Urban population in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Urban population was 1.70 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Papua New Guinea, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Papua New Guinea is 1.70 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 46.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Papua New Guinea peaked at 1.70 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 69,084, in 1960.
That places Papua New Guinea 139th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 69,084 | — |
| 1961 | 77,878 | +12.7% |
| 1962 | 87,414 | +12.2% |
| 1963 | 97,795 | +11.9% |
| 1964 | 109,015 | +11.5% |
| 1965 | 121,126 | +11.1% |
| 1966 | 134,314 | +10.9% |
| 1967 | 154,933 | +15.4% |
| 1968 | 185,704 | +19.9% |
| 1969 | 221,465 | +19.3% |
| 1970 | 256,501 | +15.8% |
| 1971 | 284,446 | +10.9% |
| 1972 | 306,870 | +7.9% |
| 1973 | 329,110 | +7.2% |
| 1974 | 349,566 | +6.2% |
| 1975 | 366,518 | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 378,105 | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 386,038 | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 393,565 | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 401,044 | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 408,931 | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 418,762 | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 432,762 | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 450,335 | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 470,704 | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 492,991 | +4.7% |
| 1986 | 516,234 | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 539,358 | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 561,179 | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 580,961 | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 599,110 | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 616,231 | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 632,069 | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 645,607 | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 656,884 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 666,648 | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 675,895 | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 685,793 | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 697,421 | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 712,304 | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 732,159 | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 755,375 | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 779,188 | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 803,628 | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 828,668 | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 854,301 | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 880,574 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 907,494 | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 935,124 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 963,461 | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 992,525 | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 1.02 million | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 1.05 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 1.08 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 1.12 million | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 1.16 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 1.20 million | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 1.24 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 1.29 million | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 1.34 million | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 1.39 million | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 1.45 million | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 1.50 million | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 1.56 million | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 1.63 million | +4.2% |
| 2025 | 1.70 million | +4.2% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 1.70 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 26% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 1.70 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 685,900, 2.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 125,873 | 69,084 | 221,465 | 10 |
| 1970s | 345,176 | 256,501 | 401,044 | 10 |
| 1980s | 487,222 | 408,931 | 580,961 | 10 |
| 1990s | 658,796 | 599,110 | 712,304 | 10 |
| 2000s | 843,997 | 732,159 | 963,461 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 million | 992,525 | 1.34 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.54 million | 1.39 million | 1.70 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More climate change data for Papua New Guinea
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 18.97 million kg (2050)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Papua New Guinea?
- Urban population in Papua New Guinea was 1.70 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.70 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 69,084 in 1960.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for urban population?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 139th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.8%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.