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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 1.99 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 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.14% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% 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 18,798,240 20,009,380
2099 18,786,145 20,121,095
2098 18,772,372 20,234,513
2097 18,755,008 20,345,619
2096 18,733,822 20,456,607
2095 18,710,340 20,566,246
2094 18,683,383 20,674,019
2093 18,654,365 20,780,946
2092 18,621,911 20,886,274
2091 18,586,147 20,990,047
2090 18,545,656 21,095,968
2089 18,506,626 21,198,788
2088 18,464,999 21,299,229
2087 18,420,558 21,398,269
2086 18,372,233 21,496,892
2085 18,321,842 21,594,661
2084 18,270,605 21,687,323
2083 18,214,932 21,778,597
2082 18,159,412 21,866,395
2081 18,100,531 21,954,337
2080 18,035,268 22,038,953
2079 17,972,052 22,122,744
2078 17,904,957 22,200,069
2077 17,837,082 22,274,355
2076 17,768,107 22,345,857
2075 17,695,759 22,414,609
2074 17,621,390 22,485,066
2073 17,544,490 22,550,427
2072 17,463,028 22,610,645
2071 17,377,995 22,669,042
2070 17,291,519 22,725,948
2069 17,201,936 22,779,050
2068 17,108,606 22,831,596
2067 17,011,562 22,885,941
2066 16,911,929 22,935,123
2065 16,809,460 22,985,942
2064 16,705,205 23,030,844
2063 16,600,853 23,071,114
2062 16,493,872 23,107,970
2061 16,383,508 23,139,924
2060 16,267,162 23,171,649
2059 16,149,265 23,199,387
2058 16,029,360 23,224,997
2057 15,906,350 23,247,211
2056 15,781,247 23,267,292
2055 15,653,296 23,278,653
2054 15,519,925 23,287,520
2053 15,386,054 23,297,347
2052 15,247,553 23,301,287
2051 15,107,257 23,302,108
2050 14,965,427 23,299,282
2049 14,818,793 23,293,630
2048 14,670,417 23,283,465
2047 14,519,915 23,267,251
2046 14,367,141 23,244,081
2045 14,210,639 23,212,221
2044 14,053,122 23,181,041
2043 13,894,884 23,144,217
2042 13,735,841 23,103,489
2041 13,574,567 23,056,478
2040 13,410,615 23,005,928
2039 13,244,740 22,948,866
2038 13,076,640 22,888,821
2037 12,907,059 22,822,943
2036 12,735,582 22,756,462
2035 12,563,938 22,685,766
2034 12,389,907 22,611,514
2033 12,215,713 22,532,374
2032 12,039,848 22,449,310
2031 11,862,856 22,364,063
2030 11,683,177 22,273,377
2029 11,502,504 22,181,300
2028 11,320,226 22,082,826
2027 11,136,100 21,979,196
2026 10,950,183 21,870,145
2025 10,762,817 21,756,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% 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 35.5% to 14,965,427 people with a rank change from 89th to 84th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 23.3M 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 1.76% -0.73%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Sri Lanka
Current population
11045681
21926160
Population rank 89/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.26%
One net population change
2.83 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
2.05 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
7.58 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +510 -438
Annual growth/decline +186,315 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.76% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 190/197
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 187,595 -707 50,407 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 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 (1960–2025, 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/sri-lanka | 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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