The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 335,169 people in Vanuatu in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 346,488 in Vanuatu.
Population statistics:
- Papua New Guinea's population is 31.9 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
- Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
- The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
- For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.14% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
- Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 346K (60.5% growth).
Papua New Guinea vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Papua New Guinea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 18,798,240 | 883,016 |
| 2099 | 18,786,145 | 878,369 |
| 2098 | 18,772,372 | 873,597 |
| 2097 | 18,755,008 | 868,672 |
| 2096 | 18,733,822 | 863,700 |
| 2095 | 18,710,340 | 858,515 |
| 2094 | 18,683,383 | 853,182 |
| 2093 | 18,654,365 | 847,713 |
| 2092 | 18,621,911 | 842,198 |
| 2091 | 18,586,147 | 836,615 |
| 2090 | 18,545,656 | 830,915 |
| 2089 | 18,506,626 | 825,143 |
| 2088 | 18,464,999 | 819,225 |
| 2087 | 18,420,558 | 813,199 |
| 2086 | 18,372,233 | 807,118 |
| 2085 | 18,321,842 | 800,846 |
| 2084 | 18,270,605 | 794,459 |
| 2083 | 18,214,932 | 788,013 |
| 2082 | 18,159,412 | 781,513 |
| 2081 | 18,100,531 | 774,913 |
| 2080 | 18,035,268 | 768,233 |
| 2079 | 17,972,052 | 761,418 |
| 2078 | 17,904,957 | 754,464 |
| 2077 | 17,837,082 | 747,507 |
| 2076 | 17,768,107 | 740,413 |
| 2075 | 17,695,759 | 733,236 |
| 2074 | 17,621,390 | 725,977 |
| 2073 | 17,544,490 | 718,583 |
| 2072 | 17,463,028 | 711,096 |
| 2071 | 17,377,995 | 703,543 |
| 2070 | 17,291,519 | 695,963 |
| 2069 | 17,201,936 | 688,347 |
| 2068 | 17,108,606 | 680,670 |
| 2067 | 17,011,562 | 672,919 |
| 2066 | 16,911,929 | 665,095 |
| 2065 | 16,809,460 | 657,238 |
| 2064 | 16,705,205 | 649,317 |
| 2063 | 16,600,853 | 641,384 |
| 2062 | 16,493,872 | 633,453 |
| 2061 | 16,383,508 | 625,585 |
| 2060 | 16,267,162 | 617,652 |
| 2059 | 16,149,265 | 609,661 |
| 2058 | 16,029,360 | 601,631 |
| 2057 | 15,906,350 | 593,578 |
| 2056 | 15,781,247 | 585,523 |
| 2055 | 15,653,296 | 577,375 |
| 2054 | 15,519,925 | 569,204 |
| 2053 | 15,386,054 | 560,984 |
| 2052 | 15,247,553 | 552,762 |
| 2051 | 15,107,257 | 544,521 |
| 2050 | 14,965,427 | 536,181 |
| 2049 | 14,818,793 | 527,854 |
| 2048 | 14,670,417 | 519,491 |
| 2047 | 14,519,915 | 511,139 |
| 2046 | 14,367,141 | 502,701 |
| 2045 | 14,210,639 | 494,279 |
| 2044 | 14,053,122 | 485,821 |
| 2043 | 13,894,884 | 477,431 |
| 2042 | 13,735,841 | 469,034 |
| 2041 | 13,574,567 | 460,706 |
| 2040 | 13,410,615 | 452,395 |
| 2039 | 13,244,740 | 444,129 |
| 2038 | 13,076,640 | 435,887 |
| 2037 | 12,907,059 | 427,727 |
| 2036 | 12,735,582 | 419,648 |
| 2035 | 12,563,938 | 411,652 |
| 2034 | 12,389,907 | 403,718 |
| 2033 | 12,215,713 | 395,853 |
| 2032 | 12,039,848 | 388,114 |
| 2031 | 11,862,856 | 380,413 |
| 2030 | 11,683,177 | 372,755 |
| 2029 | 11,502,504 | 365,162 |
| 2028 | 11,320,226 | 357,621 |
| 2027 | 11,136,100 | 350,124 |
| 2026 | 10,950,183 | 342,649 |
| 2025 | 10,762,817 | 335,169 |
| 2024 | 10,576,502 | 327,777 |
| 2023 | 10,389,635 | 320,409 |
| 2022 | 10,203,169 | 313,046 |
| 2021 | 10,012,896 | 305,868 |
| 2020 | 9,815,746 | 298,858 |
| 2019 | 9,609,010 | 291,985 |
| 2018 | 9,394,513 | 285,259 |
| 2017 | 9,178,714 | 278,507 |
| 2016 | 8,961,718 | 272,087 |
| 2015 | 8,743,246 | 266,101 |
| 2014 | 8,523,441 | 260,240 |
| 2013 | 8,302,698 | 254,482 |
| 2012 | 8,081,390 | 248,883 |
| 2011 | 7,859,346 | 243,474 |
| 2010 | 7,633,523 | 238,248 |
| 2009 | 7,406,438 | 232,731 |
| 2008 | 7,183,002 | 226,896 |
| 2007 | 6,963,345 | 221,276 |
| 2006 | 6,747,720 | 215,923 |
| 2005 | 6,535,905 | 210,760 |
| 2004 | 6,328,041 | 205,711 |
| 2003 | 6,123,997 | 200,746 |
| 2002 | 5,924,003 | 195,863 |
| 2001 | 5,728,435 | 191,031 |
| 2000 | 5,537,064 | 186,281 |
| 1999 | 5,349,333 | 182,048 |
| 1998 | 5,166,390 | 178,313 |
| 1997 | 4,987,883 | 174,626 |
| 1996 | 4,813,361 | 170,911 |
| 1995 | 4,644,278 | 167,137 |
| 1994 | 4,480,208 | 163,314 |
| 1993 | 4,320,872 | 159,463 |
| 1992 | 4,166,699 | 155,608 |
| 1991 | 4,021,837 | 151,793 |
| 1990 | 3,896,481 | 148,063 |
| 1989 | 3,796,078 | 144,393 |
| 1988 | 3,711,880 | 140,756 |
| 1987 | 3,632,543 | 137,187 |
| 1986 | 3,554,793 | 133,720 |
| 1985 | 3,478,936 | 130,356 |
| 1984 | 3,405,198 | 127,109 |
| 1983 | 3,333,633 | 123,998 |
| 1982 | 3,264,291 | 121,035 |
| 1981 | 3,197,019 | 118,249 |
| 1980 | 3,131,512 | 115,660 |
| 1979 | 3,067,341 | 113,040 |
| 1978 | 3,003,714 | 109,963 |
| 1977 | 2,940,327 | 106,618 |
| 1976 | 2,877,327 | 103,388 |
| 1975 | 2,814,820 | 100,269 |
| 1974 | 2,752,671 | 97,260 |
| 1973 | 2,690,629 | 94,362 |
| 1972 | 2,628,432 | 91,562 |
| 1971 | 2,566,421 | 88,862 |
| 1970 | 2,505,628 | 86,266 |
| 1969 | 2,446,927 | 83,755 |
| 1968 | 2,390,803 | 81,314 |
| 1967 | 2,337,532 | 78,921 |
| 1966 | 2,285,774 | 76,590 |
| 1965 | 2,235,820 | 74,358 |
| 1964 | 2,188,325 | 72,219 |
| 1963 | 2,141,376 | 70,159 |
| 1962 | 2,093,919 | 68,174 |
| 1961 | 2,046,127 | 66,264 |
| 1960 | 1,995,110 | 64,431 |
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/vanuatu | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while Vanuatu's population increased by 74,401 people (a 27.3% growth).
Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 54.7% to 536,181 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.
Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 883K people in 2100 for Vanuatu.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| 2100 | 0.06% | 0.53% |
| 2099 | 0.07% | 0.55% |
| 2098 | 0.09% | 0.57% |
| 2097 | 0.11% | 0.58% |
| 2096 | 0.13% | 0.6% |
| 2095 | 0.14% | 0.63% |
| 2094 | 0.16% | 0.65% |
| 2093 | 0.17% | 0.65% |
| 2092 | 0.19% | 0.67% |
| 2091 | 0.22% | 0.69% |
| 2090 | 0.21% | 0.7% |
| 2089 | 0.23% | 0.72% |
| 2088 | 0.24% | 0.74% |
| 2087 | 0.26% | 0.75% |
| 2086 | 0.28% | 0.78% |
| 2085 | 0.28% | 0.8% |
| 2084 | 0.31% | 0.82% |
| 2083 | 0.31% | 0.83% |
| 2082 | 0.33% | 0.85% |
| 2081 | 0.36% | 0.87% |
| 2080 | 0.35% | 0.9% |
| 2079 | 0.37% | 0.92% |
| 2078 | 0.38% | 0.93% |
| 2077 | 0.39% | 0.96% |
| 2076 | 0.41% | 0.98% |
| 2075 | 0.42% | 1% |
| 2074 | 0.44% | 1.03% |
| 2073 | 0.47% | 1.05% |
| 2072 | 0.49% | 1.07% |
| 2071 | 0.5% | 1.09% |
| 2070 | 0.52% | 1.11% |
| 2069 | 0.55% | 1.13% |
| 2068 | 0.57% | 1.15% |
| 2067 | 0.59% | 1.18% |
| 2066 | 0.61% | 1.2% |
| 2065 | 0.62% | 1.22% |
| 2064 | 0.63% | 1.24% |
| 2063 | 0.65% | 1.25% |
| 2062 | 0.67% | 1.26% |
| 2061 | 0.72% | 1.28% |
| 2060 | 0.73% | 1.31% |
| 2059 | 0.75% | 1.33% |
| 2058 | 0.77% | 1.36% |
| 2057 | 0.79% | 1.38% |
| 2056 | 0.82% | 1.41% |
| 2055 | 0.86% | 1.44% |
| 2054 | 0.87% | 1.47% |
| 2053 | 0.91% | 1.49% |
| 2052 | 0.93% | 1.51% |
| 2051 | 0.95% | 1.56% |
| 2050 | 0.99% | 1.58% |
| 2049 | 1.01% | 1.61% |
| 2048 | 1.04% | 1.63% |
| 2047 | 1.06% | 1.68% |
| 2046 | 1.1% | 1.7% |
| 2045 | 1.12% | 1.74% |
| 2044 | 1.14% | 1.76% |
| 2043 | 1.16% | 1.79% |
| 2042 | 1.19% | 1.81% |
| 2041 | 1.22% | 1.84% |
| 2040 | 1.25% | 1.86% |
| 2039 | 1.29% | 1.89% |
| 2038 | 1.31% | 1.91% |
| 2037 | 1.35% | 1.93% |
| 2036 | 1.37% | 1.94% |
| 2035 | 1.4% | 1.97% |
| 2034 | 1.43% | 1.99% |
| 2033 | 1.46% | 1.99% |
| 2032 | 1.49% | 2.02% |
| 2031 | 1.54% | 2.05% |
| 2030 | 1.57% | 2.08% |
| 2029 | 1.61% | 2.11% |
| 2028 | 1.65% | 2.14% |
| 2027 | 1.7% | 2.18% |
| 2026 | 1.74% | 2.23% |
| 2025 | 1.76% | 2.26% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | 2.3% |
| 2023 | 1.83% | 2.35% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | 2.35% |
| 2021 | 2.01% | 2.35% |
| 2020 | 2.15% | 2.35% |
| 2019 | 2.28% | 2.36% |
| 2018 | 2.35% | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 2.42% | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | 2.25% |
| 2015 | 2.58% | 2.25% |
| 2014 | 2.66% | 2.26% |
| 2013 | 2.74% | 2.25% |
| 2012 | 2.83% | 2.22% |
| 2011 | 2.96% | 2.19% |
| 2010 | 3.07% | 2.37% |
| 2009 | 3.11% | 2.57% |
| 2008 | 3.15% | 2.54% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | 2.48% |
| 2006 | 3.24% | 2.45% |
| 2005 | 3.28% | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 3.33% | 2.47% |
| 2003 | 3.38% | 2.49% |
| 2002 | 3.41% | 2.53% |
| 2001 | 3.46% | 2.55% |
| 2000 | 3.51% | 2.33% |
| 1999 | 3.54% | 2.09% |
| 1998 | 3.58% | 2.11% |
| 1997 | 3.63% | 2.17% |
| 1996 | 3.64% | 2.26% |
| 1995 | 3.66% | 2.34% |
| 1994 | 3.69% | 2.41% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | 2.48% |
| 1992 | 3.6% | 2.51% |
| 1991 | 3.22% | 2.52% |
| 1990 | 2.64% | 2.54% |
| 1989 | 2.27% | 2.58% |
| 1988 | 2.18% | 2.6% |
| 1987 | 2.19% | 2.59% |
| 1986 | 2.18% | 2.58% |
| 1985 | 2.17% | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 2.15% | 2.51% |
| 1983 | 2.12% | 2.45% |
| 1982 | 2.1% | 2.36% |
| 1981 | 2.09% | 2.24% |
| 1980 | 2.09% | 2.32% |
| 1979 | 2.12% | 2.8% |
| 1978 | 2.16% | 3.14% |
| 1977 | 2.19% | 3.12% |
| 1976 | 2.22% | 3.11% |
| 1975 | 2.26% | 3.09% |
| 1974 | 2.31% | 3.07% |
| 1973 | 2.37% | 3.06% |
| 1972 | 2.42% | 3.04% |
| 1971 | 2.43% | 3.01% |
| 1970 | 2.4% | 3% |
| 1969 | 2.35% | 3% |
| 1968 | 2.28% | 3.03% |
| 1967 | 2.26% | 3.04% |
| 1966 | 2.23% | 3% |
| 1965 | 2.17% | 2.96% |
| 1964 | 2.19% | 2.94% |
| 1963 | 2.27% | 2.91% |
| 1962 | 2.34% | 2.88% |
| 1961 | 2.56% | 2.84% |
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/vanuatu | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.26%.
Live population counters
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
11045681
|
346488
|
| Population rank | 89/197 | 174/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.13% | 0.004% |
| One net population change |
2.83 minutes
|
1.19 hours
|
| One birth every |
2.05 minutes
|
58 minutes
|
| One death every |
7.58 minutes
|
5.33 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +510 | +20 |
| Annual growth/decline | +186,315 | +7,392 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.76% | +2.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 59/197 | 36/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.29 days
|
1.01 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | -284 | -52 |
| Net migration rank | 87/196 | 80/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 31,171 | 3,315 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 163/195 | 188/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.3% | 1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 183/195 | 155/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Vanuatu
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -284 | - | -52 |
| 2024 | 187,595 | -707 | 7,419 | -43 |
| 2023 | 187,637 | -787 | 7,359 | 0 |
| 2022 | 186,861 | -787 | 7,358 | 0 |
| 2021 | 183,766 | 10,703 | 7,199 | -201 |
| 2020 | 189,130 | 10,703 | 7,233 | -201 |
| 2019 | 190,662 | 22,978 | 7,364 | -652 |
| 2018 | 190,662 | 24,684 | 7,379 | -638 |
| 2017 | 189,715 | 26,513 | 7,371 | -610 |
| 2016 | 189,281 | 28,473 | 7,315 | -1,235 |
| 2015 | 188,600 | 30,580 | 7,220 | -1,324 |
| 2014 | 187,592 | 32,840 | 7,143 | -1,320 |
| 2013 | 185,790 | 35,280 | 7,036 | -1,343 |
| 2012 | 183,658 | 37,893 | 6,877 | -1,369 |
| 2011 | 181,842 | 40,690 | 6,715 | -1,395 |
| 2010 | 178,998 | 50,106 | 6,548 | -1,413 |
| 2009 | 175,421 | 49,647 | 6,362 | -467 |
| 2008 | 172,823 | 48,985 | 6,138 | -372 |
| 2007 | 169,306 | 48,203 | 5,842 | -374 |
| 2006 | 166,540 | 47,191 | 5,606 | -364 |
| 2005 | 163,888 | 46,014 | 5,454 | -364 |
| 2004 | 161,023 | 44,811 | 5,353 | -349 |
| 2003 | 158,611 | 43,639 | 5,258 | -342 |
| 2002 | 155,091 | 42,657 | 5,181 | -329 |
| 2001 | 151,431 | 41,962 | 5,144 | -328 |
| 2000 | 147,496 | 41,855 | 5,026 | -339 |
| 1999 | 143,592 | 42,519 | 4,871 | -1,090 |
| 1998 | 136,677 | 43,091 | 4,866 | -1,178 |
| 1997 | 134,458 | 42,787 | 4,854 | -1,166 |
| 1996 | 129,802 | 41,994 | 4,897 | -1,154 |
| 1995 | 125,410 | 40,962 | 4,945 | -1,140 |
| 1994 | 122,113 | 39,669 | 4,973 | -1,132 |
| 1993 | 118,668 | 38,220 | 4,973 | -1,115 |
| 1992 | 114,818 | 36,622 | 4,941 | -1,095 |
| 1991 | 111,453 | 26,830 | 4,859 | -1,078 |
| 1990 | 110,033 | 2,398 | 4,762 | -1,072 |
| 1989 | 108,199 | -19,824 | 4,656 | -1,006 |
| 1988 | 106,256 | -26,232 | 4,577 | -959 |
| 1987 | 104,367 | -25,720 | 4,427 | -907 |
| 1986 | 102,346 | -25,495 | 4,360 | -938 |
| 1985 | 100,333 | -25,470 | 4,219 | -916 |
| 1984 | 98,103 | -25,487 | 4,088 | -907 |
| 1983 | 95,982 | -25,465 | 3,944 | -899 |
| 1982 | 93,522 | -25,355 | 3,778 | -897 |
| 1981 | 91,767 | -25,383 | 3,592 | -896 |
| 1980 | 90,266 | -25,638 | 3,383 | -896 |
| 1979 | 89,330 | -25,618 | 3,590 | -845 |
| 1978 | 88,747 | -25,208 | 3,428 | -15 |
| 1977 | 87,954 | -24,722 | 3,285 | -3 |
| 1976 | 86,965 | -24,198 | 3,174 | 3 |
| 1975 | 85,809 | -23,562 | 3,074 | -15 |
| 1974 | 84,829 | -22,771 | 2,968 | -17 |
| 1973 | 83,821 | -21,803 | 2,876 | -22 |
| 1972 | 82,672 | -20,303 | 2,775 | -28 |
| 1971 | 80,599 | -18,945 | 2,685 | -40 |
| 1970 | 78,712 | -18,773 | 2,597 | -46 |
| 1969 | 76,454 | -18,994 | 2,529 | -53 |
| 1968 | 73,983 | -19,188 | 2,470 | -68 |
| 1967 | 71,519 | -19,767 | 2,384 | 0 |
| 1966 | 69,206 | -17,454 | 2,278 | 0 |
| 1965 | 66,693 | -18,532 | 2,180 | 0 |
| 1964 | 64,558 | -17,730 | 2,098 | 0 |
| 1963 | 62,260 | -15,189 | 2,025 | 0 |
| 1962 | 59,974 | -12,141 | 1,947 | 0 |
| 1961 | 58,151 | -10,409 | 1,872 | 0 |
| 1960 | 56,326 | -2,034 | 1,796 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 93.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 73,217 people) and 6.28% is from migration (a loss of 4,904 people).
As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.
Biggest cities by population
|
Papua New Guinea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Moresby | 317K |
| Lae | 101K |
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Port Vila | 49K |
| Luganville | 17.7K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Vanuatu
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.5 years | 72 years |
| Average age | 26.9 years | 25.7 years |
| Median age | 23.8 years | 21.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.4:48.6 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 3.07 births per woman | 3.57 births per woman |
| Population density | 62.6 ppl/mi² | 72.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vanuatu | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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