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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,576,502 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,002,753 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 2.44 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.46% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.23% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.1% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea Syria
2100 18,802,138 44,620,090
2099 18,790,040 44,690,260
2098 18,776,265 44,750,249
2097 18,758,897 44,813,148
2096 18,737,707 44,867,740
2095 18,714,219 44,895,489
2094 18,687,257 44,945,231
2093 18,658,233 44,974,311
2092 18,625,772 45,003,795
2091 18,590,001 45,016,478
2090 18,549,501 45,048,083
2089 18,510,463 45,047,102
2088 18,468,827 45,041,864
2087 18,424,378 45,049,516
2086 18,376,043 45,068,928
2085 18,325,641 45,034,847
2084 18,274,394 44,999,929
2083 18,218,709 44,971,600
2082 18,163,177 44,910,859
2081 18,104,285 44,843,908
2080 18,039,008 44,744,718
2079 17,975,778 44,687,371
2078 17,908,670 44,649,760
2077 17,840,781 44,604,175
2076 17,771,791 44,520,132
2075 17,699,428 44,426,423
2074 17,625,044 44,328,795
2073 17,548,128 44,221,016
2072 17,466,649 44,084,262
2071 17,381,598 43,939,848
2070 17,295,105 43,795,999
2069 17,205,503 43,648,130
2068 17,112,154 43,465,442
2067 17,015,090 43,271,173
2066 16,915,436 43,060,752
2065 16,812,946 42,810,442
2064 16,708,669 42,559,554
2063 16,604,296 42,311,907
2062 16,497,292 42,062,193
2061 16,386,905 41,808,082
2060 16,270,535 41,522,274
2059 16,152,614 41,208,825
2058 16,032,684 40,925,728
2057 15,909,649 40,643,453
2056 15,784,519 40,332,578
2055 15,656,542 40,026,632
2054 15,523,143 39,691,425
2053 15,389,244 39,348,020
2052 15,250,715 39,045,268
2051 15,110,389 38,733,827
2050 14,968,530 38,410,423
2049 14,821,865 38,089,455
2048 14,673,459 37,784,449
2047 14,522,926 37,492,636
2046 14,370,120 37,181,526
2045 14,213,585 36,843,579
2044 14,056,036 36,526,509
2043 13,897,765 36,188,225
2042 13,738,690 35,825,419
2041 13,577,382 35,447,414
2040 13,413,396 35,042,107
2039 13,247,486 34,626,945
2038 13,079,352 34,183,740
2037 12,909,735 33,703,682
2036 12,738,223 33,223,843
2035 12,566,543 32,696,648
2034 12,392,476 32,148,814
2033 12,218,246 31,562,427
2032 12,042,345 30,967,322
2031 11,865,316 30,329,874
2030 11,685,599 29,672,629
2029 11,504,890 28,949,535
2028 11,322,573 28,217,748
2027 11,138,409 27,428,807
2026 10,952,454 26,607,148
2025 10,765,048 25,689,551
2024 10,576,502 24,672,760
2023 10,389,635 23,594,623
2022 10,203,169 22,462,173
2021 10,012,896 21,628,839
2020 9,815,746 21,049,429
2019 9,609,010 20,353,534
2018 9,394,513 19,577,845
2017 9,178,714 19,224,668
2016 8,961,718 19,193,834
2015 8,743,246 19,424,618
2014 8,523,441 20,273,659
2013 8,302,698 21,666,917
2012 8,081,390 22,759,763
2011 7,859,346 22,878,098
2010 7,633,523 22,482,421
2009 7,406,438 21,976,969
2008 7,183,002 21,636,564
2007 6,963,345 20,884,125
2006 6,747,720 19,637,022
2005 6,535,905 18,814,091
2004 6,328,041 18,336,875
2003 6,123,997 17,889,296
2002 5,924,003 17,468,332
2001 5,728,435 17,051,338
2000 5,537,064 16,637,888
1999 5,349,333 16,228,061
1998 5,166,390 15,820,413
1997 4,987,883 15,417,542
1996 4,813,361 15,018,104
1995 4,644,278 14,616,801
1994 4,480,208 14,208,583
1993 4,320,872 13,795,686
1992 4,166,699 13,385,571
1991 4,021,837 12,980,821
1990 3,896,481 12,579,208
1989 3,796,078 12,179,060
1988 3,711,880 11,782,264
1987 3,632,543 11,388,923
1986 3,554,793 11,002,844
1985 3,478,936 10,625,672
1984 3,405,198 10,258,398
1983 3,333,633 9,904,809
1982 3,264,291 9,572,511
1981 3,197,019 9,260,189
1980 3,131,512 8,957,663
1979 3,067,341 8,661,909
1978 3,003,714 8,372,759
1977 2,940,327 8,090,501
1976 2,877,327 7,817,320
1975 2,814,820 7,554,364
1974 2,752,671 7,302,160
1973 2,690,629 7,060,321
1972 2,628,432 6,826,024
1971 2,566,421 6,598,094
1970 2,505,628 6,380,609
1969 2,446,927 6,175,166
1968 2,390,803 5,978,742
1967 2,337,532 5,790,198
1966 2,285,774 5,609,047
1965 2,235,820 5,435,267
1964 2,188,325 5,269,087
1963 2,141,376 5,110,467
1962 2,093,919 4,959,340
1961 2,046,127 4,815,466
1960 1,995,110 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea Syria
2100 0.06% -0.16%
2099 0.07% -0.13%
2098 0.09% -0.14%
2097 0.11% -0.12%
2096 0.13% -0.06%
2095 0.14% -0.11%
2094 0.16% -0.06%
2093 0.17% -0.07%
2092 0.19% -0.03%
2091 0.22% -0.07%
2090 0.21% 0.002%
2089 0.23% 0.01%
2088 0.24% -0.02%
2087 0.26% -0.04%
2086 0.28% 0.08%
2085 0.28% 0.08%
2084 0.31% 0.06%
2083 0.31% 0.14%
2082 0.33% 0.15%
2081 0.36% 0.22%
2080 0.35% 0.13%
2079 0.37% 0.08%
2078 0.38% 0.1%
2077 0.39% 0.19%
2076 0.41% 0.21%
2075 0.42% 0.22%
2074 0.44% 0.24%
2073 0.47% 0.31%
2072 0.49% 0.33%
2071 0.5% 0.33%
2070 0.52% 0.34%
2069 0.55% 0.42%
2068 0.57% 0.45%
2067 0.59% 0.49%
2066 0.61% 0.58%
2065 0.62% 0.59%
2064 0.63% 0.59%
2063 0.65% 0.59%
2062 0.67% 0.61%
2061 0.72% 0.69%
2060 0.73% 0.76%
2059 0.75% 0.69%
2058 0.77% 0.69%
2057 0.79% 0.77%
2056 0.82% 0.76%
2055 0.86% 0.84%
2054 0.87% 0.87%
2053 0.91% 0.78%
2052 0.93% 0.8%
2051 0.95% 0.84%
2050 0.99% 0.84%
2049 1.01% 0.81%
2048 1.04% 0.78%
2047 1.06% 0.84%
2046 1.1% 0.92%
2045 1.12% 0.87%
2044 1.14% 0.93%
2043 1.16% 1.01%
2042 1.19% 1.07%
2041 1.22% 1.16%
2040 1.25% 1.2%
2039 1.29% 1.3%
2038 1.31% 1.42%
2037 1.35% 1.44%
2036 1.37% 1.61%
2035 1.4% 1.7%
2034 1.43% 1.86%
2033 1.46% 1.92%
2032 1.49% 2.1%
2031 1.54% 2.21%
2030 1.57% 2.5%
2029 1.61% 2.59%
2028 1.65% 2.88%
2027 1.7% 3.09%
2026 1.74% 3.57%
2025 1.78% 4.12%
2024 1.8% 4.57%
2023 1.83% 5.04%
2022 1.9% 3.85%
2021 2.01% 2.75%
2020 2.15% 3.42%
2019 2.28% 3.96%
2018 2.35% 1.84%
2017 2.42% 0.16%
2016 2.5% -1.19%
2015 2.58% -4.19%
2014 2.66% -6.43%
2013 2.74% -4.8%
2012 2.83% -0.52%
2011 2.96% 1.76%
2010 3.07% 2.3%
2009 3.11% 1.57%
2008 3.15% 3.6%
2007 3.2% 6.35%
2006 3.24% 4.37%
2005 3.28% 2.6%
2004 3.33% 2.5%
2003 3.38% 2.41%
2002 3.41% 2.45%
2001 3.46% 2.48%
2000 3.51% 2.53%
1999 3.54% 2.58%
1998 3.58% 2.61%
1997 3.63% 2.66%
1996 3.64% 2.75%
1995 3.66% 2.87%
1994 3.69% 2.99%
1993 3.7% 3.06%
1992 3.6% 3.12%
1991 3.22% 3.19%
1990 2.64% 3.29%
1989 2.27% 3.37%
1988 2.18% 3.45%
1987 2.19% 3.51%
1986 2.18% 3.55%
1985 2.17% 3.58%
1984 2.15% 3.57%
1983 2.12% 3.47%
1982 2.1% 3.37%
1981 2.09% 3.38%
1980 2.09% 3.41%
1979 2.12% 3.45%
1978 2.16% 3.49%
1977 2.19% 3.49%
1976 2.22% 3.48%
1975 2.26% 3.45%
1974 2.31% 3.43%
1973 2.37% 3.43%
1972 2.42% 3.45%
1971 2.43% 3.41%
1970 2.4% 3.33%
1969 2.35% 3.29%
1968 2.28% 3.26%
1967 2.26% 3.23%
1966 2.23% 3.2%
1965 2.17% 3.15%
1964 2.19% 3.1%
1963 2.27% 3.05%
1962 2.34% 2.99%
1961 2.56% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.8%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Syria
Current population
11002753
26829400
Population rank 89/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.32%
One net population change
2.81 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
2.06 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
7.76 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +512 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +186,867 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.8% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 6/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -284 +421,693
Net migration rank 87/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - 421,693
2024 - -707 - 546,494
2023 187,637 -787 402,713 757,309
2022 186,861 -787 369,750 735,142
2021 183,766 10,703 350,560 211,220
2020 189,130 10,703 327,992 269,050
2019 190,662 22,978 293,762 500,985
2018 190,662 24,684 242,530 514,102
2017 189,715 26,513 237,214 -287,501
2016 189,281 28,473 236,007 -124,063
2015 188,600 30,580 253,977 -827,496
2014 187,592 32,840 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 185,790 35,280 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 183,658 37,893 475,520 -999,267
2011 181,842 40,690 543,950 -256,888
2010 178,998 50,106 558,666 -54,359
2009 175,421 49,647 559,314 -52,703
2008 172,823 48,985 576,593 -402,393
2007 169,306 48,203 529,162 801,514
2006 166,540 47,191 480,616 682,911
2005 163,888 46,014 468,960 13,382
2004 161,023 44,811 461,209 10,881
2003 158,611 43,639 457,000 -33,920
2002 155,091 42,657 453,967 -35,096
2001 151,431 41,962 451,503 -36,383
2000 147,496 41,855 446,211 -34,425
1999 143,592 42,519 439,261 -31,394
1998 136,677 43,091 433,447 -26,025
1997 134,458 42,787 429,887 -31,571
1996 129,802 41,994 430,765 -30,197
1995 125,410 40,962 430,172 -28,122
1994 122,113 39,669 426,996 -12,630
1993 118,668 38,220 420,244 -8,828
1992 114,818 36,622 412,878 -4,063
1991 111,453 26,830 410,830 -10,154
1990 110,033 2,398 409,177 -6,620
1989 108,199 -19,824 406,111 -8,379
1988 106,256 -26,232 404,285 -8,426
1987 104,367 -25,720 399,159 -8,335
1986 102,346 -25,495 390,821 -9,485
1985 100,333 -25,470 379,231 -6,221
1984 98,103 -25,487 366,768 -5,245
1983 95,982 -25,465 355,375 -9,729
1982 93,522 -25,355 319,664 -721
1981 91,767 -25,383 330,237 -24,536
1980 90,266 -25,638 332,464 -33,114
1979 89,330 -25,618 324,943 -32,793
1978 88,747 -25,208 316,724 -30,567
1977 87,954 -24,722 306,630 -28,275
1976 86,965 -24,198 294,267 -26,268
1975 85,809 -23,562 282,299 -24,389
1974 84,829 -22,771 270,735 -24,242
1973 83,821 -21,803 254,687 -17,502
1972 82,672 -20,303 249,027 -17,610
1971 80,599 -18,945 239,610 -15,167
1970 78,712 -18,773 230,117 -19,594
1969 76,454 -18,994 219,114 -18,749
1968 73,983 -19,188 209,454 -16,968
1967 71,519 -19,767 199,223 -14,618
1966 69,206 -17,454 191,122 -13,434
1965 66,693 -18,532 182,560 -12,704
1964 64,558 -17,730 174,549 -12,044
1963 62,260 -15,189 166,555 -11,817
1962 59,974 -12,141 159,155 -11,641
1961 58,151 -10,409 151,485 -11,237
1960 56,326 -2,034 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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