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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,576,502 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,002,753 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 2.06 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.41% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.23% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.1% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea Zambia
2100 18,802,138 65,217,429
2099 18,790,040 64,871,545
2098 18,776,265 64,515,891
2097 18,758,897 64,148,736
2096 18,737,707 63,777,313
2095 18,714,219 63,393,169
2094 18,687,257 62,992,652
2093 18,658,233 62,590,327
2092 18,625,772 62,175,930
2091 18,590,001 61,750,591
2090 18,549,501 61,321,399
2089 18,510,463 60,880,148
2088 18,468,827 60,434,676
2087 18,424,378 59,970,107
2086 18,376,043 59,499,234
2085 18,325,641 59,023,040
2084 18,274,394 58,535,857
2083 18,218,709 58,040,512
2082 18,163,177 57,538,672
2081 18,104,285 57,027,491
2080 18,039,008 56,506,421
2079 17,975,778 55,983,242
2078 17,908,670 55,449,777
2077 17,840,781 54,906,771
2076 17,771,791 54,361,075
2075 17,699,428 53,806,856
2074 17,625,044 53,246,777
2073 17,548,128 52,677,348
2072 17,466,649 52,101,139
2071 17,381,598 51,519,691
2070 17,295,105 50,931,614
2069 17,205,503 50,334,700
2068 17,112,154 49,737,479
2067 17,015,090 49,135,488
2066 16,915,436 48,530,443
2065 16,812,946 47,918,592
2064 16,708,669 47,299,740
2063 16,604,296 46,677,439
2062 16,497,292 46,048,819
2061 16,386,905 45,416,657
2060 16,270,535 44,777,347
2059 16,152,614 44,137,306
2058 16,032,684 43,494,451
2057 15,909,649 42,851,923
2056 15,784,519 42,206,898
2055 15,656,542 41,558,284
2054 15,523,143 40,906,492
2053 15,389,244 40,255,629
2052 15,250,715 39,603,888
2051 15,110,389 38,949,958
2050 14,968,530 38,294,607
2049 14,821,865 37,634,194
2048 14,673,459 36,971,309
2047 14,522,926 36,309,749
2046 14,370,120 35,645,868
2045 14,213,585 34,981,812
2044 14,056,036 34,316,981
2043 13,897,765 33,652,420
2042 13,738,690 32,990,657
2041 13,577,382 32,329,447
2040 13,413,396 31,664,262
2039 13,247,486 31,001,305
2038 13,079,352 30,335,662
2037 12,909,735 29,668,561
2036 12,738,223 29,000,264
2035 12,566,543 28,333,498
2034 12,392,476 27,671,195
2033 12,218,246 27,011,974
2032 12,042,345 26,356,580
2031 11,865,316 25,702,812
2030 11,685,599 25,055,216
2029 11,504,890 24,414,405
2028 11,322,573 23,780,809
2027 11,138,409 23,151,479
2026 10,952,454 22,529,742
2025 10,765,048 21,918,187
2024 10,576,502 21,314,956
2023 10,389,635 20,723,965
2022 10,203,169 20,152,938
2021 10,012,896 19,603,607
2020 9,815,746 19,059,395
2019 9,609,010 18,513,839
2018 9,394,513 17,973,569
2017 9,178,714 17,441,320
2016 8,961,718 16,914,423
2015 8,743,246 16,399,089
2014 8,523,441 15,895,315
2013 8,302,698 15,398,997
2012 8,081,390 14,913,629
2011 7,859,346 14,437,796
2010 7,633,523 13,965,594
2009 7,406,438 13,490,389
2008 7,183,002 13,021,324
2007 6,963,345 12,565,085
2006 6,747,720 12,129,553
2005 6,535,905 11,718,819
2004 6,328,041 11,338,198
2003 6,123,997 10,983,595
2002 5,924,003 10,647,949
2001 5,728,435 10,325,185
2000 5,537,064 10,017,631
1999 5,349,333 9,740,005
1998 5,166,390 9,482,408
1997 4,987,883 9,237,063
1996 4,813,361 9,004,053
1995 4,644,278 8,785,763
1994 4,480,208 8,576,269
1993 4,320,872 8,373,921
1992 4,166,699 8,176,680
1991 4,021,837 7,981,650
1990 3,896,481 7,786,169
1989 3,796,078 7,589,216
1988 3,711,880 7,391,440
1987 3,632,543 7,191,282
1986 3,554,793 6,986,471
1985 3,478,936 6,780,953
1984 3,405,198 6,580,490
1983 3,333,633 6,381,038
1982 3,264,291 6,178,637
1981 3,197,019 5,983,289
1980 3,131,512 5,802,833
1979 3,067,341 5,631,728
1978 3,003,714 5,465,374
1977 2,940,327 5,302,480
1976 2,877,327 5,143,842
1975 2,814,820 4,990,086
1974 2,752,671 4,842,746
1973 2,690,629 4,702,693
1972 2,628,432 4,569,309
1971 2,566,421 4,442,525
1970 2,505,628 4,321,718
1969 2,446,927 4,197,116
1968 2,390,803 4,065,593
1967 2,337,532 3,936,343
1966 2,285,774 3,812,003
1965 2,235,820 3,692,086
1964 2,188,325 3,577,017
1963 2,141,376 3,465,907
1962 2,093,919 3,358,099
1961 2,046,127 3,254,086
1960 1,995,110 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea Zambia
2100 0.06% 0.53%
2099 0.07% 0.55%
2098 0.09% 0.57%
2097 0.11% 0.58%
2096 0.13% 0.61%
2095 0.14% 0.64%
2094 0.16% 0.64%
2093 0.17% 0.67%
2092 0.19% 0.69%
2091 0.22% 0.7%
2090 0.21% 0.72%
2089 0.23% 0.74%
2088 0.24% 0.77%
2087 0.26% 0.79%
2086 0.28% 0.81%
2085 0.28% 0.83%
2084 0.31% 0.85%
2083 0.31% 0.87%
2082 0.33% 0.9%
2081 0.36% 0.92%
2080 0.35% 0.93%
2079 0.37% 0.96%
2078 0.38% 0.99%
2077 0.39% 1%
2076 0.41% 1.03%
2075 0.42% 1.05%
2074 0.44% 1.08%
2073 0.47% 1.11%
2072 0.49% 1.13%
2071 0.5% 1.15%
2070 0.52% 1.19%
2069 0.55% 1.2%
2068 0.57% 1.23%
2067 0.59% 1.25%
2066 0.61% 1.28%
2065 0.62% 1.31%
2064 0.63% 1.33%
2063 0.65% 1.37%
2062 0.67% 1.39%
2061 0.72% 1.43%
2060 0.73% 1.45%
2059 0.75% 1.48%
2058 0.77% 1.5%
2057 0.79% 1.53%
2056 0.82% 1.56%
2055 0.86% 1.59%
2054 0.87% 1.62%
2053 0.91% 1.65%
2052 0.93% 1.68%
2051 0.95% 1.71%
2050 0.99% 1.75%
2049 1.01% 1.79%
2048 1.04% 1.82%
2047 1.06% 1.86%
2046 1.1% 1.9%
2045 1.12% 1.94%
2044 1.14% 1.97%
2043 1.16% 2.01%
2042 1.19% 2.05%
2041 1.22% 2.1%
2040 1.25% 2.14%
2039 1.29% 2.19%
2038 1.31% 2.25%
2037 1.35% 2.3%
2036 1.37% 2.35%
2035 1.4% 2.39%
2034 1.43% 2.44%
2033 1.46% 2.49%
2032 1.49% 2.54%
2031 1.54% 2.58%
2030 1.57% 2.62%
2029 1.61% 2.66%
2028 1.65% 2.72%
2027 1.7% 2.76%
2026 1.74% 2.79%
2025 1.78% 2.83%
2024 1.8% 2.85%
2023 1.83% 2.83%
2022 1.9% 2.8%
2021 2.01% 2.86%
2020 2.15% 2.95%
2019 2.28% 3.01%
2018 2.35% 3.05%
2017 2.42% 3.12%
2016 2.5% 3.14%
2015 2.58% 3.17%
2014 2.66% 3.22%
2013 2.74% 3.25%
2012 2.83% 3.3%
2011 2.96% 3.38%
2010 3.07% 3.52%
2009 3.11% 3.6%
2008 3.15% 3.63%
2007 3.2% 3.59%
2006 3.24% 3.5%
2005 3.28% 3.36%
2004 3.33% 3.23%
2003 3.38% 3.15%
2002 3.41% 3.13%
2001 3.46% 3.07%
2000 3.51% 2.85%
1999 3.54% 2.72%
1998 3.58% 2.66%
1997 3.63% 2.59%
1996 3.64% 2.48%
1995 3.66% 2.44%
1994 3.69% 2.42%
1993 3.7% 2.41%
1992 3.6% 2.44%
1991 3.22% 2.51%
1990 2.64% 2.6%
1989 2.27% 2.68%
1988 2.18% 2.78%
1987 2.19% 2.93%
1986 2.18% 3.03%
1985 2.17% 3.05%
1984 2.15% 3.13%
1983 2.12% 3.28%
1982 2.1% 3.26%
1981 2.09% 3.11%
1980 2.09% 3.04%
1979 2.12% 3.04%
1978 2.16% 3.07%
1977 2.19% 3.08%
1976 2.22% 3.08%
1975 2.26% 3.04%
1974 2.31% 2.98%
1973 2.37% 2.92%
1972 2.42% 2.85%
1971 2.43% 2.8%
1970 2.4% 2.97%
1969 2.35% 3.24%
1968 2.28% 3.28%
1967 2.26% 3.26%
1966 2.23% 3.25%
1965 2.17% 3.22%
1964 2.19% 3.21%
1963 2.27% 3.21%
1962 2.34% 3.2%
1961 2.56% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.8%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Zambia
Current population
11002753
22697916
Population rank 89/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.27%
One net population change
2.81 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
2.06 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
7.76 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +512 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +186,867 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.8% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 21/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -284 +6,562
Net migration rank 87/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - 6,562
2024 - -707 - 7,381
2023 187,637 -787 577,660 9,521
2022 186,861 -787 563,456 -8,566
2021 183,766 10,703 535,629 8,143
2020 189,130 10,703 536,484 8,156
2019 190,662 22,978 528,089 18,385
2018 190,662 24,684 515,644 18,431
2017 189,715 26,513 504,630 25,789
2016 189,281 28,473 497,521 25,860
2015 188,600 30,580 491,021 16,261
2014 187,592 32,840 483,663 16,574
2013 185,790 35,280 476,846 15,542
2012 183,658 37,893 469,406 8,958
2011 181,842 40,690 459,743 13,569
2010 178,998 50,106 448,337 22,761
2009 175,421 49,647 434,458 44,867
2008 172,823 48,985 419,560 39,249
2007 169,306 48,203 403,729 49,945
2006 166,540 47,191 387,891 29,517
2005 163,888 46,014 368,756 35,316
2004 161,023 44,811 349,352 7,819
2003 158,611 43,639 331,189 20,845
2002 155,091 42,657 316,041 3,206
2001 151,431 41,962 302,682 23,582
2000 147,496 41,855 293,186 -4,338
1999 143,592 42,519 283,297 -16,888
1998 136,677 43,091 275,568 -26,796
1997 134,458 42,787 268,198 -26,276
1996 129,802 41,994 262,468 -38,358
1995 125,410 40,962 257,897 -45,423
1994 122,113 39,669 252,023 -45,504
1993 118,668 38,220 245,917 -47,739
1992 114,818 36,622 239,953 -43,656
1991 111,453 26,830 237,957 -44,203
1990 110,033 2,398 235,835 -38,619
1989 108,199 -19,824 233,429 -36,736
1988 106,256 -26,232 230,118 -31,270
1987 104,367 -25,720 227,813 -26,338
1986 102,346 -25,495 224,768 -16,610
1985 100,333 -25,470 221,351 -18,474
1984 98,103 -25,487 216,695 -18,652
1983 95,982 -25,465 212,712 -11,849
1982 93,522 -25,355 207,621 -3,676
1981 91,767 -25,383 202,822 -16,072
1980 90,266 -25,638 198,817 -24,664
1979 89,330 -25,618 197,578 -29,515
1978 88,747 -25,208 194,933 -30,284
1977 87,954 -24,722 191,557 -30,423
1976 86,965 -24,198 186,762 -30,612
1975 85,809 -23,562 182,258 -30,886
1974 84,829 -22,771 174,484 -31,178
1973 83,821 -21,803 168,258 -31,472
1972 82,672 -20,303 161,648 -31,672
1971 80,599 -18,945 155,249 -31,651
1970 78,712 -18,773 149,380 -31,370
1969 76,454 -18,994 142,660 -11,469
1968 73,983 -19,188 137,315 -5,447
1967 71,519 -19,767 131,938 -5,298
1966 69,206 -17,454 127,164 -5,129
1965 66,693 -18,532 122,814 -5,023
1964 64,558 -17,730 117,197 -4,851
1963 62,260 -15,189 114,555 -4,676
1962 59,974 -12,141 110,173 -4,428
1961 58,151 -10,409 106,318 -4,043
1960 56,326 -2,034 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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