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Population in Papua New Guinea compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,576,502 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,002,753 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 2.02 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.23% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.1% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea Sri Lanka
2100 18,802,138 20,270,496
2099 18,790,040 20,383,669
2098 18,776,265 20,498,567
2097 18,758,897 20,611,123
2096 18,737,707 20,723,560
2095 18,714,219 20,834,629
2094 18,687,257 20,943,809
2093 18,658,233 21,052,131
2092 18,625,772 21,158,833
2091 18,590,001 21,263,961
2090 18,549,501 21,371,263
2089 18,510,463 21,475,426
2088 18,468,827 21,577,177
2087 18,424,378 21,677,510
2086 18,376,043 21,777,420
2085 18,325,641 21,876,464
2084 18,274,394 21,970,336
2083 18,218,709 22,062,801
2082 18,163,177 22,151,745
2081 18,104,285 22,240,834
2080 18,039,008 22,326,555
2079 17,975,778 22,411,438
2078 17,908,670 22,489,772
2077 17,840,781 22,565,028
2076 17,771,791 22,637,463
2075 17,699,428 22,707,112
2074 17,625,044 22,778,489
2073 17,548,128 22,844,703
2072 17,466,649 22,905,707
2071 17,381,598 22,964,866
2070 17,295,105 23,022,515
2069 17,205,503 23,076,310
2068 17,112,154 23,129,541
2067 17,015,090 23,184,596
2066 16,915,436 23,234,419
2065 16,812,946 23,285,901
2064 16,708,669 23,331,390
2063 16,604,296 23,372,184
2062 16,497,292 23,409,522
2061 16,386,905 23,441,893
2060 16,270,535 23,474,032
2059 16,152,614 23,502,132
2058 16,032,684 23,528,076
2057 15,909,649 23,550,580
2056 15,784,519 23,570,923
2055 15,656,542 23,582,432
2054 15,523,143 23,591,414
2053 15,389,244 23,601,371
2052 15,250,715 23,605,361
2051 15,110,389 23,606,194
2050 14,968,530 23,603,330
2049 14,821,865 23,597,604
2048 14,673,459 23,587,307
2047 14,522,926 23,570,881
2046 14,370,120 23,547,409
2045 14,213,585 23,515,133
2044 14,056,036 23,483,546
2043 13,897,765 23,446,242
2042 13,738,690 23,404,983
2041 13,577,382 23,357,358
2040 13,413,396 23,306,148
2039 13,247,486 23,248,341
2038 13,079,352 23,187,512
2037 12,909,735 23,120,775
2036 12,738,223 23,053,427
2035 12,566,543 22,981,808
2034 12,392,476 22,906,587
2033 12,218,246 22,826,414
2032 12,042,345 22,742,267
2031 11,865,316 22,655,907
2030 11,685,599 22,564,038
2029 11,504,890 22,470,759
2028 11,322,573 22,370,999
2027 11,138,409 22,266,017
2026 10,952,454 22,155,543
2025 10,765,048 22,039,908
2024 10,576,502 21,916,000
2023 10,389,635 22,037,000
2022 10,203,169 22,181,000
2021 10,012,896 22,156,000
2020 9,815,746 21,919,000
2019 9,609,010 21,803,000
2018 9,394,513 21,670,000
2017 9,178,714 21,453,000
2016 8,961,718 21,209,000
2015 8,743,246 20,970,000
2014 8,523,441 20,778,000
2013 8,302,698 20,585,000
2012 8,081,390 21,169,458
2011 7,859,346 21,009,048
2010 7,633,523 20,879,089
2009 7,406,438 20,756,435
2008 7,183,002 20,629,378
2007 6,963,345 20,492,545
2006 6,747,720 20,352,411
2005 6,535,905 20,216,524
2004 6,328,041 20,087,605
2003 6,123,997 19,951,521
2002 5,924,003 19,805,752
2001 5,728,435 19,600,362
2000 5,537,064 19,293,054
1999 5,349,333 18,944,731
1998 5,166,390 18,596,003
1997 4,987,883 18,248,200
1996 4,813,361 17,905,018
1995 4,644,278 17,564,068
1994 4,480,208 17,275,773
1993 4,320,872 17,025,918
1992 4,166,699 16,739,284
1991 4,021,837 16,475,354
1990 3,896,481 16,352,458
1989 3,796,078 16,248,557
1988 3,711,880 16,078,621
1987 3,632,543 15,916,576
1986 3,554,793 15,731,256
1985 3,478,936 15,544,154
1984 3,405,198 15,441,860
1983 3,333,633 15,388,794
1982 3,264,291 15,286,567
1981 3,197,019 15,099,414
1980 3,131,512 14,847,974
1979 3,067,341 14,579,614
1978 3,003,714 14,310,128
1977 2,940,327 14,049,371
1976 2,877,327 13,796,770
1975 2,814,820 13,548,984
1974 2,752,671 13,305,693
1973 2,690,629 13,060,916
1972 2,628,432 12,809,205
1971 2,566,421 12,551,910
1970 2,505,628 12,287,110
1969 2,446,927 12,013,858
1968 2,390,803 11,736,088
1967 2,337,532 11,457,328
1966 2,285,774 11,183,928
1965 2,235,820 10,916,965
1964 2,188,325 10,653,397
1963 2,141,376 10,395,040
1962 2,093,919 10,143,754
1961 2,046,127 9,899,372
1960 1,995,110 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea Sri Lanka
2100 0.06% -0.56%
2099 0.07% -0.56%
2098 0.09% -0.55%
2097 0.11% -0.54%
2096 0.13% -0.53%
2095 0.14% -0.52%
2094 0.16% -0.51%
2093 0.17% -0.5%
2092 0.19% -0.49%
2091 0.22% -0.5%
2090 0.21% -0.49%
2089 0.23% -0.47%
2088 0.24% -0.46%
2087 0.26% -0.46%
2086 0.28% -0.45%
2085 0.28% -0.43%
2084 0.31% -0.42%
2083 0.31% -0.4%
2082 0.33% -0.4%
2081 0.36% -0.38%
2080 0.35% -0.38%
2079 0.37% -0.35%
2078 0.38% -0.33%
2077 0.39% -0.32%
2076 0.41% -0.31%
2075 0.42% -0.31%
2074 0.44% -0.29%
2073 0.47% -0.27%
2072 0.49% -0.26%
2071 0.5% -0.25%
2070 0.52% -0.23%
2069 0.55% -0.23%
2068 0.57% -0.24%
2067 0.59% -0.21%
2066 0.61% -0.22%
2065 0.62% -0.19%
2064 0.63% -0.17%
2063 0.65% -0.16%
2062 0.67% -0.14%
2061 0.72% -0.14%
2060 0.73% -0.12%
2059 0.75% -0.11%
2058 0.77% -0.1%
2057 0.79% -0.09%
2056 0.82% -0.05%
2055 0.86% -0.04%
2054 0.87% -0.04%
2053 0.91% -0.02%
2052 0.93% -0.004%
2051 0.95% 0.01%
2050 0.99% 0.02%
2049 1.01% 0.04%
2048 1.04% 0.07%
2047 1.06% 0.1%
2046 1.1% 0.14%
2045 1.12% 0.13%
2044 1.14% 0.16%
2043 1.16% 0.18%
2042 1.19% 0.2%
2041 1.22% 0.22%
2040 1.25% 0.25%
2039 1.29% 0.26%
2038 1.31% 0.29%
2037 1.35% 0.29%
2036 1.37% 0.31%
2035 1.4% 0.33%
2034 1.43% 0.35%
2033 1.46% 0.37%
2032 1.49% 0.38%
2031 1.54% 0.41%
2030 1.57% 0.42%
2029 1.61% 0.45%
2028 1.65% 0.47%
2027 1.7% 0.5%
2026 1.74% 0.52%
2025 1.78% 0.57%
2024 1.8% -0.55%
2023 1.83% -0.65%
2022 1.9% 0.11%
2021 2.01% 1.08%
2020 2.15% 0.53%
2019 2.28% 0.61%
2018 2.35% 1.01%
2017 2.42% 1.15%
2016 2.5% 1.14%
2015 2.58% 0.92%
2014 2.66% 0.94%
2013 2.74% -2.76%
2012 2.83% 0.76%
2011 2.96% 0.62%
2010 3.07% 0.59%
2009 3.11% 0.62%
2008 3.15% 0.67%
2007 3.2% 0.69%
2006 3.24% 0.67%
2005 3.28% 0.64%
2004 3.33% 0.68%
2003 3.38% 0.74%
2002 3.41% 1.05%
2001 3.46% 1.59%
2000 3.51% 1.84%
1999 3.54% 1.88%
1998 3.58% 1.91%
1997 3.63% 1.92%
1996 3.64% 1.94%
1995 3.66% 1.67%
1994 3.69% 1.47%
1993 3.7% 1.71%
1992 3.6% 1.6%
1991 3.22% 0.75%
1990 2.64% 0.64%
1989 2.27% 1.06%
1988 2.18% 1.02%
1987 2.19% 1.18%
1986 2.18% 1.2%
1985 2.17% 0.66%
1984 2.15% 0.34%
1983 2.12% 0.67%
1982 2.1% 1.24%
1981 2.09% 1.69%
1980 2.09% 1.84%
1979 2.12% 1.88%
1978 2.16% 1.86%
1977 2.19% 1.83%
1976 2.22% 1.83%
1975 2.26% 1.83%
1974 2.31% 1.87%
1973 2.37% 1.97%
1972 2.42% 2.05%
1971 2.43% 2.16%
1970 2.4% 2.27%
1969 2.35% 2.37%
1968 2.28% 2.43%
1967 2.26% 2.44%
1966 2.23% 2.45%
1965 2.17% 2.47%
1964 2.19% 2.49%
1963 2.27% 2.48%
1962 2.34% 2.47%
1961 2.56% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.8%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Sri Lanka
Current population
11002753
22185425
Population rank 89/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.27%
One net population change
2.81 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
2.06 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
7.76 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +512 -332
Annual growth/decline +186,867 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.8% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 188/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -284 -30,724
Net migration rank 87/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - -30,724
2024 - -707 - -27,245
2023 187,637 -787 66,111 -28,011
2022 186,861 -787 95,378 -27,435
2021 183,766 10,703 121,858 -29,586
2020 189,130 10,703 170,968 -29,875
2019 190,662 22,978 172,243 -28,426
2018 190,662 24,684 183,610 -28,607
2017 189,715 26,513 187,993 -22,324
2016 189,281 28,473 194,232 -18,388
2015 188,600 30,580 201,815 -29,797
2014 187,592 32,840 211,541 -33,672
2013 185,790 35,280 221,021 -37,754
2012 183,658 37,893 229,138 -41,955
2011 181,842 40,690 224,461 -90,839
2010 178,998 50,106 224,325 -98,060
2009 175,421 49,647 200,175 -81,130
2008 172,823 48,985 232,225 -97,144
2007 169,306 48,203 248,287 -109,695
2006 166,540 47,191 248,706 -107,045
2005 163,888 46,014 248,683 -118,594
2004 161,023 44,811 212,527 -84,795
2003 158,611 43,639 252,008 -107,573
2002 155,091 42,657 252,840 -105,718
2001 151,431 41,962 244,377 19,273
2000 147,496 41,855 227,060 123,894
1999 143,592 42,519 206,876 138,799
1998 136,677 43,091 201,059 150,724
1997 134,458 42,787 208,193 135,636
1996 129,802 41,994 215,290 127,236
1995 125,410 40,962 221,957 117,416
1994 122,113 39,669 228,904 8,323
1993 118,668 38,220 226,257 36,232
1992 114,818 36,622 222,230 88,542
1991 111,453 26,830 218,117 -1,047
1990 110,033 2,398 224,454 -195,736
1989 108,199 -19,824 212,401 -33,305
1988 106,256 -26,232 219,184 -58,415
1987 104,367 -25,720 226,414 -63,105
1986 102,346 -25,495 233,782 -26,460
1985 100,333 -25,470 247,836 -80,950
1984 98,103 -25,487 263,175 -225,450
1983 95,982 -25,465 277,768 -209,362
1982 93,522 -25,355 300,030 -163,987
1981 91,767 -25,383 328,096 -89,824
1980 90,266 -25,638 328,155 -63,541
1979 89,330 -25,618 329,791 -57,683
1978 88,747 -25,208 317,055 -50,189
1977 87,954 -24,722 300,038 -45,383
1976 86,965 -24,198 291,816 -41,258
1975 85,809 -23,562 282,496 -37,475
1974 84,829 -22,771 275,521 -33,979
1973 83,821 -21,803 278,577 -30,582
1972 82,672 -20,303 282,494 -27,071
1971 80,599 -18,945 281,200 -22,021
1970 78,712 -18,773 286,719 -16,299
1969 76,454 -18,994 286,218 -10,152
1968 73,983 -19,188 286,642 -7,163
1967 71,519 -19,767 284,738 -6,696
1966 69,206 -17,454 275,549 -6,794
1965 66,693 -18,532 272,422 -7,249
1964 64,558 -17,730 269,584 -7,614
1963 62,260 -15,189 262,880 -8,118
1962 59,974 -12,141 256,719 -8,909
1961 58,151 -10,409 251,087 -10,144
1960 56,326 -2,034 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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