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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 71,619,863 people in Thailand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 71,565,981 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 6.48 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 0.99% 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 +2.14% per year vs +0.18% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.51% 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 18,798,240 45,708,431
2099 18,786,145 46,053,146
2098 18,772,372 46,403,189
2097 18,755,008 46,757,918
2096 18,733,822 47,118,652
2095 18,710,340 47,484,043
2094 18,683,383 47,853,561
2093 18,654,365 48,226,682
2092 18,621,911 48,605,235
2091 18,586,147 48,984,504
2090 18,545,656 49,368,049
2089 18,506,626 49,756,629
2088 18,464,999 50,142,276
2087 18,420,558 50,532,164
2086 18,372,233 50,925,294
2085 18,321,842 51,321,960
2084 18,270,605 51,724,454
2083 18,214,932 52,127,592
2082 18,159,412 52,533,368
2081 18,100,531 52,938,345
2080 18,035,268 53,347,733
2079 17,972,052 53,762,492
2078 17,904,957 54,177,529
2077 17,837,082 54,595,112
2076 17,768,107 55,015,291
2075 17,695,759 55,438,108
2074 17,621,390 55,867,914
2073 17,544,490 56,300,358
2072 17,463,028 56,735,274
2071 17,377,995 57,172,515
2070 17,291,519 57,616,731
2069 17,201,936 58,061,962
2068 17,108,606 58,512,248
2067 17,011,562 58,962,990
2066 16,911,929 59,413,893
2065 16,809,460 59,873,261
2064 16,705,205 60,331,851
2063 16,600,853 60,792,306
2062 16,493,872 61,257,068
2061 16,383,508 61,720,030
2060 16,267,162 62,187,380
2059 16,149,265 62,651,158
2058 16,029,360 63,113,332
2057 15,906,350 63,572,746
2056 15,781,247 64,027,520
2055 15,653,296 64,473,146
2054 15,519,925 64,912,210
2053 15,386,054 65,338,122
2052 15,247,553 65,758,061
2051 15,107,257 66,162,612
2050 14,965,427 66,552,915
2049 14,818,793 66,931,487
2048 14,670,417 67,291,479
2047 14,519,915 67,636,461
2046 14,367,141 67,967,131
2045 14,210,639 68,281,902
2044 14,053,122 68,579,656
2043 13,894,884 68,864,788
2042 13,735,841 69,133,982
2041 13,574,567 69,390,832
2040 13,410,615 69,626,857
2039 13,244,740 69,848,522
2038 13,076,640 70,056,903
2037 12,907,059 70,250,371
2036 12,735,582 70,429,677
2035 12,563,938 70,599,021
2034 12,389,907 70,751,094
2033 12,215,713 70,891,510
2032 12,039,848 71,019,665
2031 11,862,856 71,134,882
2030 11,683,177 71,241,584
2029 11,502,504 71,337,147
2028 11,320,226 71,423,119
2027 11,136,100 71,499,411
2026 10,950,183 71,565,981
2025 10,762,817 71,619,863
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 706,140 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 35.5% to 14,965,427 people with a rank change from 89th to 84th. The population of Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,552,915 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 1.76% -0.07%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Thailand
Current population
11045681
71565981
Population rank 89/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.86%
One net population change
2.83 minutes
10.9 minutes
One birth every
2.05 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
7.58 minutes
48.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +510 -132
Annual growth/decline +186,315 -48,148
Annual growth/decline rate +1.76% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 164/197
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 187,595 -707 -65,720 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/thailand | 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 Thailand 74.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 932,180 people) and 25.8% is from migration (a gain of 323,324 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 (1960–2025, 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/thailand | 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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