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In 2026, Papua New Guinea's population is projected at 10,947,848. That is a 7-fold increase on the 1,543,429 recorded in 1950. It is expanding at +1.68% a year, adding about 184.4K people a year. With only 24 people/km², it is one of the world's more sparsely settled countries. Half the population is younger than 23.0 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 28.5 by 2050. Men outnumber women in the population, at 106 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it rising to 18,640,541, up 70% from 2026.
Total population
10,947,848
Density
24 people/km²
Median age
23.0 years
Growth rate
+1.68%
Papua New Guinea is experiencing rapid population growth, adding hundreds of thousands of people each year. The population is aging rapidly; median age will rise from 23 in 2026 to 29 by 2050. UN projections show continued growth to 18.6M by 2100.