Population and Demographics of Papua New Guinea
Population changed +1.8% in 2024 · median age 23 years
The working-age group represents 63.06% of Papua New Guinea's population, giving the country a broad age profile still weighted toward younger residents. Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, Papua New Guinea moved +91.0% in population size. By 2050, the medium path points to 14.91 million, equivalent to a +40.9% change from the 2024 estimate.
Population Over Time in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea's population stood at 5.537M in 2000 and 10.577M in 2024, equivalent to a +91.0% change over that period. Looking ahead, the medium projection points to 14.907M in 2050, 40.9% higher than the 2024 level. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Looking beyond the headline population number, Papua New Guinea's 2024 age structure is young. Under-15s account for 33.48% of residents and people 65+ for 3.46%, leaving 63.06% in the broad 15 to 64 range. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
Papua New Guinea's 2024 population is 48.6% female and 51.4% male in the World Bank series. Males exceed females by 2.8 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Males made up 51.4% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 48.6% females.
What Is Shaping Population Change
For Papua New Guinea, the latest annual population movement is +1.80%, compared with fertility of 3.1, with younger residents at 33.48% and older residents at 3.46% of the total.
By 2024, Papua New Guinea had shifted +91.0% from its 2000 population level, while the medium scenario adds a +40.9% change between 2024 and 2050; no specific birth, death or migration contribution is inferred from that total.
2024 estimate for Papua New Guinea. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Papua New Guinea vs. World
Using one 2024 comparison table keeps the context consistent. Papua New Guinea's population change is higher than the global rate, fertility is above the global level, and its population is younger than the world median-age profile.
| Indicator | Papua New Guinea | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +1.8% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 3.1 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 23 | 30.6 | 2024 |
The table deliberately uses one 2024 source context for Papua New Guinea and the world. This avoids combining national figures from one year with global figures from another.
Key Takeaways
Papua New Guinea has 10,576,502 people in the 2024 estimate, with the population changing +1.80% over the year.
The 2024 age structure is 33.48% under 15, 63.06% aged 15 to 64 and 3.46% aged 65 or older.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 48.6% female and 51.4% male.
By 2050, the medium projection is 14.907M, differing from 2024 by roughly 4.33 million people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Papua New Guinea?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Papua New Guinea is 10,576,502 people.
Is the population of Papua New Guinea growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Papua New Guinea's population is growing, with annual change of +1.80%.
What percentage of the population of Papua New Guinea is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 3.46% of Papua New Guinea's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Papua New Guinea in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Papua New Guinea's 2050 population at 14,906,590.
What is the fertility rate in Papua New Guinea?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Papua New Guinea is 3.1 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.