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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 6.34 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 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.14% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% 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 18,798,240 74,517,005
2099 18,786,145 74,647,273
2098 18,772,372 74,766,073
2097 18,755,008 74,879,923
2096 18,733,822 74,991,940
2095 18,710,340 75,102,041
2094 18,683,383 75,198,597
2093 18,654,365 75,296,704
2092 18,621,911 75,390,038
2091 18,586,147 75,480,137
2090 18,545,656 75,566,962
2089 18,506,626 75,649,353
2088 18,464,999 75,721,067
2087 18,420,558 75,791,990
2086 18,372,233 75,859,854
2085 18,321,842 75,918,647
2084 18,270,605 75,969,065
2083 18,214,932 76,018,614
2082 18,159,412 76,059,464
2081 18,100,531 76,086,593
2080 18,035,268 76,118,679
2079 17,972,052 76,147,352
2078 17,904,957 76,165,841
2077 17,837,082 76,183,437
2076 17,768,107 76,185,828
2075 17,695,759 76,198,349
2074 17,621,390 76,209,676
2073 17,544,490 76,218,781
2072 17,463,028 76,211,187
2071 17,377,995 76,200,495
2070 17,291,519 76,190,801
2069 17,201,936 76,184,140
2068 17,108,606 76,183,288
2067 17,011,562 76,175,881
2066 16,911,929 76,168,987
2065 16,809,460 76,168,193
2064 16,705,205 76,165,129
2063 16,600,853 76,165,534
2062 16,493,872 76,158,910
2061 16,383,508 76,156,587
2060 16,267,162 76,157,104
2059 16,149,265 76,157,593
2058 16,029,360 76,139,384
2057 15,906,350 76,119,478
2056 15,781,247 76,086,799
2055 15,653,296 76,047,952
2054 15,519,925 75,980,524
2053 15,386,054 75,907,047
2052 15,247,553 75,815,200
2051 15,107,257 75,709,173
2050 14,965,427 75,591,218
2049 14,818,793 75,460,140
2048 14,670,417 75,313,837
2047 14,519,915 75,153,802
2046 14,367,141 74,986,563
2045 14,210,639 74,808,886
2044 14,053,122 74,623,687
2043 13,894,884 74,424,133
2042 13,735,841 74,224,922
2041 13,574,567 74,020,934
2040 13,410,615 73,812,680
2039 13,244,740 73,600,788
2038 13,076,640 73,378,310
2037 12,907,059 73,155,497
2036 12,735,582 72,921,995
2035 12,563,938 72,671,687
2034 12,389,907 72,418,766
2033 12,215,713 72,145,065
2032 12,039,848 71,869,259
2031 11,862,856 71,581,519
2030 11,683,177 71,267,237
2029 11,502,504 70,948,992
2028 11,320,226 70,609,246
2027 11,136,100 70,248,858
2026 10,950,183 69,883,746
2025 10,762,817 69,487,000
2024 10,576,502 69,281,000
2023 10,389,635 68,526,000
2022 10,203,169 67,636,000
2021 10,012,896 66,978,000
2020 9,815,746 66,740,000
2019 9,609,010 66,628,000
2018 9,394,513 66,287,000
2017 9,178,714 65,964,000
2016 8,961,718 65,606,000
2015 8,743,246 65,087,000
2014 8,523,441 64,619,000
2013 8,302,698 64,138,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% 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 35.5% to 14,965,427 people with a rank change from 89th to 84th. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 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 76.2M 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 1.76% 0.3%
2024 1.8% 1.1%
2023 1.83% 1.32%
2022 1.9% 0.98%
2021 2.01% 0.36%
2020 2.15% 0.17%
2019 2.28% 0.51%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea United Kingdom
Current population
11045681
70071289
Population rank 89/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.84%
One net population change
2.83 minutes
2.56 minutes
One birth every
2.05 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
7.58 minutes
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +510 +564
Annual growth/decline +186,315 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.76% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 145/197
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 187,595 -707 13,233 417,114
2023 187,637 -787 34,606 445,523
2022 186,861 -787 39,770 487,029
2021 183,766 10,703 30,609 462,967
2020 189,130 10,703 -4,272 144,221
2019 190,662 22,978 108,338 232,727
2018 190,662 24,684 119,317 259,744
2017 189,715 26,513 145,121 272,311
2016 189,281 28,473 177,136 324,649
2015 188,600 30,580 175,735 347,839
2014 187,592 32,840 206,781 306,091
2013 185,790 35,280 198,827 237,272
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 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 (1960–2025, 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/united-kingdom | 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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