Urban population growth in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Urban population growth was 4.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Papua New Guinea, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population growth in Papua New Guinea is 4.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Papua New Guinea peaked at 18.1% in 1968 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1996.
That places Papua New Guinea 18th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 12.0% | — |
| 1962 | 11.6% | -3.6% |
| 1963 | 11.2% | -2.9% |
| 1964 | 10.9% | -3.2% |
| 1965 | 10.5% | -3.0% |
| 1966 | 10.3% | -1.9% |
| 1967 | 14.3% | +38.2% |
| 1968 | 18.1% | +26.9% |
| 1969 | 17.6% | -2.8% |
| 1970 | 14.7% | -16.6% |
| 1971 | 10.3% | -29.6% |
| 1972 | 7.6% | -26.6% |
| 1973 | 7.0% | -7.8% |
| 1974 | 6.0% | -13.8% |
| 1975 | 4.7% | -21.5% |
| 1976 | 3.1% | -34.3% |
| 1977 | 2.1% | -33.3% |
| 1978 | 1.9% | -7.0% |
| 1979 | 1.9% | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 1.9% | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 2.4% | +22.0% |
| 1982 | 3.3% | +38.4% |
| 1983 | 4.0% | +21.0% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 4.6% | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 4.6% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 4.4% | -4.9% |
| 1988 | 4.0% | -9.5% |
| 1989 | 3.5% | -12.6% |
| 1990 | 3.1% | -11.2% |
| 1991 | 2.8% | -8.4% |
| 1992 | 2.5% | -9.9% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | -16.5% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | -18.3% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | -14.8% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -6.6% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 1.7% | +15.7% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | +25.6% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | +30.2% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | +13.5% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 3.0% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 4.1% | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 4.1% | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.9% | 10.3% | 18.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.9% | 1.9% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.7% | 1.9% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 1.4% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
- 15 Somalia 4.3% compare
- 16 Burkina Faso 4.3% compare
- 17 Mauritania 4.2% compare
- 19 Angola 4.1% compare
- 20 Democratic Republic of Congo 4.0% compare
- 21 Oman 4.0% compare
More climate change data for Papua New Guinea
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,290 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 396.23 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,894 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 67.64 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 108.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 105.81 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2.88 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.3993 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1029 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Papua New Guinea?
- Urban population growth in Papua New Guinea was 4.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 18.1% in 1968.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1996.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for urban population growth?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 18th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.