683,638
2006 6,747,720 48,438,292
2005 6,535,905 48,184,561
2004 6,328,041 48,082,519
2003 6,123,997 47,892,330
2002 5,924,003 47,644,736
2001 5,728,435 47,370,164
2000 5,537,064 47,008,111
1999 5,349,333 46,616,677
1998 5,166,390 46,286,503
1997 4,987,883 45,953,580
1996 4,813,361 45,524,681
1995 4,644,278 45,092,991
1994 4,480,208 44,641,540
1993 4,320,872 44,194,628
1992 4,166,699 43,747,962
1991 4,021,837 43,295,704
1990 3,896,481 42,869,283
1989 3,796,078 42,449,038
1988 3,711,880 42,031,247
1987 3,632,543 41,621,690
1986 3,554,793 41,213,674
1985 3,478,936 40,805,744
1984 3,405,198 40,405,956
1983 3,333,633 39,910,403
1982 3,264,291 39,326,352
1981 3,197,019 38,723,248
1980 3,131,512 38,123,775
1979 3,067,341 37,534,236
1978 3,003,714 36,969,185
1977 2,940,327 36,411,795
1976 2,877,327 35,848,523
1975 2,814,820 35,280,725
1974 2,752,671 34,692,266
1973 2,690,629 34,103,149
1972 2,628,432 33,505,406
1971 2,566,421 32,882,704
1970 2,505,628 32,240,827
1969 2,446,927 31,544,266
1968 2,390,803 30,838,302
1967 2,337,532 30,130,983
1966 2,285,774 29,435,571
1965 2,235,820 28,704,674
1964 2,188,325 27,984,155
1963 2,141,376 27,261,747
1962 2,093,919 26,513,030
1961 2,046,127 25,765,673
1960 1,995,110 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea South Korea
2100 0.06% -1.45%
2099 0.07% -1.47%
2098 0.09% -1.48%
2097 0.11% -1.5%
2096 0.13% -1.53%
2095 0.14% -1.54%
2094 0.16% -1.55%
2093 0.17% -1.56%
2092 0.19% -1.56%
2091 0.22% -1.56%
2090 0.21% -1.56%
2089 0.23% -1.55%
2088 0.24% -1.54%
2087 0.26% -1.53%
2086 0.28% -1.52%
2085 0.28% -1.51%
2084 0.31% -1.51%
2083 0.31% -1.5%
2082 0.33% -1.5%
2081 0.36% -1.49%
2080 0.35% -1.48%
2079 0.37% -1.48%
2078 0.38% -1.49%
2077 0.39% -1.48%
2076 0.41% -1.48%
2075 0.42% -1.48%
2074 0.44% -1.48%
2073 0.47% -1.48%
2072 0.49% -1.48%
2071 0.5% -1.48%
2070 0.52% -1.48%
2069 0.55% -1.46%
2068 0.57% -1.46%
2067 0.59% -1.45%
2066 0.61% -1.45%
2065 0.62% -1.45%
2064 0.63% -1.44%
2063 0.65% -1.43%
2062 0.67% -1.4%
2061 0.72% -1.41%
2060 0.73% -1.38%
2059 0.75% -1.37%
2058 0.77% -1.33%
2057 0.79% -1.28%
2056 0.82% -1.24%
2055 0.86% -1.19%
2054 0.87% -1.16%
2053 0.91% -1.13%
2052 0.93% -1.07%
2051 0.95% -1.02%
2050 0.99% -0.97%
2049 1.01% -0.92%
2048 1.04% -0.88%
2047 1.06% -0.82%
2046 1.1% -0.79%
2045 1.12% -0.76%
2044 1.14% -0.72%
2043 1.16% -0.69%
2042 1.19% -0.67%
2041 1.22% -0.63%
2040 1.25% -0.6%
2039 1.29% -0.57%
2038 1.31% -0.53%
2037 1.35% -0.48%
2036 1.37% -0.45%
2035 1.4% -0.41%
2034 1.43% -0.37%
2033 1.46% -0.33%
2032 1.49% -0.29%
2031 1.54% -0.26%
2030 1.57% -0.23%
2029 1.61% -0.2%
2028 1.65% -0.17%
2027 1.7% -0.14%
2026 1.74% -0.12%
2025 1.78% -0.08%
2024 1.8% 0.07%
2023 1.83% 0.08%
2022 1.9% -0.19%
2021 2.01% -0.13%
2020 2.15% 0.14%
2019 2.28% 0.35%
2018 2.35% 0.43%
2017 2.42% 0.28%
2016 2.5% 0.4%
2015 2.58% 0.53%
2014 2.66% 0.63%
2013 2.74% 0.46%
2012 2.83% 0.53%
2011 2.96% 0.77%
2010 3.07% 0.5%
2009 3.11% 0.52%
2008 3.15% 0.76%
2007 3.2% 0.51%
2006 3.24% 0.53%
2005 3.28% 0.21%
2004 3.33% 0.4%
2003 3.38% 0.52%
2002 3.41% 0.58%
2001 3.46% 0.77%
2000 3.51% 0.84%
1999 3.54% 0.71%
1998 3.58% 0.72%
1997 3.63% 0.94%
1996 3.64% 0.96%
1995 3.66% 1.01%
1994 3.69% 1.01%
1993 3.7% 1.02%
1992 3.6% 1.04%
1991 3.22% 0.99%
1990 2.64% 0.99%
1989 2.27% 0.99%
1988 2.18% 0.98%
1987 2.19% 0.99%
1986 2.18% 1%
1985 2.17% 0.99%
1984 2.15% 1.24%
1983 2.12% 1.49%
1982 2.1% 1.56%
1981 2.09% 1.57%
1980 2.09% 1.57%
1979 2.12% 1.53%
1978 2.16% 1.53%
1977 2.19% 1.57%
1976 2.22% 1.61%
1975 2.26% 1.7%
1974 2.31% 1.73%
1973 2.37% 1.78%
1972 2.42% 1.89%
1971 2.43% 1.99%
1970 2.4% 2.21%
1969 2.35% 2.29%
1968 2.28% 2.35%
1967 2.26% 2.36%
1966 2.23% 2.55%
1965 2.17% 2.57%
1964 2.19% 2.65%
1963 2.27% 2.82%
1962 2.34% 2.9%
1961 2.56% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.8%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea South Korea
Current population
11002753
51649918
Population rank 89/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.62%
One net population change
2.81 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
2.06 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
7.76 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +512 +105
Annual growth/decline +186,867 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.8% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 160/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -284 +65,731
Net migration rank 87/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - 65,731
2024 - -707 - 75,963
2023 187,637 -787 -77,569 87,800
2022 186,861 -787 -124,014 87,800
2021 183,766 10,703 -56,947 -16,778
2020 189,130 10,703 -31,101 112,631
2019 190,662 22,978 10,353 128,622
2018 190,662 24,684 30,951 118,220
2017 189,715 26,513 71,907 104,029
2016 189,281 28,473 122,923 91,568
2015 188,600 30,580 163,248 276,427
2014 187,592 32,840 167,464 308,037
2013 185,790 35,280 166,415 301,926
2012 183,658 37,893 215,859 281,866
2011 181,842 40,690 214,728 269,958
2010 178,998 50,106 213,083 52,042
2009 175,421 49,647 197,231 5,308
2008 172,823 48,985 215,841 -19,630
2007 169,306 48,203 248,286 -42,293
2006 166,540 47,191 203,441 -28,434
2005 163,888 46,014 187,920 -47,821
2004 161,023 44,811 225,988 -42,549
2003 158,611 43,639 244,251 -31,994
2002 155,091 42,657 247,752 -18,105
2001 151,431 41,962 312,643 -28,006
2000 147,496 41,855 390,167 -84,960
1999 143,592 42,519 368,272 -107,448
1998 136,677 43,091 393,436 -98,044
1997 134,458 42,787 422,773 -109,130
1996 129,802 41,994 446,142 -115,705
1995 125,410 40,962 468,967 -208,491
1994 122,113 39,669 473,200 -208,309
1993 118,668 38,220 477,302 -222,802
1992 114,818 36,622 494,352 -265,849
1991 111,453 26,830 467,594 -270,754
1990 110,033 2,398 411,546 79,294
1989 108,199 -19,824 403,266 186,120
1988 106,256 -26,232 399,297 192,534
1987 104,367 -25,720 378,758 198,057
1986 102,346 -25,495 395,651 189,782
1985 100,333 -25,470 416,219 97,949
1984 98,103 -25,487 436,384 101,394
1983 95,982 -25,465 514,844 102,167
1982 93,522 -25,355 605,626 48,638
1981 91,767 -25,383 631,189 18,442
1980 90,266 -25,638 583,294 -148,341
1979 89,330 -25,618 623,068 -139,566
1978 88,747 -25,208 499,084 -85,721
1977 87,954 -24,722 578,947 -90,737
1976 86,965 -24,198 530,558 -92,314
1975 85,809 -23,562 603,300 -52,332
1974 84,829 -22,771 673,030 27,005
1973 83,821 -21,803 699,115 35,779
1972 82,672 -20,303 740,469 25,382
1971 80,599 -18,945 789,185 -6,326
1970 78,712 -18,773 747,987 -27,999
1969 76,454 -18,994 694,227 -21,175
1968 73,983 -19,188 684,487 -16,868
1967 71,519 -19,767 692,169 -16,484
1966 69,206 -17,454 623,534 -16,688
1965 66,693 -18,532 641,090 -146,386
1964 64,558 -17,730 655,501 -102,284
1963 62,260 -15,189 685,824 -80,226
1962 59,974 -12,141 712,590 -94,606
1961 58,151 -10,409 730,173 -93,179
1960 56,326 -2,034 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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