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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Papua New Guinea was 10,762,817 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Papua New Guinea's population is 11,045,681 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 1.58 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Papua New Guinea is ranked the 89th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.13% for Papua New Guinea vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Papua New Guinea has had an average growth rate of +2.14% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Papua New Guinea has increased from 6.75M people to 11M (63.7% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Papua New Guinea vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Papua New Guinea Zimbabwe
2100 18,798,240 37,486,352
2099 18,786,145 37,415,690
2098 18,772,372 37,331,540
2097 18,755,008 37,238,819
2096 18,733,822 37,146,184
2095 18,710,340 37,035,388
2094 18,683,383 36,915,996
2093 18,654,365 36,814,133
2092 18,621,911 36,691,740
2091 18,586,147 36,570,481
2090 18,545,656 36,428,812
2089 18,506,626 36,284,166
2088 18,464,999 36,144,627
2087 18,420,558 35,980,805
2086 18,372,233 35,811,286
2085 18,321,842 35,640,228
2084 18,270,605 35,459,328
2083 18,214,932 35,271,139
2082 18,159,412 35,081,992
2081 18,100,531 34,876,198
2080 18,035,268 34,662,013
2079 17,972,052 34,442,751
2078 17,904,957 34,220,306
2077 17,837,082 33,985,899
2076 17,768,107 33,742,198
2075 17,695,759 33,498,815
2074 17,621,390 33,247,764
2073 17,544,490 32,981,390
2072 17,463,028 32,708,937
2071 17,377,995 32,448,602
2070 17,291,519 32,183,952
2069 17,201,936 31,909,601
2068 17,108,606 31,633,783
2067 17,011,562 31,348,096
2066 16,911,929 31,065,618
2065 16,809,460 30,769,538
2064 16,705,205 30,482,622
2063 16,600,853 30,178,760
2062 16,493,872 29,870,308
2061 16,383,508 29,559,670
2060 16,267,162 29,254,998
2059 16,149,265 28,947,636
2058 16,029,360 28,634,199
2057 15,906,350 28,309,796
2056 15,781,247 27,993,176
2055 15,653,296 27,661,321
2054 15,519,925 27,334,325
2053 15,386,054 26,989,310
2052 15,247,553 26,645,898
2051 15,107,257 26,289,905
2050 14,965,427 25,937,176
2049 14,818,793 25,587,491
2048 14,670,417 25,230,302
2047 14,519,915 24,876,838
2046 14,367,141 24,515,600
2045 14,210,639 24,149,762
2044 14,053,122 23,785,181
2043 13,894,884 23,404,024
2042 13,735,841 23,037,316
2041 13,574,567 22,649,943
2040 13,410,615 22,275,480
2039 13,244,740 21,904,908
2038 13,076,640 21,532,024
2037 12,907,059 21,161,527
2036 12,735,582 20,792,863
2035 12,563,938 20,415,452
2034 12,389,907 20,049,783
2033 12,215,713 19,678,070
2032 12,039,848 19,313,685
2031 11,862,856 18,960,968
2030 11,683,177 18,615,376
2029 11,502,504 18,271,657
2028 11,320,226 17,935,044
2027 11,136,100 17,602,533
2026 10,950,183 17,274,728
2025 10,762,817 16,950,795
2024 10,576,502 16,634,373
2023 10,389,635 16,340,822
2022 10,203,169 16,069,056
2021 10,012,896 15,797,210
2020 9,815,746 15,526,888
2019 9,609,010 15,271,368
2018 9,394,513 15,034,452
2017 9,178,714 14,812,482
2016 8,961,718 14,600,294
2015 8,743,246 14,399,013
2014 8,523,441 14,207,359
2013 8,302,698 14,013,808
2012 8,081,390 13,817,887
2011 7,859,346 13,595,424
2010 7,633,523 13,356,548
2009 7,406,438 13,142,790
2008 7,183,002 12,959,149
2007 6,963,345 12,804,058
2006 6,747,720 12,636,445
2005 6,535,905 12,483,432
2004 6,328,041 12,365,896
2003 6,123,997 12,232,323
2002 5,924,003 12,087,653
2001 5,728,435 11,971,901
2000 5,537,064 11,892,055
1999 5,349,333 11,783,458
1998 5,166,390 11,594,297
1997 4,987,883 11,369,827
1996 4,813,361 11,158,360
1995 4,644,278 10,974,599
1994 4,480,208 10,873,148
1993 4,320,872 10,860,288
1992 4,166,699 10,702,700
1991 4,021,837 10,404,816
1990 3,896,481 10,137,281
1989 3,796,078 9,864,798
1988 3,711,880 9,583,094
1987 3,632,543 9,284,644
1986 3,554,793 8,982,578
1985 3,478,936 8,686,813
1984 3,405,198 8,391,488
1983 3,333,633 8,098,404
1982 3,264,291 7,796,496
1981 3,197,019 7,498,635
1980 3,131,512 7,041,303
1979 3,067,341 6,647,556
1978 3,003,714 6,543,575
1977 2,940,327 6,449,512
1976 2,877,327 6,287,105
1975 2,814,820 6,098,658
1974 2,752,671 5,908,328
1973 2,690,629 5,720,404
1972 2,628,432 5,542,445
1971 2,566,421 5,374,712
1970 2,505,628 5,215,918
1969 2,446,927 5,058,181
1968 2,390,803 4,900,440
1967 2,337,532 4,748,307
1966 2,285,774 4,601,217
1965 2,235,820 4,458,462
1964 2,188,325 4,320,006
1963 2,141,376 4,185,877
1962 2,093,919 4,055,959
1961 2,046,127 3,930,401
1960 1,995,110 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Papua New Guinea increased by 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Papua New Guinea gained 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th most populous country in 2006 and is 89th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Papua New Guinea Zimbabwe
2100 0.06% 0.19%
2099 0.07% 0.23%
2098 0.09% 0.25%
2097 0.11% 0.25%
2096 0.13% 0.3%
2095 0.14% 0.32%
2094 0.16% 0.28%
2093 0.17% 0.33%
2092 0.19% 0.33%
2091 0.22% 0.39%
2090 0.21% 0.4%
2089 0.23% 0.39%
2088 0.24% 0.46%
2087 0.26% 0.47%
2086 0.28% 0.48%
2085 0.28% 0.51%
2084 0.31% 0.53%
2083 0.31% 0.54%
2082 0.33% 0.59%
2081 0.36% 0.62%
2080 0.35% 0.64%
2079 0.37% 0.65%
2078 0.38% 0.69%
2077 0.39% 0.72%
2076 0.41% 0.73%
2075 0.42% 0.76%
2074 0.44% 0.81%
2073 0.47% 0.83%
2072 0.49% 0.8%
2071 0.5% 0.82%
2070 0.52% 0.86%
2069 0.55% 0.87%
2068 0.57% 0.91%
2067 0.59% 0.91%
2066 0.61% 0.96%
2065 0.62% 0.94%
2064 0.63% 1.01%
2063 0.65% 1.03%
2062 0.67% 1.05%
2061 0.72% 1.04%
2060 0.73% 1.06%
2059 0.75% 1.09%
2058 0.77% 1.15%
2057 0.79% 1.13%
2056 0.82% 1.2%
2055 0.86% 1.2%
2054 0.87% 1.28%
2053 0.91% 1.29%
2052 0.93% 1.35%
2051 0.95% 1.36%
2050 0.99% 1.37%
2049 1.01% 1.42%
2048 1.04% 1.42%
2047 1.06% 1.47%
2046 1.1% 1.51%
2045 1.12% 1.53%
2044 1.14% 1.63%
2043 1.16% 1.59%
2042 1.19% 1.71%
2041 1.22% 1.68%
2040 1.25% 1.69%
2039 1.29% 1.73%
2038 1.31% 1.75%
2037 1.35% 1.77%
2036 1.37% 1.85%
2035 1.4% 1.82%
2034 1.43% 1.89%
2033 1.46% 1.89%
2032 1.49% 1.86%
2031 1.54% 1.86%
2030 1.57% 1.88%
2029 1.61% 1.88%
2028 1.65% 1.89%
2027 1.7% 1.9%
2026 1.74% 1.91%
2025 1.76% 1.9%
2024 1.8% 1.8%
2023 1.83% 1.69%
2022 1.9% 1.72%
2021 2.01% 1.74%
2020 2.15% 1.67%
2019 2.28% 1.58%
2018 2.35% 1.5%
2017 2.42% 1.45%
2016 2.5% 1.4%
2015 2.58% 1.35%
2014 2.66% 1.38%
2013 2.74% 1.42%
2012 2.83% 1.64%
2011 2.96% 1.79%
2010 3.07% 1.63%
2009 3.11% 1.42%
2008 3.15% 1.21%
2007 3.2% 1.33%
2006 3.24% 1.23%
2005 3.28% 0.95%
2004 3.33% 1.09%
2003 3.38% 1.2%
2002 3.41% 0.97%
2001 3.46% 0.67%
2000 3.51% 0.92%
1999 3.54% 1.63%
1998 3.58% 1.97%
1997 3.63% 1.9%
1996 3.64% 1.67%
1995 3.66% 0.93%
1994 3.69% 0.12%
1993 3.7% 1.47%
1992 3.6% 2.86%
1991 3.22% 2.64%
1990 2.64% 2.76%
1989 2.27% 2.94%
1988 2.18% 3.21%
1987 2.19% 3.36%
1986 2.18% 3.4%
1985 2.17% 3.52%
1984 2.15% 3.62%
1983 2.12% 3.87%
1982 2.1% 3.97%
1981 2.09% 6.49%
1980 2.09% 5.92%
1979 2.12% 1.59%
1978 2.16% 1.46%
1977 2.19% 2.58%
1976 2.22% 3.09%
1975 2.26% 3.22%
1974 2.31% 3.29%
1973 2.37% 3.21%
1972 2.42% 3.12%
1971 2.43% 3.04%
1970 2.4% 3.12%
1969 2.35% 3.22%
1968 2.28% 3.2%
1967 2.26% 3.2%
1966 2.23% 3.2%
1965 2.17% 3.2%
1964 2.19% 3.2%
1963 2.27% 3.2%
1962 2.34% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Papua New Guinea grew by 1.76%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Papua New Guinea Zimbabwe
Current population
11045681
17443108
Population rank 89/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.13% 0.21%
One net population change
2.83 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
2.05 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
7.58 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +510 +867
Annual growth/decline +186,315 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +1.76% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 59/197 53/197
One migration net change every
1.29 days
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -284 -54,555
Net migration rank 87/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 31,171 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 163/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.3% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 183/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Papua New Guinea Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -284 - -54,555
2024 187,595 -707 372,494 -60,528
2023 187,637 -787 372,505 -97,380
2022 186,861 -787 371,243 -102,828
2021 183,766 10,703 349,908 -74,623
2020 189,130 10,703 354,790 -89,440
2019 190,662 22,978 348,798 -103,107
2018 190,662 24,684 345,883 -117,758
2017 189,715 26,513 344,035 -128,241
2016 189,281 28,473 348,772 -140,181
2015 188,600 30,580 356,203 -162,220
2014 187,592 32,840 366,350 -177,029
2013 185,790 35,280 374,757 -176,972
2012 183,658 37,893 371,135 -177,061
2011 181,842 40,690 359,572 -108,714
2010 178,998 50,106 335,570 -108,671
2009 175,421 49,647 309,316 -108,689
2008 172,823 48,985 280,527 -113,858
2007 169,306 48,203 261,805 -118,299
2006 166,540 47,191 248,963 -57,257
2005 163,888 46,014 248,545 -134,212
2004 161,023 44,811 248,307 -127,550
2003 158,611 43,639 243,057 -96,667
2002 155,091 42,657 244,170 -101,212
2001 151,431 41,962 227,909 -139,361
2000 147,496 41,855 236,343 -165,181
1999 143,592 42,519 232,393 -86,343
1998 136,677 43,091 225,614 6,645
1997 134,458 42,787 216,288 395
1996 129,802 41,994 205,269 978
1995 125,410 40,962 206,695 -45,428
1994 122,113 39,669 216,343 -174,723
1993 118,668 38,220 228,045 -243,947
1992 114,818 36,622 255,291 75,788
1991 111,453 26,830 260,943 3,749
1990 110,033 2,398 265,444 4,948
1989 108,199 -19,824 270,838 3,736
1988 106,256 -26,232 277,498 11,327
1987 104,367 -25,720 286,766 21,308
1986 102,346 -25,495 289,894 6,154
1985 100,333 -25,470 290,756 4,718
1984 98,103 -25,487 290,052 5,124
1983 95,982 -25,465 286,545 4,456
1982 93,522 -25,355 279,934 32,899
1981 91,767 -25,383 271,361 11,523
1980 90,266 -25,638 241,179 390,593
1979 89,330 -25,618 223,657 -67,937
1978 88,747 -25,208 222,979 -170,727
1977 87,954 -24,722 225,139 -89,270
1976 86,965 -24,198 221,419 -32,495
1975 85,809 -23,562 216,947 -28,988
1974 84,829 -22,771 208,806 -16,105
1973 83,821 -21,803 201,885 -18,733
1972 82,672 -20,303 193,725 -20,959
1971 80,599 -18,945 185,427 -22,719
1970 78,712 -18,773 178,979 -24,102
1969 76,454 -18,994 172,626 -12,028
1968 73,983 -19,188 166,865 -11,997
1967 71,519 -19,767 161,205 -11,814
1966 69,206 -17,454 156,014 -11,211
1965 66,693 -18,532 151,164 -10,465
1964 64,558 -17,730 145,848 -9,631
1963 62,260 -15,189 140,984 -8,936
1962 59,974 -12,141 136,317 -8,529
1961 58,151 -10,409 131,531 -8,204
1960 56,326 -2,034 126,959 -8,260

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/papua-new-guinea/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 31,171 residents or 0.3% of the population were not native-born in Papua New Guinea, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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