Population in largest city in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Population in largest city was 431,903 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
431,903
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
152nd
of 153 countries
All-time high
431,903
in 2025
All-time low
29,103
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Papua New Guinea, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in largest city in Papua New Guinea stood at 431,903. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Papua New Guinea peaked at 431,903 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 29,103, in 1960.
Papua New Guinea ranks 152nd of 153 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 29,103 | — |
| 1961 | 30,953 | +6.4% |
| 1962 | 32,923 | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 35,018 | +6.4% |
| 1964 | 37,251 | +6.4% |
| 1965 | 39,618 | +6.4% |
| 1966 | 42,147 | +6.4% |
| 1967 | 47,466 | +12.6% |
| 1968 | 53,465 | +12.6% |
| 1969 | 60,203 | +12.6% |
| 1970 | 67,801 | +12.6% |
| 1971 | 76,358 | +12.6% |
| 1972 | 80,535 | +5.5% |
| 1973 | 84,835 | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 89,372 | +5.3% |
| 1975 | 94,151 | +5.3% |
| 1976 | 99,192 | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 104,489 | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 110,076 | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 115,963 | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 122,172 | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 128,172 | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 134,314 | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 140,750 | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 147,504 | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 154,563 | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 161,969 | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 169,731 | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 177,876 | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 186,388 | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 195,319 | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 200,620 | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 205,957 | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 211,419 | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 217,035 | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 222,800 | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 228,726 | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 234,793 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 241,029 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 247,431 | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 254,012 | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 259,275 | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 264,620 | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 270,075 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 275,651 | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 281,326 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 287,126 | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 293,045 | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 299,095 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 305,252 | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 311,545 | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 317,968 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 324,532 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 331,232 | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 338,069 | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 345,048 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 352,171 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 359,441 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 366,862 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 374,517 | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 382,516 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 390,986 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 400,051 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 409,831 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 420,419 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 431,903 | +2.7% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 431,903 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 17% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 431,903 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.16 million, 7% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 40,815 | 29,103 | 60,203 | 10 |
| 1970s | 92,277 | 67,801 | 115,963 | 10 |
| 1980s | 152,344 | 122,172 | 186,388 | 10 |
| 1990s | 220,513 | 195,319 | 247,431 | 10 |
| 2000s | 278,948 | 254,012 | 305,252 | 10 |
| 2010s | 342,138 | 311,545 | 374,517 | 10 |
| 2020s | 405,951 | 382,516 | 431,903 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More urban development data for Papua New Guinea
- Population in the largest city 25.4% (2025)
- Population density 22.94 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 14.11 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 22.19 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 229,690 current US$ (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Papua New Guinea?
- Population in largest city in Papua New Guinea was 431,903 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 431,903 in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 29,103 in 1960.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for population in largest city?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 152nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. 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 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. 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
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.