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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,576,502 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,002,753 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 6.5 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 1% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.23% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.1% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea Thailand
2100 18,802,138 45,712,111
2099 18,790,040 46,056,854
2098 18,776,265 46,406,925
2097 18,758,897 46,761,683
2096 18,737,707 47,122,446
2095 18,714,219 47,487,866
2094 18,687,257 47,857,414
2093 18,658,233 48,230,566
2092 18,625,772 48,609,149
2091 18,590,001 48,988,448
2090 18,549,501 49,372,024
2089 18,510,463 49,760,635
2088 18,468,827 50,146,313
2087 18,424,378 50,536,233
2086 18,376,043 50,929,394
2085 18,325,641 51,326,092
2084 18,274,394 51,728,619
2083 18,218,709 52,131,789
2082 18,163,177 52,537,598
2081 18,104,285 52,942,608
2080 18,039,008 53,352,029
2079 17,975,778 53,766,821
2078 17,908,670 54,181,891
2077 17,840,781 54,599,508
2076 17,771,791 55,019,721
2075 17,699,428 55,442,571
2074 17,625,044 55,872,412
2073 17,548,128 56,304,891
2072 17,466,649 56,739,842
2071 17,381,598 57,177,118
2070 17,295,105 57,621,370
2069 17,205,503 58,066,637
2068 17,112,154 58,516,959
2067 17,015,090 58,967,738
2066 16,915,436 59,418,676
2065 16,812,946 59,878,082
2064 16,708,669 60,336,709
2063 16,604,296 60,797,201
2062 16,497,292 61,262,000
2061 16,386,905 61,724,999
2060 16,270,535 62,192,387
2059 16,152,614 62,656,203
2058 16,032,684 63,118,413
2057 15,909,649 63,577,864
2056 15,784,519 64,032,675
2055 15,656,542 64,478,337
2054 15,523,143 64,917,436
2053 15,389,244 65,343,383
2052 15,250,715 65,763,356
2051 15,110,389 66,167,939
2050 14,968,530 66,558,274
2049 14,821,865 66,936,876
2048 14,673,459 67,296,897
2047 14,522,926 67,641,907
2046 14,370,120 67,972,603
2045 14,213,585 68,287,399
2044 14,056,036 68,585,177
2043 13,897,765 68,870,333
2042 13,738,690 69,139,548
2041 13,577,382 69,396,419
2040 13,413,396 69,632,464
2039 13,247,486 69,854,146
2038 13,079,352 70,062,543
2037 12,909,735 70,256,027
2036 12,738,223 70,435,348
2035 12,566,543 70,604,705
2034 12,392,476 70,756,791
2033 12,218,246 70,897,217
2032 12,042,345 71,025,384
2031 11,865,316 71,140,609
2030 11,685,599 71,247,320
2029 11,504,890 71,342,891
2028 11,322,573 71,428,869
2027 11,138,409 71,505,168
2026 10,952,454 71,571,743
2025 10,765,048 71,625,629
2024 10,576,502 71,668,011
2023 10,389,635 71,702,435
2022 10,203,169 71,735,329
2021 10,012,896 71,727,332
2020 9,815,746 71,641,484
2019 9,609,010 71,522,271
2018 9,394,513 71,376,079
2017 9,178,714 71,160,187
2016 8,961,718 70,859,841
2015 8,743,246 70,540,795
2014 8,523,441 70,216,367
2013 8,302,698 69,845,114
2012 8,081,390 69,436,098
2011 7,859,346 69,007,208
2010 7,633,523 68,579,447
2009 7,406,438 68,121,080
2008 7,183,002 67,619,830
2007 6,963,345 67,102,394
2006 6,747,720 66,567,687
2005 6,535,905 66,017,420
2004 6,328,041 65,452,047
2003 6,123,997 64,868,166
2002 5,924,003 64,266,437
2001 5,728,435 63,651,141
2000 5,537,064 63,007,815
1999 5,349,333 62,299,043
1998 5,166,390 61,522,630
1997 4,987,883 60,724,584
1996 4,813,361 59,920,064
1995 4,644,278 59,098,232
1994 4,480,208 58,260,854
1993 4,320,872 57,408,198
1992 4,166,699 56,528,834
1991 4,021,837 55,637,434
1990 3,896,481 54,738,329
1989 3,796,078 53,848,956
1988 3,711,880 52,969,595
1987 3,632,543 52,074,105
1986 3,554,793 51,177,834
1985 3,478,936 50,270,753
1984 3,405,198 49,351,708
1983 3,333,633 48,423,309
1982 3,264,291 47,494,577
1981 3,197,019 46,575,855
1980 3,131,512 45,650,022
1979 3,067,341 44,718,434
1978 3,003,714 43,788,976
1977 2,940,327 42,843,974
1976 2,877,327 41,896,504
1975 2,814,820 40,940,005
1974 2,752,671 39,952,891
1973 2,690,629 38,947,787
1972 2,628,432 37,933,929
1971 2,566,421 36,937,387
1970 2,505,628 35,954,408
1969 2,446,927 34,973,782
1968 2,390,803 34,002,560
1967 2,337,532 33,037,801
1966 2,285,774 32,086,071
1965 2,235,820 31,149,337
1964 2,188,325 30,232,141
1963 2,141,376 29,342,322
1962 2,093,919 28,481,040
1961 2,046,127 27,650,334
1960 1,995,110 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea Thailand
2100 0.06% -0.75%
2099 0.07% -0.75%
2098 0.09% -0.76%
2097 0.11% -0.77%
2096 0.13% -0.77%
2095 0.14% -0.77%
2094 0.16% -0.77%
2093 0.17% -0.78%
2092 0.19% -0.77%
2091 0.22% -0.78%
2090 0.21% -0.78%
2089 0.23% -0.77%
2088 0.24% -0.77%
2087 0.26% -0.77%
2086 0.28% -0.77%
2085 0.28% -0.78%
2084 0.31% -0.77%
2083 0.31% -0.77%
2082 0.33% -0.76%
2081 0.36% -0.77%
2080 0.35% -0.77%
2079 0.37% -0.77%
2078 0.38% -0.76%
2077 0.39% -0.76%
2076 0.41% -0.76%
2075 0.42% -0.77%
2074 0.44% -0.77%
2073 0.47% -0.77%
2072 0.49% -0.76%
2071 0.5% -0.77%
2070 0.52% -0.77%
2069 0.55% -0.77%
2068 0.57% -0.76%
2067 0.59% -0.76%
2066 0.61% -0.77%
2065 0.62% -0.76%
2064 0.63% -0.76%
2063 0.65% -0.76%
2062 0.67% -0.75%
2061 0.72% -0.75%
2060 0.73% -0.74%
2059 0.75% -0.73%
2058 0.77% -0.72%
2057 0.79% -0.71%
2056 0.82% -0.69%
2055 0.86% -0.68%
2054 0.87% -0.65%
2053 0.91% -0.64%
2052 0.93% -0.61%
2051 0.95% -0.59%
2050 0.99% -0.57%
2049 1.01% -0.53%
2048 1.04% -0.51%
2047 1.06% -0.49%
2046 1.1% -0.46%
2045 1.12% -0.43%
2044 1.14% -0.41%
2043 1.16% -0.39%
2042 1.19% -0.37%
2041 1.22% -0.34%
2040 1.25% -0.32%
2039 1.29% -0.3%
2038 1.31% -0.28%
2037 1.35% -0.25%
2036 1.37% -0.24%
2035 1.4% -0.21%
2034 1.43% -0.2%
2033 1.46% -0.18%
2032 1.49% -0.16%
2031 1.54% -0.15%
2030 1.57% -0.13%
2029 1.61% -0.12%
2028 1.65% -0.11%
2027 1.7% -0.09%
2026 1.74% -0.08%
2025 1.78% -0.06%
2024 1.8% -0.05%
2023 1.83% -0.05%
2022 1.9% 0.01%
2021 2.01% 0.12%
2020 2.15% 0.17%
2019 2.28% 0.2%
2018 2.35% 0.3%
2017 2.42% 0.42%
2016 2.5% 0.45%
2015 2.58% 0.46%
2014 2.66% 0.53%
2013 2.74% 0.59%
2012 2.83% 0.62%
2011 2.96% 0.62%
2010 3.07% 0.67%
2009 3.11% 0.74%
2008 3.15% 0.77%
2007 3.2% 0.8%
2006 3.24% 0.83%
2005 3.28% 0.86%
2004 3.33% 0.9%
2003 3.38% 0.94%
2002 3.41% 0.97%
2001 3.46% 1.02%
2000 3.51% 1.14%
1999 3.54% 1.26%
1998 3.58% 1.31%
1997 3.63% 1.34%
1996 3.64% 1.39%
1995 3.66% 1.44%
1994 3.69% 1.49%
1993 3.7% 1.56%
1992 3.6% 1.6%
1991 3.22% 1.64%
1990 2.64% 1.65%
1989 2.27% 1.66%
1988 2.18% 1.72%
1987 2.19% 1.75%
1986 2.18% 1.8%
1985 2.17% 1.86%
1984 2.15% 1.92%
1983 2.12% 1.96%
1982 2.1% 1.97%
1981 2.09% 2.03%
1980 2.09% 2.08%
1979 2.12% 2.12%
1978 2.16% 2.21%
1977 2.19% 2.26%
1976 2.22% 2.34%
1975 2.26% 2.47%
1974 2.31% 2.58%
1973 2.37% 2.67%
1972 2.42% 2.7%
1971 2.43% 2.73%
1970 2.4% 2.8%
1969 2.35% 2.86%
1968 2.28% 2.92%
1967 2.26% 2.97%
1966 2.23% 3.01%
1965 2.17% 3.03%
1964 2.19% 3.03%
1963 2.27% 3.02%
1962 2.34% 3%
1961 2.56% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.8%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Thailand
Current population
11002753
71571743
Population rank 89/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.86%
One net population change
2.81 minutes
15.3 minutes
One birth every
2.06 minutes
53.3 seconds
One death every
7.76 minutes
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +512 -94
Annual growth/decline +186,867 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +1.8% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 168/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -284 +27,509
Net migration rank 87/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - 27,509
2024 - -707 - 23,321
2023 187,637 -787 -46,105 19,648
2022 186,861 -787 -61,046 21,683
2021 183,766 10,703 57,382 -2,093
2020 189,130 10,703 84,107 32,277
2019 190,662 22,978 116,867 5,221
2018 190,662 24,684 159,383 10,984
2017 189,715 26,513 194,695 66,805
2016 189,281 28,473 226,255 112,978
2015 188,600 30,580 266,362 32,500
2014 187,592 32,840 294,628 55,358
2013 185,790 35,280 325,059 67,452
2012 183,658 37,893 351,485 74,033
2011 181,842 40,690 365,670 66,607
2010 178,998 50,106 370,466 52,791
2009 175,421 49,647 382,636 110,883
2008 172,823 48,985 401,730 107,333
2007 169,306 48,203 425,362 100,486
2006 166,540 47,191 441,211 102,362
2005 163,888 46,014 456,378 100,542
2004 161,023 44,811 466,542 107,199
2003 158,611 43,639 488,003 105,917
2002 155,091 42,657 504,299 105,215
2001 151,431 41,962 524,230 96,817
2000 147,496 41,855 543,884 121,640
1999 143,592 42,519 578,073 173,924
1998 136,677 43,091 617,318 183,471
1997 134,458 42,787 644,834 150,411
1996 129,802 41,994 661,397 152,397
1995 125,410 40,962 682,703 147,226
1994 122,113 39,669 712,589 132,271
1993 118,668 38,220 737,696 122,746
1992 114,818 36,622 754,999 143,318
1991 111,453 26,830 760,508 124,034
1990 110,033 2,398 760,808 152,916
1989 108,199 -19,824 774,563 90,497
1988 106,256 -26,232 765,252 128,469
1987 104,367 -25,720 774,498 122,791
1986 102,346 -25,495 783,430 111,820
1985 100,333 -25,470 776,935 141,963
1984 98,103 -25,487 779,856 139,345
1983 95,982 -25,465 794,239 143,393
1982 93,522 -25,355 817,951 101,885
1981 91,767 -25,383 839,297 78,337
1980 90,266 -25,638 845,575 88,478
1979 89,330 -25,618 843,434 85,693
1978 88,747 -25,208 847,799 82,011
1977 87,954 -24,722 871,232 88,937
1976 86,965 -24,198 894,072 40,656
1975 85,809 -23,562 911,980 66,306
1974 84,829 -22,771 923,151 72,801
1973 83,821 -21,803 933,540 80,704
1972 82,672 -20,303 940,420 73,082
1971 80,599 -18,945 936,215 43,400
1970 78,712 -18,773 937,116 49,221
1969 76,454 -18,994 948,314 26,551
1968 73,983 -19,188 953,806 13,718
1967 71,519 -19,767 944,980 17,005
1966 69,206 -17,454 929,469 12,016
1965 66,693 -18,532 909,000 22,995
1964 64,558 -17,730 885,137 17,249
1963 62,260 -15,189 860,728 16,494
1962 59,974 -12,141 828,741 16,605
1961 58,151 -10,409 801,140 14,968
1960 56,326 -2,034 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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