What is the Population of Papua New Guinea?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
Papua New Guinea has a population of approximately 11,781,559 people, making it the 83rd most populated country of the 196 countries covered on this site — around 0.15% of the world's population. With a land area of 462,840 km², the population density is roughly 25 people per km².
| Population | 11,781,559 |
|---|---|
| Population rank | 83rd of 196 |
| Share of world population | 0.15% |
| Area | 462,840 km² |
| Population density | 25 / km² |
| Demonym | Papua New Guinean |
Curious about Papua New Guinea?
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Papua New Guinea History & Culture Book
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Desk Globe
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Countries with a similar population
| Country | Population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea | 11,781,559 | 83rd |
| Tunisia | 11,972,169 | 80th |
| Haiti | 11,867,032 | 81st |
| Belgium | 11,825,551 | 82nd |
| Jordan | 11,734,000 | 84th |
| Bolivia | 11,365,333 | 85th |
| United Arab Emirates | 11,294,243 | 86th |
Papua New Guinea compared with its neighbours
| Country | Population | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 284,438,782 | 1,904,569 |
Papua New Guinea in context
- Papua New Guinea covers 462,840 km², making it the 54th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- It shares a land border with 1 country: Indonesia.
- With 11,781,559 people, Papua New Guinea holds about 85.7% of the population of Melanesia.
- Traffic drives on the left, and calendars start the week on Monday.
- Papua New Guinea is a member state of the United Nations.
Compare Papua New Guinea
Population of Papua New Guinea — FAQ
What is the population of Papua New Guinea?
The population of Papua New Guinea is approximately 11,781,559 (11.8 million) based on the latest available data.
What is the population of Papua New Guinea in 2026?
The latest estimate in our dataset puts the population of Papua New Guinea at approximately 11,781,559 people (an estimate, not a live count — national statistics offices publish the official figures). Papua New Guinea is the 83rd most populated country in our dataset.
How many people live in Papua New Guinea?
Approximately 11,781,559 people live in Papua New Guinea, making it the 83rd most populated country out of 196 covered on this site.
How does Papua New Guinea rank by population?
Papua New Guinea is the 83rd most populated of the 196 countries covered on this site, with a world population share of 0.15%.
What is the population density of Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea has a population density of roughly 25 people per km², based on a land area of 462,840 km².
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