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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 2.07 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 +2.14% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% 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 18,798,240 65,204,593
2099 18,786,145 64,858,778
2098 18,772,372 64,503,193
2097 18,755,008 64,136,110
2096 18,733,822 63,764,760
2095 18,710,340 63,380,692
2094 18,683,383 62,980,254
2093 18,654,365 62,578,008
2092 18,621,911 62,163,693
2091 18,586,147 61,738,437
2090 18,545,656 61,309,330
2089 18,506,626 60,868,166
2088 18,464,999 60,422,781
2087 18,420,558 59,958,303
2086 18,372,233 59,487,524
2085 18,321,842 59,011,423
2084 18,270,605 58,524,337
2083 18,214,932 58,029,088
2082 18,159,412 57,527,347
2081 18,100,531 57,016,267
2080 18,035,268 56,495,299
2079 17,972,052 55,972,223
2078 17,904,957 55,438,864
2077 17,837,082 54,895,964
2076 17,768,107 54,350,375
2075 17,695,759 53,796,265
2074 17,621,390 53,236,297
2073 17,544,490 52,666,980
2072 17,463,028 52,090,884
2071 17,377,995 51,509,551
2070 17,291,519 50,921,590
2069 17,201,936 50,324,793
2068 17,108,606 49,727,689
2067 17,011,562 49,125,817
2066 16,911,929 48,520,891
2065 16,809,460 47,909,160
2064 16,705,205 47,290,430
2063 16,600,853 46,668,252
2062 16,493,872 46,039,755
2061 16,383,508 45,407,718
2060 16,267,162 44,768,534
2059 16,149,265 44,128,619
2058 16,029,360 43,485,891
2057 15,906,350 42,843,489
2056 15,781,247 42,198,591
2055 15,653,296 41,550,105
2054 15,519,925 40,898,440
2053 15,386,054 40,247,706
2052 15,247,553 39,596,094
2051 15,107,257 38,942,292
2050 14,965,427 38,287,070
2049 14,818,793 37,626,787
2048 14,670,417 36,964,032
2047 14,519,915 36,302,603
2046 14,367,141 35,638,852
2045 14,210,639 34,974,927
2044 14,053,122 34,310,227
2043 13,894,884 33,645,797
2042 13,735,841 32,984,164
2041 13,574,567 32,323,084
2040 13,410,615 31,658,029
2039 13,244,740 30,995,204
2038 13,076,640 30,329,691
2037 12,907,059 29,662,721
2036 12,735,582 28,994,556
2035 12,563,938 28,327,922
2034 12,389,907 27,665,749
2033 12,215,713 27,006,658
2032 12,039,848 26,351,393
2031 11,862,856 25,697,754
2030 11,683,177 25,050,285
2029 11,502,504 24,409,600
2028 11,320,226 23,776,128
2027 11,136,100 23,146,922
2026 10,950,183 22,525,308
2025 10,762,817 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 35.5% to 14,965,427 people with a rank change from 89th to 84th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 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 1.76% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Zambia
Current population
11045681
22844606
Population rank 89/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.27%
One net population change
2.83 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
2.05 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
7.58 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +510 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +186,315 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +1.76% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 19/197
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 187,595 -707 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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