Urban Population: Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea's urban population is currently 15.4% as of 2024. # Papua New Guinea Urban Population Papua New Guinea's urban population reached 15.
Current (2024)
15.4%
+2.3% y/y
Peak (2024)
15.4%
Low (1960)
3.5%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Urban Population — Papua New Guinea
1960 — 2024
Urban Population — Papua New Guinea
Analysis# Papua New Guinea Urban Population
Papua New Guinea's urban population reached 15.406% in 2024, marking both the current level and the nation's all-time peak. This represents a dramatic shift from 1960, when only 3.463% of the population lived in urban areas—a 344.9% increase over six decades. Despite this substantial growth, Papua New Guinea remains predominantly rural, with urban residents comprising less than one-sixth of the total population.
The acceleration of urbanization has intensified since 2015, when 13.234% lived in cities. The steady upward trend continued through 2023 (15.058%), gaining approximately 0.17 percentage points annually over the past nine years. If this trajectory persists, Papua New Guinea's urban proportion will continue rising, though the nation's urbanization rate remains significantly lower than regional and global averages.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15.4% | +2.31% |
| 2023 | 15.1% | +2.19% |
| 2022 | 14.7% | +2.05% |
| 2021 | 14.4% | +1.91% |
| 2020 | 14.2% | +1.74% |
| 2019 | 13.9% | +1.57% |
| 2018 | 13.7% | +1.39% |
| 2017 | 13.5% | +1.20% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | +0.99% |
| 2015 | 13.2% | +0.78% |
| 2014 | 13.1% | +0.57% |
| 2013 | 13.1% | +0.34% |
| 2012 | 13.0% | +0.11% |
| 2011 | 13.0% | -0.02% |
| 2010 | 13.0% | -0.05% |
| 2009 | 13.0% | -0.08% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | -0.10% |
| 2007 | 13.0% | -0.14% |
| 2006 | 13.1% | -0.16% |
| 2005 | 13.1% | -0.18% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 13.1% | -0.21% |
| 2003 | 13.1% | -0.23% |
| 2002 | 13.2% | -0.25% |
| 2001 | 13.2% | -0.28% |
| 2000 | 13.2% | -0.70% |
| 1999 | 13.3% | -1.36% |
| 1998 | 13.5% | -1.82% |
| 1997 | 13.7% | -2.09% |
| 1996 | 14.0% | -2.17% |
| 1995 | 14.4% | -2.10% |
| 1994 | 14.7% | -1.87% |
| 1993 | 14.9% | -1.50% |
| 1992 | 15.2% | -0.99% |
| 1991 | 15.3% | -0.35% |
| 1990 | 15.4% | +0.47% |
| 1989 | 15.3% | +1.23% |
| 1988 | 15.1% | +1.82% |
| 1987 | 14.8% | +2.24% |
| 1986 | 14.5% | +2.48% |
| 1985 | 14.2% | +2.52% |
| 1984 | 13.8% | +2.32% |
| 1983 | 13.5% | +1.90% |
| 1982 | 13.3% | +1.21% |
| 1981 | 13.1% | +0.31% |
| 1980 | 13.1% | -0.12% |
| 1979 | 13.1% | -0.21% |
| 1978 | 13.1% | -0.20% |
| 1977 | 13.1% | -0.09% |
| 1976 | 13.1% | +0.92% |
| 1975 | 13.0% | +2.54% |
| 1974 | 12.7% | +3.82% |
| 1973 | 12.2% | +4.77% |
| 1972 | 11.7% | +5.34% |
| 1971 | 11.1% | +8.26% |
| 1970 | 10.2% | +13.10% |
| 1969 | 9.1% | +16.53% |
| 1968 | 7.8% | +17.18% |
| 1967 | 6.6% | +12.80% |
| 1966 | 5.9% | +8.45% |
| 1965 | 5.4% | +8.75% |
| 1964 | 5.0% | +9.09% |
| 1963 | 4.6% | +9.39% |
| 1962 | 4.2% | +9.70% |
| 1961 | 3.8% | +9.90% |
| 1960 | 3.5% | — |
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