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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 1.14 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.14% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

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

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea South Sudan
2100 18,798,240 24,078,379
2099 18,786,145 24,072,957
2098 18,772,372 24,054,947
2097 18,755,008 24,056,753
2096 18,733,822 24,045,972
2095 18,710,340 24,037,837
2094 18,683,383 24,039,267
2093 18,654,365 24,030,512
2092 18,621,911 24,010,555
2091 18,586,147 23,991,816
2090 18,545,656 23,970,012
2089 18,506,626 23,929,017
2088 18,464,999 23,883,712
2087 18,420,558 23,848,809
2086 18,372,233 23,794,890
2085 18,321,842 23,750,772
2084 18,270,605 23,678,728
2083 18,214,932 23,609,290
2082 18,159,412 23,532,790
2081 18,100,531 23,458,146
2080 18,035,268 23,383,482
2079 17,972,052 23,286,011
2078 17,904,957 23,188,860
2077 17,837,082 23,078,416
2076 17,768,107 22,979,198
2075 17,695,759 22,860,496
2074 17,621,390 22,718,148
2073 17,544,490 22,575,682
2072 17,463,028 22,431,004
2071 17,377,995 22,280,140
2070 17,291,519 22,143,813
2069 17,201,936 21,995,874
2068 17,108,606 21,822,076
2067 17,011,562 21,654,546
2066 16,911,929 21,489,275
2065 16,809,460 21,309,913
2064 16,705,205 21,134,522
2063 16,600,853 20,957,705
2062 16,493,872 20,777,701
2061 16,383,508 20,601,672
2060 16,267,162 20,423,629
2059 16,149,265 20,227,862
2058 16,029,360 20,041,880
2057 15,906,350 19,846,671
2056 15,781,247 19,652,407
2055 15,653,296 19,457,411
2054 15,519,925 19,250,667
2053 15,386,054 19,053,773
2052 15,247,553 18,833,795
2051 15,107,257 18,626,605
2050 14,965,427 18,427,690
2049 14,818,793 18,224,430
2048 14,670,417 18,014,650
2047 14,519,915 17,799,982
2046 14,367,141 17,572,953
2045 14,210,639 17,348,901
2044 14,053,122 17,115,914
2043 13,894,884 16,882,303
2042 13,735,841 16,639,465
2041 13,574,567 16,390,966
2040 13,410,615 16,137,104
2039 13,244,740 15,884,330
2038 13,076,640 15,622,514
2037 12,907,059 15,358,539
2036 12,735,582 15,085,936
2035 12,563,938 14,810,066
2034 12,389,907 14,538,365
2033 12,215,713 14,273,128
2032 12,039,848 14,002,178
2031 11,862,856 13,725,779
2030 11,683,177 13,460,850
2029 11,502,504 13,201,804
2028 11,320,226 12,942,501
2027 11,136,100 12,688,278
2026 10,950,183 12,434,895
2025 10,762,817 12,188,788
2024 10,576,502 11,943,408
2023 10,389,635 11,483,374
2022 10,203,169 11,021,177
2021 10,012,896 10,865,780
2020 9,815,746 10,698,467
2019 9,609,010 10,423,384
2018 9,394,513 10,122,977
2017 9,178,714 10,259,154
2016 8,961,718 10,830,102
2015 8,743,246 11,107,561
2014 8,523,441 11,235,073
2013 8,302,698 11,166,275
2012 8,081,390 10,756,240
2011 7,859,346 10,288,109
2010 7,633,523 9,745,953
2009 7,406,438 9,243,556
2008 7,183,002 8,817,647
2007 6,963,345 8,388,788
2006 6,747,720 7,976,526
2005 6,535,905 7,590,143
2004 6,328,041 7,233,041
2003 6,123,997 6,903,127
2002 5,924,003 6,596,806
2001 5,728,435 6,308,391
2000 5,537,064 6,032,267
1999 5,349,333 5,771,628
1998 5,166,390 5,620,068
1997 4,987,883 5,509,136
1996 4,813,361 5,356,925
1995 4,644,278 5,225,836
1994 4,480,208 5,071,184
1993 4,320,872 4,956,002
1992 4,166,699 4,909,749
1991 4,021,837 4,836,677
1990 3,896,481 4,737,633
1989 3,796,078 4,713,229
1988 3,711,880 4,848,029
1987 3,632,543 4,962,395
1986 3,554,793 4,921,240
1985 3,478,936 4,834,296
1984 3,405,198 4,750,627
1983 3,333,633 4,661,574
1982 3,264,291 4,557,686
1981 3,197,019 4,447,272
1980 3,131,512 4,339,030
1979 3,067,341 4,232,605
1978 3,003,714 4,127,657
1977 2,940,327 4,024,032
1976 2,877,327 3,921,910
1975 2,814,820 3,821,494
1974 2,752,671 3,723,259
1973 2,690,629 3,627,383
1972 2,628,432 3,542,497
1971 2,566,421 3,468,646
1970 2,505,628 3,409,614
1969 2,446,927 3,365,533
1968 2,390,803 3,321,528
1967 2,337,532 3,277,648
1966 2,285,774 3,236,423
1965 2,235,820 3,189,835
1964 2,188,325 3,129,918
1963 2,141,376 3,072,669
1962 2,093,919 3,024,308
1961 2,046,127 2,976,724
1960 1,995,110 2,931,559

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/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 South Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea South Sudan
2100 0.06% 0.02%
2099 0.07% 0.07%
2098 0.09% -0.008%
2097 0.11% 0.04%
2096 0.13% 0.03%
2095 0.14% -0.006%
2094 0.16% 0.04%
2093 0.17% 0.08%
2092 0.19% 0.08%
2091 0.22% 0.09%
2090 0.21% 0.17%
2089 0.23% 0.19%
2088 0.24% 0.15%
2087 0.26% 0.23%
2086 0.28% 0.19%
2085 0.28% 0.3%
2084 0.31% 0.29%
2083 0.31% 0.33%
2082 0.33% 0.32%
2081 0.36% 0.32%
2080 0.35% 0.42%
2079 0.37% 0.42%
2078 0.38% 0.48%
2077 0.39% 0.43%
2076 0.41% 0.52%
2075 0.42% 0.63%
2074 0.44% 0.63%
2073 0.47% 0.64%
2072 0.49% 0.68%
2071 0.5% 0.62%
2070 0.52% 0.67%
2069 0.55% 0.8%
2068 0.57% 0.77%
2067 0.59% 0.77%
2066 0.61% 0.84%
2065 0.62% 0.83%
2064 0.63% 0.84%
2063 0.65% 0.87%
2062 0.67% 0.85%
2061 0.72% 0.87%
2060 0.73% 0.97%
2059 0.75% 0.93%
2058 0.77% 0.98%
2057 0.79% 0.99%
2056 0.82% 1%
2055 0.86% 1.07%
2054 0.87% 1.03%
2053 0.91% 1.17%
2052 0.93% 1.11%
2051 0.95% 1.08%
2050 0.99% 1.12%
2049 1.01% 1.16%
2048 1.04% 1.21%
2047 1.06% 1.29%
2046 1.1% 1.29%
2045 1.12% 1.36%
2044 1.14% 1.38%
2043 1.16% 1.46%
2042 1.19% 1.52%
2041 1.22% 1.57%
2040 1.25% 1.59%
2039 1.29% 1.68%
2038 1.31% 1.72%
2037 1.35% 1.81%
2036 1.37% 1.86%
2035 1.4% 1.87%
2034 1.43% 1.86%
2033 1.46% 1.94%
2032 1.49% 2.01%
2031 1.54% 1.97%
2030 1.57% 1.96%
2029 1.61% 2%
2028 1.65% 2%
2027 1.7% 2.04%
2026 1.74% 2.02%
2025 1.76% 2.05%
2024 1.8% 4.01%
2023 1.83% 4.19%
2022 1.9% 1.43%
2021 2.01% 1.56%
2020 2.15% 2.64%
2019 2.28% 2.97%
2018 2.35% -1.33%
2017 2.42% -5.27%
2016 2.5% -2.5%
2015 2.58% -1.13%
2014 2.66% 0.62%
2013 2.74% 3.81%
2012 2.83% 4.55%
2011 2.96% 5.56%
2010 3.07% 5.44%
2009 3.11% 4.83%
2008 3.15% 5.11%
2007 3.2% 5.17%
2006 3.24% 5.09%
2005 3.28% 4.94%
2004 3.33% 4.78%
2003 3.38% 4.64%
2002 3.41% 4.57%
2001 3.46% 4.58%
2000 3.51% 4.52%
1999 3.54% 2.7%
1998 3.58% 2.01%
1997 3.63% 2.84%
1996 3.64% 2.51%
1995 3.66% 3.05%
1994 3.69% 2.32%
1993 3.7% 0.94%
1992 3.6% 1.51%
1991 3.22% 2.09%
1990 2.64% 0.52%
1989 2.27% -2.78%
1988 2.18% -2.3%
1987 2.19% 0.84%
1986 2.18% 1.8%
1985 2.17% 1.76%
1984 2.15% 1.91%
1983 2.12% 2.28%
1982 2.1% 2.48%
1981 2.09% 2.49%
1980 2.09% 2.51%
1979 2.12% 2.54%
1978 2.16% 2.58%
1977 2.19% 2.6%
1976 2.22% 2.63%
1975 2.26% 2.64%
1974 2.31% 2.64%
1973 2.37% 2.4%
1972 2.42% 2.13%
1971 2.43% 1.73%
1970 2.4% 1.31%
1969 2.35% 1.32%
1968 2.28% 1.34%
1967 2.26% 1.27%
1966 2.23% 1.46%
1965 2.17% 1.91%
1964 2.19% 1.86%
1963 2.27% 1.6%
1962 2.34% 1.6%
1961 2.56% 1.54%

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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea South Sudan
Current population
11045681
12565048
Population rank 89/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.15%
One net population change
2.83 minutes
2.15 minutes
One birth every
2.05 minutes
1.51 minutes
One death every
7.58 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +510 +672
Annual growth/decline +186,315 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +1.76% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 48/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -284 +6,145
Net migration rank 87/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - 6,145
2024 187,595 -707 231,714 15,374
2023 187,637 -787 217,966 455,000
2022 186,861 -787 211,166 40,259
2021 183,766 10,703 213,567 -154,359
2020 189,130 10,703 212,332 62,935
2019 190,662 22,978 209,708 65,198
2018 190,662 24,684 168,497 157,408
2017 189,715 26,513 72,193 -670,477
2016 189,281 28,473 110,553 -654,225
2015 188,600 30,580 148,542 -159,822
2014 187,592 32,840 227,611 -471,523
2013 185,790 35,280 315,983 65,337
2012 183,658 37,893 312,974 125,771
2011 181,842 40,690 303,181 194,325
2010 178,998 50,106 287,409 299,402
2009 175,421 49,647 278,859 139,129
2008 172,823 48,985 268,268 165,557
2007 169,306 48,203 256,546 167,350
2006 166,540 47,191 246,706 153,926
2005 163,888 46,014 239,272 132,869
2004 161,023 44,811 231,877 110,182
2003 158,611 43,639 225,822 91,951
2002 155,091 42,657 212,014 82,847
2001 151,431 41,962 204,108 77,856
2000 147,496 41,855 196,055 74,227
1999 143,592 42,519 180,721 70,271
1998 136,677 43,091 -12,157 64,285
1997 134,458 42,787 121,454 48,280
1996 129,802 41,994 116,728 17,953
1995 125,410 40,962 110,417 17,077
1994 122,113 39,669 165,407 16,407
1993 118,668 38,220 32,779 15,772
1992 114,818 36,622 28,874 15,077
1991 111,453 26,830 87,873 14,327
1990 110,033 2,398 82,900 12,988
1989 108,199 -19,824 83,735 -130,821
1988 106,256 -26,232 -125,447 -97,065
1987 104,367 -25,720 5,756 -11,976
1986 102,346 -25,495 99,502 -10,973
1985 100,333 -25,470 95,342 -9,986
1984 98,103 -25,487 90,970 -8,984
1983 95,982 -25,465 104,107 -7,986
1982 93,522 -25,355 118,641 -6,983
1981 91,767 -25,383 115,163 -5,994
1980 90,266 -25,638 112,307 -4,997
1979 89,330 -25,618 109,540 -3,997
1978 88,747 -25,208 107,352 -2,998
1977 87,954 -24,722 104,886 -1,997
1976 86,965 -24,198 102,346 -995
1975 85,809 -23,562 99,882 -395
1974 84,829 -22,771 97,181 -192
1973 83,821 -21,803 94,765 0
1972 82,672 -20,303 74,803 193
1971 80,599 -18,945 72,308 394
1970 78,712 -18,773 44,776 587
1969 76,454 -18,994 42,015 786
1968 73,983 -19,188 44,213 995
1967 71,519 -19,767 41,357 1,194
1966 69,206 -17,454 38,523 1,386
1965 66,693 -18,532 51,682 1,591
1964 64,558 -17,730 64,786 1,785
1963 62,260 -15,189 46,333 1,591
1962 59,974 -12,141 47,406 1,386
1961 58,151 -10,409 45,186 1,194
1960 56,326 -2,034 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/south-sudan | 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 South Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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/south-sudan | 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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