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Population in Papua New Guinea compared to the United Kingdom: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,576,502 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,002,753 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 6.38 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.98% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.23% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.1% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
2100 18,802,138 74,700,585
2099 18,790,040 74,831,175
2098 18,776,265 74,950,267
2097 18,758,897 75,064,397
2096 18,737,707 75,176,691
2095 18,714,219 75,287,063
2094 18,687,257 75,383,856
2093 18,658,233 75,482,205
2092 18,625,772 75,575,769
2091 18,590,001 75,666,091
2090 18,549,501 75,753,129
2089 18,510,463 75,835,723
2088 18,468,827 75,907,614
2087 18,424,378 75,978,712
2086 18,376,043 76,046,742
2085 18,325,641 76,105,680
2084 18,274,394 76,156,223
2083 18,218,709 76,205,894
2082 18,163,177 76,246,844
2081 18,104,285 76,274,040
2080 18,039,008 76,306,205
2079 17,975,778 76,334,949
2078 17,908,670 76,353,484
2077 17,840,781 76,371,123
2076 17,771,791 76,373,520
2075 17,699,428 76,386,071
2074 17,625,044 76,397,426
2073 17,548,128 76,406,554
2072 17,466,649 76,398,941
2071 17,381,598 76,388,223
2070 17,295,105 76,378,505
2069 17,205,503 76,371,827
2068 17,112,154 76,370,973
2067 17,015,090 76,363,548
2066 16,915,436 76,356,638
2065 16,812,946 76,355,841
2064 16,708,669 76,352,770
2063 16,604,296 76,353,175
2062 16,497,292 76,346,535
2061 16,386,905 76,344,206
2060 16,270,535 76,344,725
2059 16,152,614 76,345,215
2058 16,032,684 76,326,961
2057 15,909,649 76,307,006
2056 15,784,519 76,274,247
2055 15,656,542 76,235,304
2054 15,523,143 76,167,710
2053 15,389,244 76,094,051
2052 15,250,715 76,001,979
2051 15,110,389 75,895,690
2050 14,968,530 75,777,445
2049 14,821,865 75,646,044
2048 14,673,459 75,499,380
2047 14,522,926 75,338,951
2046 14,370,120 75,171,300
2045 14,213,585 74,993,186
2044 14,056,036 74,807,530
2043 13,897,765 74,607,485
2042 13,738,690 74,407,783
2041 13,577,382 74,203,292
2040 13,413,396 73,994,525
2039 13,247,486 73,782,112
2038 13,079,352 73,559,085
2037 12,909,735 73,335,723
2036 12,738,223 73,101,646
2035 12,566,543 72,850,722
2034 12,392,476 72,597,177
2033 12,218,246 72,322,802
2032 12,042,345 72,046,316
2031 11,865,316 71,757,868
2030 11,685,599 71,442,811
2029 11,504,890 71,123,782
2028 11,322,573 70,783,199
2027 11,138,409 70,421,923
2026 10,952,454 70,055,911
2025 10,765,048 69,658,188
2024 10,576,502 69,226,000
2023 10,389,635 68,492,000
2022 10,203,169 67,604,000
2021 10,012,896 66,984,000
2020 9,815,746 66,744,000
2019 9,609,010 66,631,000
2018 9,394,513 66,289,000
2017 9,178,714 65,966,000
2016 8,961,718 65,607,000
2015 8,743,246 65,088,000
2014 8,523,441 64,620,000
2013 8,302,698 64,139,000
2012 8,081,390 63,711,000
2011 7,859,346 63,258,810
2010 7,633,523 62,766,365
2009 7,406,438 62,276,270
2008 7,183,002 61,806,995
2007 6,963,345 61,322,463
2006 6,747,720 60,846,820
2005 6,535,905 60,401,206
2004 6,328,041 59,987,905
2003 6,123,997 59,647,577
2002 5,924,003 59,370,479
2001 5,728,435 59,119,673
2000 5,537,064 58,892,514
1999 5,349,333 58,682,466
1998 5,166,390 58,487,141
1997 4,987,883 58,316,954
1996 4,813,361 58,166,950
1995 4,644,278 58,019,030
1994 4,480,208 57,865,745
1993 4,320,872 57,718,614
1992 4,166,699 57,580,402
1991 4,021,837 57,424,897
1990 3,896,481 57,247,586
1989 3,796,078 57,076,711
1988 3,711,880 56,928,327
1987 3,632,543 56,802,050
1986 3,554,793 56,681,396
1985 3,478,936 56,550,268
1984 3,405,198 56,422,072
1983 3,333,633 56,332,848
1982 3,264,291 56,313,641
1981 3,197,019 56,333,829
1980 3,131,512 56,314,216
1979 3,067,341 56,246,951
1978 3,003,714 56,196,504
1977 2,940,327 56,193,492
1976 2,877,327 56,211,968
1975 2,814,820 56,225,800
1974 2,752,671 56,229,974
1973 2,690,629 56,194,527
1972 2,628,432 56,086,065
1971 2,566,421 55,896,223
1970 2,505,628 55,663,250
1969 2,446,927 55,441,750
1968 2,390,803 55,211,700
1967 2,337,532 54,943,600
1966 2,285,774 54,648,500
1965 2,235,820 54,348,050
1964 2,188,325 54,000,000
1963 2,141,376 53,650,000
1962 2,093,919 53,250,000
1961 2,046,127 52,800,000
1960 1,995,110 52,400,000

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 the United Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
2100 0.06% -0.17%
2099 0.07% -0.16%
2098 0.09% -0.15%
2097 0.11% -0.15%
2096 0.13% -0.15%
2095 0.14% -0.13%
2094 0.16% -0.13%
2093 0.17% -0.12%
2092 0.19% -0.12%
2091 0.22% -0.11%
2090 0.21% -0.11%
2089 0.23% -0.09%
2088 0.24% -0.09%
2087 0.26% -0.09%
2086 0.28% -0.08%
2085 0.28% -0.07%
2084 0.31% -0.07%
2083 0.31% -0.05%
2082 0.33% -0.04%
2081 0.36% -0.04%
2080 0.35% -0.04%
2079 0.37% -0.02%
2078 0.38% -0.02%
2077 0.39% -0.003%
2076 0.41% -0.02%
2075 0.42% -0.01%
2074 0.44% -0.01%
2073 0.47% 0.01%
2072 0.49% 0.01%
2071 0.5% 0.01%
2070 0.52% 0.009%
2069 0.55% 0.001%
2068 0.57% 0.01%
2067 0.59% 0.009%
2066 0.61% 0.001%
2065 0.62% 0.004%
2064 0.63% -0%
2063 0.65% 0.009%
2062 0.67% 0.003%
2061 0.72% -0.001%
2060 0.73% -0.001%
2059 0.75% 0.02%
2058 0.77% 0.03%
2057 0.79% 0.04%
2056 0.82% 0.05%
2055 0.86% 0.09%
2054 0.87% 0.1%
2053 0.91% 0.12%
2052 0.93% 0.14%
2051 0.95% 0.16%
2050 0.99% 0.17%
2049 1.01% 0.19%
2048 1.04% 0.21%
2047 1.06% 0.22%
2046 1.1% 0.24%
2045 1.12% 0.25%
2044 1.14% 0.27%
2043 1.16% 0.27%
2042 1.19% 0.28%
2041 1.22% 0.28%
2040 1.25% 0.29%
2039 1.29% 0.3%
2038 1.31% 0.3%
2037 1.35% 0.32%
2036 1.37% 0.34%
2035 1.4% 0.35%
2034 1.43% 0.38%
2033 1.46% 0.38%
2032 1.49% 0.4%
2031 1.54% 0.44%
2030 1.57% 0.45%
2029 1.61% 0.48%
2028 1.65% 0.51%
2027 1.7% 0.52%
2026 1.74% 0.57%
2025 1.78% 0.62%
2024 1.8% 1.07%
2023 1.83% 1.31%
2022 1.9% 0.93%
2021 2.01% 0.36%
2020 2.15% 0.17%
2019 2.28% 0.52%
2018 2.35% 0.49%
2017 2.42% 0.55%
2016 2.5% 0.8%
2015 2.58% 0.72%
2014 2.66% 0.75%
2013 2.74% 0.67%
2012 2.83% 0.71%
2011 2.96% 0.78%
2010 3.07% 0.79%
2009 3.11% 0.76%
2008 3.15% 0.79%
2007 3.2% 0.78%
2006 3.24% 0.74%
2005 3.28% 0.69%
2004 3.33% 0.57%
2003 3.38% 0.47%
2002 3.41% 0.42%
2001 3.46% 0.39%
2000 3.51% 0.36%
1999 3.54% 0.33%
1998 3.58% 0.29%
1997 3.63% 0.26%
1996 3.64% 0.25%
1995 3.66% 0.26%
1994 3.69% 0.25%
1993 3.7% 0.24%
1992 3.6% 0.27%
1991 3.22% 0.31%
1990 2.64% 0.3%
1989 2.27% 0.26%
1988 2.18% 0.22%
1987 2.19% 0.21%
1986 2.18% 0.23%
1985 2.17% 0.23%
1984 2.15% 0.16%
1983 2.12% 0.03%
1982 2.1% -0.04%
1981 2.09% 0.03%
1980 2.09% 0.12%
1979 2.12% 0.09%
1978 2.16% 0.005%
1977 2.19% -0.03%
1976 2.22% -0.02%
1975 2.26% -0.007%
1974 2.31% 0.06%
1973 2.37% 0.19%
1972 2.42% 0.34%
1971 2.43% 0.42%
1970 2.4% 0.4%
1969 2.35% 0.42%
1968 2.28% 0.49%
1967 2.26% 0.54%
1966 2.23% 0.55%
1965 2.17% 0.64%
1964 2.19% 0.65%
1963 2.27% 0.75%
1962 2.34% 0.85%
1961 2.56% 0.76%

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.8%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
Current population
11002753
70154914
Population rank 89/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.85%
One net population change
2.81 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
2.06 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
7.76 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +512 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +186,867 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.8% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 97/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change -284 +389,911
Net migration rank 87/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - 389,911
2024 - -707 - 417,114
2023 187,637 -787 34,589 445,523
2022 186,861 -787 39,751 487,029
2021 183,766 10,703 30,612 462,967
2020 189,130 10,703 -4,272 144,221
2019 190,662 22,978 108,342 232,727
2018 190,662 24,684 119,321 259,744
2017 189,715 26,513 145,125 272,311
2016 189,281 28,473 177,139 324,649
2015 188,600 30,580 175,738 347,839
2014 187,592 32,840 206,784 306,091
2013 185,790 35,280 198,830 237,272
2012 183,658 37,893 248,473 172,088
2011 181,842 40,690 259,361 228,773
2010 178,998 50,106 251,066 274,811
2009 175,421 49,647 230,422 249,639
2008 172,823 48,985 216,325 263,390
2007 169,306 48,203 196,232 309,385
2006 166,540 47,191 176,455 288,923
2005 163,888 46,014 144,963 308,279
2004 161,023 44,811 131,974 276,077
2003 158,611 43,639 89,471 211,846
2002 155,091 42,657 65,308 203,577
2001 151,431 41,962 65,032 175,133
2000 147,496 41,855 70,671 153,917
1999 143,592 42,519 64,551 152,653
1998 136,677 43,091 87,730 125,541
1997 134,458 42,787 99,138 59,723
1996 129,802 41,994 98,884 54,964
1995 125,410 40,962 87,028 61,385
1994 122,113 39,669 127,304 45,339
1993 118,668 38,220 103,893 27,403
1992 114,818 36,622 149,709 17,846
1991 111,453 26,830 143,562 27,601
1990 110,033 2,398 154,569 57,132
1989 108,199 -19,824 119,861 49,586
1988 106,256 -26,232 136,628 13,952
1987 104,367 -25,720 136,325 8,266
1986 102,346 -25,495 90,690 41,836
1985 100,333 -25,470 79,170 83,164
1984 98,103 -25,487 84,633 71,107
1983 95,982 -25,465 61,966 27,063
1982 93,522 -25,355 56,314 -61,152
1981 91,767 -25,383 73,234 -83,876
1980 90,266 -25,638 95,734 -25,187
1979 89,330 -25,618 61,872 11,255
1978 88,747 -25,208 16,859 3,783
1977 87,954 -24,722 0 -21,636
1976 86,965 -24,198 -5,621 -19,135
1975 85,809 -23,562 33,735 -40,241
1974 84,829 -22,771 67,476 -65,710
1973 83,821 -21,803 112,389 -33,840
1972 82,672 -20,303 162,650 -1,406
1971 80,599 -18,945 257,123 1,175
1970 78,712 -18,773 244,918 -15,254
1969 76,454 -18,994 260,577 -60,655
1968 73,983 -19,188 292,622 -38,852
1967 71,519 -19,767 346,145 -39,659
1966 69,206 -17,454 333,356 -27,935
1965 66,693 -18,532 364,132 -24,955
1964 64,558 -17,730 405,000 -23,885
1963 62,260 -15,189 337,995 8,271
1962 59,974 -12,141 340,800 76,443
1961 58,151 -10,409 311,519 52,295
1960 56,326 -2,034 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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/united-kingdom | 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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